African Innovation !
Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Call for Proposals
Today across the world, African researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs are breaking walls and charting new territories in science, technology, the arts, and every sphere of human endeavor. For instance, in African countries such as Nigeria and Cameroon, drones are being employed in land mapping as well as seed sequencing to help improve agricultural activities and crop output. In Kenya, mobile technology is being leveraged to ensure and speed up the much-needed financial inclusion. Small businesses and local communities are thriving on these innovations. With these strides, and in a bid to address the complexities and increasing continental population, African nations are becoming increasingly aware of the need to innovate, invest and channel research towards confronting contemporary and future African problems, in order to become leaders in social and scientific development.
Furthermore, Africa nations joins other nations in a globally precarious time where the challenges of climate change and its attendant consequences threaten our human existence and the sustainability of life on the planet. It is therefore our collective responsibility to continue to use our intellectual powers to create innovations that can tackle today’s challenges with the aim of a sustainable future.
The 4th Annual Pan-APA Conference of 2020 hopes to showcase innovations and research that are linked to the African continent, investigating how they could be used to boost and transform various sectors of development in Africa—including agriculture, labor, education, business, mining, government, manufacturing, and engineering—which would create the possibility for an Africa driven by science, technology, and innovation.
Considering our theme, the conference will take a welcoming and open approach that explores the sharing of ideas on various research and innovation projects. Participants are encouraged to discuss their innovation, research, and most importantly, how it can be utilized to improve different challenges facing Africa today. The conference also serves as a convergence for potential professional partnerships, fostering dialogue, and creating long-lasting networks.
Proposals should include the following:
- Goal of research or innovation
- Background of the issue that is researched; and
- How the research can be used in a developing sector in Africa.
Pan-APA 2020 is accepting proposals for the following presentation categories:
- Poster Session: The poster session aims to help graduate students and professionals showcase to our community and among ourselves the research work that we do as African scholars, professionals, and those whose research interests concerns the African continent. A poster submission to panapapsu@gmail.com is required. If you submit work that falls in this category, Pan-APA will print the posters for you.
- Creative Arts Interludes: Creative arts interludes will be dispersed throughout the day to add a cultural dimension to the conference. This can include musical pieces, poetry, or dance. Submissions must include a description of the piece, and it is highly recommended to also attach an audio or visual file when possible.
- General Session (Individual Papers): Each individual paper should be presented in no more than 15 minutes. The paper should include 1) Goal of research; 2) Background of research topic/research question(s); 3) Research objectives; 4) Findings/input sought; and 5) Discussion questions/areas for input. The individual papers will be assigned to a group/panel that addresses similar issues.
Full papers and presentations (Poster/PowerPoint/art interludes) must be submitted two weeks prior to the conference.
Submissions should be no longer than 500 words. In addition to satisfying the requirements of the individual session formats, submissions must go beyond describing existing social and/or technological problems; preference will be given to proposals that can inspire interactive conversations around solutions. Proposals will undergo a blind peer-review via an online submission system. Multiple submissions are allowed. Pan-APA especially encourages:
- Group submissions,
- Innovative presentation styles,
- Submissions from STE(A)M fields, and
- Interdisciplinary approaches.
Deadline: Submit your proposal and your session preference to https://sites.psu.edu/panapa/2020-conference-submissions/ or panapapsu@gmail.com by Friday, March 6th 2020 at 11:59 pm. Applicants will be notified by mid of March. For full consideration, presenters of accepted proposals must register to attend the Pan-APA 2020 conference here. Traditional/Formal attire is encouraged.