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How Tanzania featured well in science honours in Africa

IN recent years, the African continent has been blessed to produce scientists who have largely brought about many positive changes in the communities they live in, whereby, their innovations have made great contributions to the development of the continent.

TANZANIA: IN recent years, the African continent has been blessed to produce scientists who have largely brought about many positive changes in the communities they live in, whereby, their innovations have made great contributions to the development of the continent.

African scientists’ contributions in the world science and technology’ has seen many outstanding inventions and achievements.

The diverse continent has been home to some of the most extraordinary minds in scientific research and innovation.

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Among them are patriotic scientists from Tanzania, whose contributions, apart from contributing to the development of the nation, have also made Tanzania recognised worldwide as one of the countries that have scientists who specialise in innovation that can bring about positive changes around the world.

The ‘AD Scientific Index’ that analyses the academic work of scientists using the H-index, i10 index and number of citations, has named the 2024 top ten Tanzanian scientists (for the month of June) who performed well in their fields of work in general.

The AD Scientific Index (Alper-Doger Scientific Index) is a ranking and analysis system based on the scientific performance and the added value of the scientific productivity of individual scientists.

Developed in 2021, “AD Scientific Index”, using a total of nine parameters, shows the ranking of scientists in 12 subjects which includes, Agriculture & Forestry, Arts, Design & Architecture, Business & Management, Economics & Econometrics, Education, Engineering & Technology, History, Philosophy, Theology, Law, Medical & Health Sciences, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and other areas related to the development of the country.

According to the AD Scientific Index, the top ten scientists in Tanzania for the year 2024 (as by June, 2024) with H – Index number in bracket, include, Professor Mecky Matee (54) from the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences and the late Professor Rudovick Kazwala (53) who was from the Sokoine University of Agriculture.

Also in the list are Professor Ferdinand Mugusi (53), from the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Professor Patrick Ndakidemi (50) from the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology and Professor Stephen Mshana (50), from the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences.

Others in the top ten rankings include, Professor Sayoki Mfinanga (50) from the National Institute REPORT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS AT 30TH JUNE 2023 ORD483971 and Allied Sciences.

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However, of the top ten professional scientists, seven of them their successes have been achieved through activities that are related to health issues, two from biological sciences and Prof Ndakidemi who was ranked fourth, his success was due to his innovation which was related to the agricultural sector.

It is interesting to see that a politician is also included in this list, Prof Ndakidemi. Prof Ndakidemi, a politician cum scientist is a plant and soil expert.

Apart from his commitments at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology as a Professor in the School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, he is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Moshi Rural Constituency in Moshi District, within Kilimanjaro region since October 2020.

In his comments concerning the achievements, Prof Ndakidemi says that, apart from proving significant to the world of science, Tanzanian scientists’ findings have also made great contributions that have impacted different fields in the country.

“The Tanzanian scientists’ achievements have impacted many and different fields which include those in health and agriculture; they have also developed more effective solutions to issues such as animal vaccines, bio-pesticides, bio-fertilisers, new crop varieties, different disease control strategies and packages to alleviate poverty in the society:, he noted.

He added, “The Tanzanian scientists and their colleagues in Africa in general have disrupted stereotypes and shattered the belief that Africans cannot make meaningful contributions to the world of science.” Prof Ndakidemi continued to say that, with the government’s support, Tanzanian scientists are poised to rewrite the narrative of science globally, through their innovations.

On the country’s future as far as the science sector is concerned, Prof Ndakidemi said that investment in research and education on young Tanzanian scientists will enable them (young scientists) create a hub of scientific innovation and discovery in the years to come and pit Tanzania in the global map of distinguished scholars.