Issues Limiting development of Bioinformatics

1. Issues Limiting development of Bioinformatics Francis Oguya, NMK

2. The gap in Africa • Weak capacity in • Taxonomy • Curatorial expertise • Infrastructure • Appropriate taxonomic tools • Flow of Taxonomic Information on plants and animals a major impediment

3. The gap in Africa Taxonomy is MOTHER of all biological sciences because it helps us • Identify • Describe • Classify the diversity of life • Biodiversity must be described properly, it must be protected and saved and be utilized sustainably and be further developed.

4. Bio-informatics – the solution to our problems? It is • the process of capturing, managing, interpreting, generating and disseminating biodiversity information, mainly at the specimen, species and ecosystem levels. • Bioinformatics provides tools and resources for managing and analysing the biodiversity data.

5. BI ... WHAT....??!!! • The application of Bioinformatics, is a fairly new discipline in the African continent and relatively unknown to the majority of institutions • BI courses are not taught at our local universities • University Faculties are traditional and uninterested in new applications

6. Need for Engagement • Lone range Research Scientists are focused on research with end game - PUBLICATION – game over!!! • Little or no - application of research to issues that are relevant to the country – how can this be done effectively?? • Linkages between Researchers and Government organisations which require PRODUCTS from research

7. Engagement – chicken & egg situation • The culture of Governments seeking out research findings – lacking • Government decision making based NOT ON EVIDENCE, but anecdotal and emotional • Researchers seem irrelevant to Government because they are immersed in their science and are not developing products addressing Government needs • RESULT – Government purse strings are tied, little/no support for research and BI

8. Some thoughts... • Researchers need to seek out Government and find out how they can make contribute • Researchers need to engage with academic institutions to enlighten on career pathways towards taxonomy and BI • Researchers need to engage with tertiary institutions to initiate BI programs at undergraduate level • Institutions that have Biodiversity holdings MUST MAINSTREAM BI into their strategic planning

9. ASANTE • THANK YOU • OBLIGATO • REMERCIE