SciDev.Net

Satellites can save lives from natural disasters but developing countries risk missing the opportunity through poor political support.

Clean technology to meet poor communities' needs must lie at the heart of any sustainable strategy to combat climate change.

The most recent SciDev.Net user survey offers valuable insights into how well we are meeting your needs.

New figures on research spending show that the gap between rich and poor countries is closing — but not fast enough.

Will UNESCO's likely new head have the vision to deliver much-needed change in the organisation — especially in its science programmes?

A majority of Latin American countries suffer from worthy talk but little stable R&D funding. Long-term strategies should be a priority.

Journalists and scientists must guard against policymakers using science to legitimise pre-chosen and politically-motivated policies.

Academics have long argued for developing countries to adopt "systems of innovation". Now it looks like politicians have got the message.

The climate change debate offers a way to integrate forest management into development policy, but strategies must be informed by good science.

Science journalists should aim to be "informed critics" of science, supporting its values but wary of backing everything said in its name.

An influential lecture on the cultural significance of science remains as relevant today as when it was delivered 50 years ago.

The prospects of a severe global swine flu pandemic appear to be diminishing. Informed reporting can take some of the credit.

A survey of our contributors suggests improvements, but has also highlighted the challenges of science reporting in developing countries.

Patents on scientific knowledge may not be as useful — or valuable — as many claim them to be.

Science can help developing countries facing commodity-price and climate turmoil: the biggest challenge is how to ensure it does.

We must clarify the 'human right' to science — and remind governments of their contractual obligation to uphold it.

Science academies in the developing world must engage with the real world if they want to influence policy.

The media can help in the global fight against disease, both as a watchdog for poor practices, and a champion for successful research.

The US election has implications for science and foreign aid policy, and so for the poorest people across the developing world.

A commitment to development-oriented innovation should be high on the agenda at the upcoming MDG summit in New York.