SciDev.Net

Capitalism could counter its impact on obesity

Encouraging the spread of probiotic foods that promote healthy gut bacteria could help developing countries tackle obesity, says Kingsley Anukam.

LETTER | 18 August 2008 | EN

Sustainable a 'euphemism for mass death'

The developing world needs 'big projects, not small ideas' — and nuclear power is a viable and necessary solution, argues Marje Hecht.

LETTER | 13 December 2007 | EN

Provide carbon credits for long-term soil amendments

LETTER | 5 December 2007 | EN

Politics is the real cause of developing world hardship

Developing countries need global reform as well as focused aid to beat poverty, argues Paul Collins of War on Want.

LETTER | 31 October 2007 | EN

Tilapia fish can pose danger to ecosystems

Warea Orapa says that tilapia fish — hailed as a method of controlling mosquitoes — can cause damage when introduced into new ecosysems.

LETTER | 5 September 2007 | EN

Mosquitoes will conquer pyrethrum

There is little resistance to the pesticide pyrethrum at present, but use in bednets could change this, says Christiaan Kooyman.

LETTER | 22 August 2007 | EN

Research on Hib vaccine 'dubious'

The recent Hib vaccine study makes flawed and expensive recommendations for resource-poor countries, writes Jacob M. Puliyel.

LETTER | 10 July 2007 | EN

Emphasising potential in UNESCO's science programmes

Alexander Boksenberg argues that the unique potential of UNESCO's science strategies is substantial.

LETTER | 3 May 2007 | EN

The success of Bt cotton in India

Camille Gonsalves argues that far from proving problematic, Bt cotton has been a financial and environmental boon for Indian farmers.

LETTER | 26 January 2007 | EN

Control mosquito breeding to reduce viral fevers

Jobin Kurien and Biji Kurien suggest raising awareness and hygiene could stem the growth of dengue fever and chikungunya.

LETTER | 13 December 2006 | EN

Japanese encephalitis vaccine presents no danger

Philip Bedford counters claims that planned trials of a Japanese encephalitis vaccine in India are unsafe.

LETTER | 20 September 2006 | EN

Venezuelan vision: cooperate, participate, innovate

Cristobal Valencia Ramirez describes Venezuela's take on innovation and enterprise, pointing out that its policies have been in place for at least five years.

LETTER | 5 September 2006 | EN

US$100 laptop steals limelight from better solutions

Sam Lanfranco argues that the fame of the One Laptop Per Child initiative has prevented more worthy initiatives from receiving the media attention they deserve.

LETTER | 18 August 2006 | EN

Islam should be a driving force for scientific progress

Wagdy Sawahel argues that it is not Islam, but Muslim leaders and policymakers who are to blame for the lack of scientific progress in the Islamic world.

LETTER | 31 March 2006 | EN

Indian science academies support open access

Unlike Britain's Royal Society, Indian science academies are strong supporters of open access publishing, says Subbiah Arunachalam.

LETTER | 8 December 2005 | EN

India urgently needs more PhDs

Although India does need to improve undergraduate science education, they can only achieve this by investing in postgraduates, argues Shishir Thadani.

LETTER | 5 October 2005 | EN

India should recognise its own research potential

Nita Mawar says that to spur progress, India should focus on nurturing its scientists and holding their research in open-access archives.

LETTER | 6 July 2005 | EN

Financing science in India

S. Nair says the money generated from laboratory services does not necessarily feedback into supporting Indian science.

LETTER | 6 July 2005 | EN

Testing the safety of Indian GM crops is not 'cursory'

Ranjana Smetacek says that safety tests carried out on GM cotton before its approval in India were more rigorous than a recent study implied.

LETTER | 1 July 2005 | EN

Developing nations should back open access to science

Subbiah Arunachalam believes developing countries should ensure open access to their own scientific research, rather than spend money importing foreign journals.

LETTER | 24 June 2005 | EN