African Studies Visiting Research Fellowships Scheme 2009-10

The Centre of African Studies invites applications for Visiting Research Fellowships around the theme of The Public Understanding of Science in Africa from candidates in all the disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. Applications from scholars working in NGOs, research institutes, academia, libraries, and museums are all welcome. Applicants from non-English speaking countries are also encouraged, provided candidates can demonstrate a competent grasp of English. The appointments will take place from 1 October 2009 - 31 March 2010 and are non-renewable. Fellows will be affiliated to Wolfen College, Cambridge. Each award is worth a total of £10,000; out of which travel accommodation, maintenance costs and medical insurance will be paid by the Centre on behalf of the fellow.

The closing date for the applications is 1 October 2008.

The Public Understanding of Science of Africa

The recent controversy over the South African qovernment's policy towards HIV/AIDS has hoghlighted a much larger set of issues around the public understanding and politics of science and medicine in Africa. A common reading of the history of science in Africa is one that gives prominence to public suspicion and 'misunderstanding' of scientific institutions, scientific research practices and scientists themselves. In this account science is regarded as an alien import into Africa and one often tainted by its colonial past. We need more historical, sociological and anthropological studies of African Scientific institutions, of scientific education and of African scienctists themselves to arrive at a more accurate and nuanced picture. For example, does the existence of large amount of external funding for HIV/AIDS and malaria vacine development simply perpetuate and extend 'imperialism' or science, can we point to scientific institutions which have been effectively 'Africanised' and are regarded by their publics as locally controlled and owned?

The group of scholars who come to Cambridge under this fellowship scheme will address both the past and the future of science in Africa, with a particular focus on public understandings of scientific institutions, research and practices.

The University follows an equal opportunity policy.

An application package is available from:

The Administrator
University of Cambridge
Centre of African Studies
The Mond Building
Free School Lane
Cmabridge CB2 3RF UK

afrenq@hermes.cam.ac.uk

or may be downloaded from Cambridge website: www.african.cam.ac.uk