How we can stop Africa's scientific brain drain | Kevin Njabo

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: 潘 可儿

So many of us who care about sustainable development

很多人關注永續發展 以及當地人民的生計，

and the livelihood of local people

do so for deeply personal reasons.

是出於非常個人的理由。

I grew up in Cameroon,

我在喀麥隆長大，

a country of enchanting beauty and rich biodiversity,

那是個迷人美麗、物種豐富的國家，

but plagued by poor governance, environmental destruction, and poverty.

卻困於糟糕的治理、環境破壞、貧困。

As a child, like we see with most children in sub-Saharan Africa today,

小時候，就像現今非洲撒哈拉以南 大部分孩子一樣，

I regularly suffered from malaria.

我常常遭受瘧疾折磨。

To this day, more than one million people die from malaria every year,

至今，每年有超過 一百萬人死於瘧疾，

mostly children under the age of five,

大部分是五歲以下的孩子，

with 90 percent occurring in sub-Saharan Africa.

90% 的病例都發生在撒哈拉以南非洲。

When I was 18, I left Cameroon

我十八歲時離開了喀麥隆，

in search of better educational opportunities.

去尋找更好的教育機會。

At the time, there was just one university in Cameroon,

那時，在喀麥隆只有一所大學，

but Nigeria next door offered some opportunities

但鄰國奈及利亞，

給受過英語教育的喀麥隆人 提供接受不同領域訓練的機會。

for Cameroonians of English extraction to be trained in various fields.

So I moved there,

所以我去了那裡。

but practicing my trade,

但畢業之後，在奈及利亞 以生態學家的身份從事我的行業

upon graduation as an ecologist in Nigeria,

was an even bigger challenge.

卻是更大的挑戰。

So I left the continent

所以當波士頓大學 提供博士學位的獎學金時，

when I was offered a scholarship to Boston University for my PhD.

我離開了非洲大陸。

It is disheartening to see that,

讓人沮喪的是，在面臨艱巨挑戰時，

with all our challenges,

with all the talents,

儘管我們非洲大陸有人才、有技術。

with all the skills we have in Africa as a continent,

we tend to solve our problems

但在解決自己的問題時，

by parachuting in experts from the West for short stays,

我們卻傾向用空降到非洲 做短期停留的西方專家，

exporting the best and brightest out of Africa,

而把非洲最好、最聰明的人才 出口到其他國家，

and treating Africa as a continent in perpetual need of handouts.

然後把非洲視為是一塊 永遠需要施捨的大陸。

After my training at Boston University,

我在波士頓大學畢業之後，

I joined a research team

我加入的研究團隊隸屬於 加州大學環境及永續研究所。

at the University of California's

Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

because of its reputation for groundbreaking research

因為它在開創性研究 以及政策和專案的開發上享有盛名，

and the development of policies and programs

that save the lives of millions of people the world over,

並拯救了全世界數百萬的人，

including in the developing world.

包括發展中國家。

And it has been shown

目前已知的是，

that for every skilled African that returns home,

每當一個有技能的非洲人返鄉，

nine new jobs are created in the formal and informal sectors.

平均就會創造出 九個正式和非正式的工作。

So as part of our program, therefore, to build a sustainable Africa together,

因此，我們專案的一部分 是要建立一個永續的非洲，

we are leading a multi-initiative to develop the Congo Basin Institute,

我們發起了一個多重計畫， 要開發剛果盆地學院，

a permanent base

它是個永久的基地。

where Africans can work in partnership with international researchers,

非洲人可在這裡和國際研究者合作

but working out their own solutions to their own problems.

自行解決本地的問題。

We are using our interdisciplinary approach to show how universities,

我們用自己的跨學科方法

來展現大學、非政府組織 以及私人企業

NGOs and private business

can partner in international development.

如何共同進行國際開發。

So instead of parachuting in experts from the West for short stays,

所以，與其讓來自西方的專家 空降之後短暫停留，

we are building a permanent presence in Africa,

如今我們建立在非洲的會永久存在，

a one-stop shop for logistics, housing

提供一站式服務，包括物流、住房，

以及非洲與國際學者的合作項目的發展。

and development of collaborative projects

between Africans and international researchers.

So this has allowed students like Michel

這讓像米歇爾這樣的學生 能在非洲接受高品質的教育。

to receive high-quality training in Africa.

Michel is currently working in our labs

米歇爾目前在我們的實驗室工作，

to investigate the effects of climate change on insects, for his PhD,

探究氣候變遷對於昆蟲的影響， 這是他的博士論文，

and has already secured his post-doctorate fellowship

且他已經得而了他的 博士後研究員資格，

that will enable him to stay on the continent.

讓他能夠繼續留在非洲大陸。

Also through our local help program,

此外，透過我們的當地協助計畫，

Dr. Gbenga Abiodun, a young Nigerian scientist,

班加艾比歐登博士， 一位年輕的奈及利亞科學家，

can work as a post-doctoral fellow

能夠以後博士研究員的身份，

with the Foundation for Professional Development

為南非的西開普大學的 專業發展基金會工作，

in the University of Western Cape in South Africa

and the University of California at the same time,

同時也在加州大學研究，

investigating the effects of climate variability and change

研究氣候變遷對非洲瘧疾傳染的影響。

on malaria transmission in Africa.

Indeed, Gbenga is currently developing models

的確，班加目前正開發的模型

that will be used as an early warning system

將被用來預警非洲的瘧疾傳染。

to predict malaria transmission in Africa.

So rather than exporting our best and brightest out of Africa,

所以，我們不再把非洲最好、 最聰明的人才出口到其他國家，

we are nurturing and supporting local talent in Africa.

而是在非洲培養和支持當地的人才。

For example, like me,

以我為例，

Dr. Eric Fokam was trained in the US.

艾瑞克佛康博士是在美國受教育的。

He returned home to Cameroon, but couldn't secure the necessary grants,

他回到家鄉喀麥隆工作， 但卻缺少必要的科研資助。

and he found it incredibly challenging

他發現在這種情況下， 儘管自己有能力進行科研和學習，

to practice and learn the science he knew he could.

但現實卻難於登天。

So when I met Eric,

當我遇到艾瑞克時

he was on the verge of returning to the US.

他已經打算要回美國了。

But we convinced him to start collaborating

但我們說服他 與剛果盆地學院展開合作。

with the Congo Basin Institute.

Today, his lab in Buea has over half a dozen collaborative grants

現今他在布埃亞的實驗室

有超過六項經費合作的計畫

with researchers from the US and Europe

與美國和歐洲的研究者一起進行，

supporting 14 graduate students, nine of them women,

資助十四名研究生， 其中九名是女性。

all carrying out groundbreaking research

他們全都在進行開創性的研究，

understanding biodiversity under climate change,

探究在氣候變遷下的生物多樣性、

human health and nutrition.

人類健康，以及營養。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

So rather than buy into the ideas of Africa taking handouts,

所以，不用再持有 非洲需要施捨的想法，

we are using our interdisciplinary approach

我們用我們的跨學科方法，

to empower Africans to find their own solutions.

讓非洲人也有能力 找到自己的解決方案。

Right now, we are working with local communities and students,

現在，我們在和當地社區及學生、

a US entrepreneur,

一位美國企業家，

scientists from the US and Africa

及來自美國和非洲的科學家合作，

to find a way to sustainably grow ebony, the iconic African hardwood.

試圖找出永續的方法來種植 黑檀木，非洲的代表性硬木。

Ebonies, like most African hardwood, are exploited for timber,

黑檀木和大部分的非洲硬木一樣， 被拿來當木材使用，

but we know very little about their ecology,

但我們不是很了解它們的生態特性。

what disperses them,

它們是如何散播的，

how they survive in our forest 80 to 200 years.

以及它們如何在我們的森林中 生存 80 到 200 年。

This is Arvin,

這位是雅文，

a young PhD student working in our labs,

我們的實驗室一位年輕的博士生。

正在進行最先進的組織培養研究。

conducting what is turning out to be some cutting-edge tissue culture work.

Arvin is holding in her hands

在雅文手中的

the first ebony tree that was produced entirely from tissues.

是第一株完全從組織 培育出來的黑檀木。

This is unique in Africa.

這在非洲是獨一無二的。

We can now show that you can produce African timber

現在我們能夠從不同的植物組織 培育出非洲的樹木，

from different plant tissues --

leaves, stems, roots --

用葉、莖、根，

in addition from generating them from seeds,

而不只是從種子來培育。

which is a very difficult task.

這是個非常艱難的任務。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

So other students will take the varieties of ebony

其他的學生將用雅文在我們實驗室 所鑒定的黑檀木品種

which Arvin identifies in our lab,

graft them to produce saplings,

接枝成樹苗，

and work with local communities to co-produce ebony

並與當地社區合作

生產黑檀木和當地種類的水果，

with local fruit tree species in their various farms

種在各地的農場裡，

using our own tree farm approach,

用我們自己的種樹農法。

whereby we invite all the farmers

我們藉此邀請所有的農夫，

to choose their own tree species they want in their farms.

選擇他們想種在自己農場的樹種。

So in addition to the ebony,

所以，除了黑檀木，

the species which the farmers choose themselves

農夫們自己選擇樹種，

will be produced using our modern techniques

也能用我們的現代技術培育，

and incorporated into their land-use systems,

整合到他們的土地使用系統中，

so that they start benefiting from these products

這樣他們就能開始從這些產物獲利，

while waiting for the ebony to mature.

同時等候黑檀木成熟。

Today we are planting 15,000 ebony trees in Cameroon,

現今，我們在喀麥隆種植了 一萬五千株黑檀木。

and for the first time,

這是頭一回

ebony won't be harvested from the middle of a pristine forest.

黑檀木不是從原始森林中取得的。

This is the model for our African hardwoods,

這是為我們的 非洲硬木所做的模型，

我們延伸模型，

and we are extending this to include sapele and bubinga,

納入薩佩萊木和古夷蘇木都，

other highly prized hardwoods.

這些都是高價格的硬木。

So if these examples existed when I was 18,

如果我十八歲時已有這些例子，

I would never have left,

我就不會離開非洲了，

but because of initiatives by the Congo Basin Institute,

但因為剛果盆地學院的計畫，

I am coming back,

我回來了。

but I'm not coming back alone.

但我並非獨自歸來，

I'm bringing with me Western scientists,

我還帶著西方的科學家、 企業家和學生，

entrepreneurs and students,

the best science from the best universities in the world,

以及世界頂尖大學的頂尖科研成果，

to work and to live in Africa.

來非洲工作和居住。

But we all need to scale up this local, powerful and empowering approach.

我們得再發揚光大 這本土、強大又賦能的方法。

So far we have half a dozen universities and NGOs as partners.

目前，我們的合作夥伴包括 六間大學和非政府組織。

We are planning to build

我們打算要建立一間綠色機構，

a green facility that will expand on our existing laboratory space

從我們既有的實驗室空間來擴充，

and add more housing and conference facilities

再加上更多的住房以及會議設施，

to promote a long-term disciplinary approach.

來推動長期的學科研究。

I want it to offer more opportunities to young African scholars,

我希望它能給年輕非洲學者 提供更多機會，

and would scale it up by leveraging

並通過在撒哈拉以南非洲 擁有十七個研究站的

the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture's existing network

國際熱帶農業研究所的 既存網路擴大規模。

of 17 research stations across sub-Saharan Africa.

The tables are starting to turn ...

形勢開始被翻轉了，

and I hope they keep turning,

我希望能繼續翻轉下去。

to reach several African nations

希望能延伸到數個非洲國家，

like Côte d'Ivoire, Tanzania and Senegal,

像是象牙海岸、 坦尚尼亞，與塞內加爾，

among the top fastest growing economies

這些都是最快速成長的經濟體，

that can attract several opportunities for private-sector investment.

能吸引不少私營部門投資的機會。

We want to give more opportunities to African scholars,

我們希望能給非洲學者更多機會，

and I long to see a day

我渴望能看見有一天

when the most intelligent Africans will stay on this continent

最聰明的非洲人會待在這塊大陸上，

and receive high-quality education

並能透過像剛果盆地學院這類計畫，

through initiatives like the Congo Basin Institute,

接受到高品質的教育，

and when that happens,

當這點能夠實現時，

Africa will be on the way to solving Africa's problems.

非洲將會朝向解決非洲 自身問題的方向邁進。

And in 50 years, I hope someone will be giving a TED Talk

我希望五十年後 會有人來 TED 演講，

on how to stop the brain drain of Westerners leaving your homes

談如何阻止西方人 離開家鄉的人才外流，

to work and live in Africa.

到非洲工作並居住。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Thank you.

謝謝你們。

(Applause)

（掌聲）