Often, when people think about science, they think about abstract information, data, formulas, etc, that are hard to read, understand or interpret. Using imagery to explicate science is one way scientists can explain the unexplainable to lay people in a way they can relate with. This is the thinking behind the establishment of the “Art for Science” – a Public Engagement with Science (PES) initiative of the Science for Africa (SFA) Foundation.
Disclaimer: The images used on this website belong to Science Photo Library and are used solely for illustrative purposes. We do not claim ownership or copyright over these images. All visual content is the property of the respective owners.
Involves analysing and addressing the impacts of human disruptions to Earth’s natural systems on human health and all life on Earth. There is no doubt that our global environment is changing due to the negative footprint of human actions.
From global scale pollution of air, water, and soil; to shortages of arable land and freshwater; pervasive changes in land use and cover; and degradation of marine systems.
GEOS model of the heatwave affecting most of the Eastern hemisphere on 13th July 2022. The map shows air temperatures over land.
Snow on Mount Kilimanjaro, LandSat satellite (17/Feb 1993; 21/ Feb 2000; 2/June/ 2002)
The snow and ice on Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, has been receding in recent years. This is due to increasing temperatures in the region, linked to climate change due to human activities.
The ice cap is over 11,000 years old, but 80% of the volume of ice has been lost in the last century. Kilimanjaro is the tallest peak in Africa at 5895 metres, high enough for snow and ice to remain year-round despite its equatorial location.
Lake Chad, located in the Sahel region just south of the Sahara, was the fourth largest lake in Africa in the 1960s, with an area of more than 26,000 square kilometres. However, by the 21st century it had shrunk to less than 1,500 square kilometres, around a twentieth of its size. This is due to its increased use for irrigation combined with droughts.
Deep-sea mining is the process of extracting and often excavating mineral deposits from the deep seabed (Ocean depths greater than 200m). The deep sea remains understudied, poorly understood, and difficult to put adequate safeguards in place to protect the marine environment, yet by May 2022, the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the regulator of activities in the seabed beyond national jurisdiction had issued 31 contracts to explore deep-sea mineral deposits.
One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.
Illustration of an African river ecosystem, showing the impact of the herbivorous mammal the hippopotamus. Their grazing creates areas that allow other animals to graze such as antelopes. The waterways and rivers they inhabit also benefit from the faeces they deposit (lower right). The nutrients from the plant material in their faeces support various food chains (circular insets at lower left), including microbes, plankton and aquatic insects and crustaceans. These are eaten by birds (one at upper left) and by fish, which are in turn caught by birds of prey, humans, and predatory reptiles.
COVID-19 has challenged healthcare systems, public health infrastructure, and governments worldwide, resulting in unprecedented levels of global cooperation and innovation to combat the virus.
Is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
Is the science of the brain and the nervous system. The field of neuroscience remains largely dominated by industrialized nations, but Africa presents unique opportunities and can make significant contributions to global research in this space.
Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well, and work well, and contribute to their community. (WHO)
Is a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development (Africa Union, Agenda 2063 – Aspiration 1)
We would like to acknowledge: Science Photo Library for the science and medical images and videos , SFA Foundation for ideation , Wellcome our funding partner , Kihingu Inc for this great website .
More about us Go to SFA FoundationDisclaimer: The images used on this website belong to Science Photo Library and are used solely for illustrative purposes. We do not claim ownership or copyright over these images. All visual content is the property of the respective owners.