African researchers have just been connected by a high-speed Internet link to Europe’s research network, GÉANT2. The deal has been struck between GÉANT2 and UbuntuNet, an alliance of African national research networks created in 2005. It will speed up communications and data transfer not only between African scientists and the estimated 30 million GÉANT2 users in 34 European countries, but also with scientists worldwide — through GÉANT2’s connections with the United States and other research networks around the world.
UbuntuNet is not related to Ubuntu, the popular free version of the Linux operating system. But both namesakes help bring affordable quality information technology to African scientists.
The science and development network Scidev.net reports the formation of a new network, Scientists Without Borders, an initiative of the New York Academy of Sciences, which will “integrate the efforts of the scientific and health community to address global health, agriculture and energy challenges in accordance with the Millennium Development Goals.” Ghana will be the first country in the scheme, from where a range of information is being collected to create a collaborative database and website, followed by others in the African continent.