The Science Initiative Group (SIG) is an international team of scientific leaders and supporters dedicated to fostering science in developing countries.[1] SIG was formed to facilitate the Millennium Science Initiative (MSI).[2]
As of 2011, SIG's major project is the Regional Initiative in Science and Education (RISE).[3] RISE prepares PhD and MSc-level scientists and engineers in sub-Saharan Africa through university-based research and training networks in selected disciplines. Its primary emphases are on training new faculty to teach in African universities and on upgrading the qualifications of current faculty.[4] [5] Currently, 5 RISE networks are supported:
AMSEN, the African Materials Science and Engineering Network[6]
involving: University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; University of Nairobi, Kenya; University of Namibia; Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria; University of Botswana
RISE-AFNNET, the African Natural Products Network[7]
involving: Makerere University, Uganda; University of Nairobi, Kenya; Sokoine University, Tanzania
SABINA, the Southern African Biochemistry and Informatics Network[8]
involving: University of Malawi; University of Namibia; University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; University of Pretoria, South Africa; University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), South Africa; Tea Research Foundation of Central Africa, Malawi
SSAWRN, the sub-Saharan Africa Water Resources Network[9]
including: Rhodes University, South Africa; Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique; University of Botswana; Makerere University, Uganda
WIO-RISE, the Western Indian Ocean Regional Initiative[10]
including: Institute of Marine Sciences[11], University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; School of Marine & Coastal Sciences[12], Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique; Oceanography Department[13], University of Cape Town, South Africa
SIG is governed by a six member board consisting of three scientists from developing countries, two leading US scientists and an entrepreneur.[14] SIG is administered by a small staff based at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey [15].
SIG's work is supported by grants from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Carnegie Corporation of New York.