Researchers urged to improve efforts in projects for prize

Bakayoko-Ly Ramata, higher education and scientific research minister, was not impressed by the quality of research presented by candidates for the government’s annual Research Prize of 2015.

Speaking at the prize-giving ceremony this month she said: “I know there is research that is more relevant. That means that these results do not reflect reality, and they are disappointing,” Fraternité Matin or Fratmat of Abidjan reported.

Launching the 2016 edition of the award at the same ceremony, Ramata, former president of the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, said the 3,500 lecturer-researchers and 400 researchers in the country were not interested in the prize.

Out of 13 projects submitted by candidates, only two had been selected, reported Fratmat.

The first was the team of Dr Inza Koné of Université Lorougnon Guédé of Daloa and Professor Koné Tidiane of Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who had conducted research on the conservation of biodiversity in the south-east of the country.

This had included several dissertations at masters and doctorate levels, and led to 20 national and international partnerships which would contribute to the fight against climate change, reported Fratmat.

The second project was by a team from the Centre of Oceanological Research in the field of marine geology, studying the economic, ecological, sociocultural and political impacts of coastal erosion.

Ramata urged academics and researchers to take more interest and increase their participation in the prize, which offered awards totalling 500 million francs (US$853,000).

Séraphin Kati-Coulibaly, director-general of scientific research and technological innovation, said the prize of excellence had been introduced in 1996 by Professor Saliou Touré to reward researchers, academics, inventors and innovators, reported Fratmat.

Disciplines covered by the competition included the hard sciences, agronomy, economics, and human sciences and arts.

* This article is drawn from local media. University World News cannot vouch for the accuracy of the original reports.