Science in Africa: the continent's on-line magazine

Science in Africa: for the latest in science from across the continent. Over 70 million hits is good reason to Subscribe for free monthly newsletters to keep up to date on science from Africa. Science writers welcomed. Guidelines for authors here. Source:scienceinafrica

Science with Africa

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Union conference in Addis Ababa in March 2008. There have been numerous initiatives and events undertaken to support African countries in their quest for growth and development. While all these initiatives are positive and aim to eradicate poverty in Africa, it is also important to ensure that growth in the continent is sustained through an indispensable link to innovation, research and development.

Source: UNECA, Science with Africa

Conference papers available in pdf.

Alternative Technology

The Centre for Alternative Technology (Wales, UK) Offers solutions to some of the most serious challenges facing the planet and the human race, such as climate change, pollution and the waste of precious resources. 'We demonstrate practical ways of addressing these problems' CAT

* Alternative technology (wikipedia)
* Appropriate technology or Intermediate technology (wikipedia)
* Appropriate Technology Africa

The Alternative Technology Association (Australia) has advice on sustainability: Want to lighten your footprint on the environment? Our sustainability pages show you how! From rainwater tanks to top 10 tips to save energy around the home the information is based on ATA’s over 25 years of experience researching and promoting sustainable living.

Click on the topic for more information:
Save energy - top 10 tips
GreenPower
Solar hot water
Solar Power
Save water - top 10 tips
Rainwater tanks
Greywater systems
Stormwater capture and reuse
Water and energy rebates

Appropriate Technology Africa

ATA - Appropriate Technology Africa with the strapline, CREATING EMPLOYMENT - sums up what we do, making a practical difference in the lives of poor people in Africa. ATA recognises the importance of technology and hands on work, sharing knowledge and working together with communities. In policy debate, ATA's work focuses on delivering practical changes that positively impact on the lives of poor people

"This sort of equipment can now afford our people the opportunity to create their own wealth and restore dignity." - Nelson Mandela, May 2002

Checkout their products

Knots

Knotting is an ancient technology that seems to have fallen out of favour within education systems.

Animated knots describes and shows (with stop-action photographs) how to tie over 100 knots.

The knots are used not only for tying shoelaces, but for climbing, boating, fishing, search and rescue, household and decorative purposes. Caring for ropes is also covered.

* Animated knots by Grog (A brilliant site)

* Knots on 2020site.org

Science Teacher's Handbook

"It must be the BOOK OF THE YEAR!" ICASE Newsletter. 1994 (ICASE= International Council for Associations of Science Education)

"This is a truly excellent text and should have been available a long time ago" DG Swift, Senior Education Adviser DFID, UK, 1994

"The whole approach breathes originality...uses commonly available resources that are inexpensive, dismantleable, recyclable and storable... demonstrates science in action in clear exciting ways, even when time and resources are limited. The book aims to link the classroom with the community, to inspire and encourage teachers to think in a creative way in making maximum use of local resources, and to ensure that science teaching and learning is firmly based in everyday experience. The book is highly recommended as being filled with good sense." CASTME Journal Vol 14. No 3. (CASTME= Commonwealth Assn of Science, Technology and Mathematics Educators)

"Related to the real situation in the classrooms of developing countries...user friendly...should be at the fingertips of every practising teacher and every student teacher in training colleges in developing countries...a useful resource anywhere in the world". British Council Science Education Newsletter

"It shows how classic textbook experiments can be done without imported or expensive equipment... An excellent basis for good practice." Times Educational Supplement (UK), 1996

"The most useful, practical and professional tool that I used during my two years in Zimbabwe." VSO science teacher

"...admired here not only by the science teachers, but by teachers of all subjects." Science teacher, South Africa

"...Although originally intended for teachers working in developing countries it is an invaluable resource for the UK. This is an excellent resource for practical ways to address cross-cultural and EAL issues in schools." Ian Morrison (VSO)

"...Papua New Guinea still makes use of your handbook. First purchased in the 90's for all PNG schools." Russell Jackson , 2008

"...an old classic that still pulls weight in the classroom." Institute of Physics Journal (UK) 2007

"Most wonderful science activities book... I translated this book into my language, Hindi, and it has helped thousands of teachers. It is in the third reprint... I also translated The VSO Mathematics Teachers' Handbook into Hindi... We now have both these books in Marathi (the language of Maharashtra State in India)... for free or at-cost distribution by a highly-respected Indian educational NGO." Arvind Gupta (India)

"This book is stolen more times from our library than any other science education handbook... lecturers and student teachers just respect it, especially when going for teaching practice... Why do they respect it so much? It is academically well organised and written in fine style, very easily utilised, and comprehensively packed full of syllabus relevent topics.... and proudly we Nigerians humbly claim a portion of some credit, because one of the authors taught in our beloved Kwara state... and we thank our almighty God for Book Aid International !" Nigerian science professor

"You wrote our science teacher's handbook? Then let me buy you some really big drinks!" US Peace Corps volunteer, Malawi, 2007

"It’s a great book! – very relevent for any country like India, where there is an undue emphasis on rote learning." Science teacher educator and advisor, India

"... but it's not really a handbook it's an African science teacher's bible!.. One way to swiftly improve science education in any developing country is to give this book to every science teacher and volunteer be they JICA, VSO, Peace Corps or a whatever!" Talular workshop feedback, Malawi, 1999

"Many hundreds of teachers and thousands of pupils have truly, truly benefitted from the Science Teachers' Handbooks... presented to us at the conclusion of the training in Lahore over some 12 years ago... my copy is dog's eared but still very active indeed!" Science teacher trainer and advisor, Pakistan, 2002

"...a triumph of selection and communication which could not have been easy... focused upon the essential practical concerns of a teacher." Professor W Harlen OBE, author of UNESCO’s Source Book for Primary Science, Director of the Scottish Foundation for Research in Education

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This handbook provides over 400 exciting and practical ideas developed by teachers around the world. It is suitable for both new and experienced teachers, lecturers and curriculum developers.

* Lots of ideas for experiments with simple, locally available resources
* Easy to use with hundreds of clear illustrations
* Step-by-step guides to making experiments and activities work
* Covers common biology, chemistry and physics syllabus topics
* Essential for every junior and secondary level science teacher
(Source: Science Teachers' Handbook back cover)

A free pdf version from Arvind Gupta's wonderful collection of ebooks. It is not a perfect reproduction, but perfect enough if you can't buy one. In recent months 56,000 books were downloaded from Arvind's website by teachers across the world - specially from developing countries.

The pdf is also available via Scribd.

Buy a copy or at one of these places: Amazon, Alibris or Abe Books

Building the Science and Technology site

We are building the skeleton of our site at present.

It will take some months for it to take shape.

The site will link TALULAR (Teaching And Learning Using Locally Available Resources) ideas to the learning areas found in African teacher education.

Please feel free to check our links and content as it develops.