|
SciDev.Net was founded in 2001 by David Dickson as a science news service for developing countries. It originated from a project set up by news staff at the journal Nature (with financial assistance from the Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom) to report on the World Conference on Science, in Budapest, in 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scidev.net/global/content/about-us.html</ref>
It was established in response to the significant gap in scientific knowledge between rich and poor countries and with the understanding that “those who stand to benefit the most from modern science and technology are also those with the least access to information about it." <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-29488-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html |title=Science and Development Network: International Development Research Centre |accessdate=2010-08-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608214512/http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-29488-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html |archivedate=2011-06-08 }}</ref> SciDev.Net seeks to redress this imbalance via its free-to-access website, regional networks, and science communications training.
==Ownership==
Since 2017, SciDev.Net has been owned by CABI (CAB International), a not-for-profit organisation focusing primarily on agricultural and environmental issues in low- and middle-income countries, and the creation, curation, and dissemination of scientific knowledge.
SciDev.Net operates editorially independently from CABI with its content overseen by an independent Editorial Advisory Group whose role is to ensure its editorial independence protocol is adhered to. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scidev.net/global/content/about-us.html</ref>
SciDev.Net has a global edition, which is based at CABI’s headquarters in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, and there are five regional desks covering Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, Asia and Pacific, and Sub-Saharan Africa (English and French).
==Website==
The SciDev.Net website is made up of a global and six regional editions. SciDev.Net publishes in four languages: English, Spanish, French, and Arabic. Content includes: news, analysis, multimedia, practical guides, learning series reports, opinions editorials, spotlights and data visualisations. ▼
'''News''': SciDev.Net's news coverage is at the heart of its website, and articles are added daily. Freelance journalists throughout the developing world write much of this material and work closely with a team of editors to ensure timely and accurate coverage of breaking news.
'''Analysis blogs''': SciDev.Net analysis blogs focus on vulnerable or marginalised groups who tend to be neglected in mainstream development journalism. They aim to bridge the gap between science and development and provide an analysis of how each can inform the other. SciDev.Net analysis blogs include:
* Focus on Gender
* Focus on Disability
* Focus on Migration Focus on Poverty
* Focus on Private Sector
* View on Disability
* View on Gender
* View on Migration
* View on Private sector
* View on Poverty
'''Opinions:''' SciDev.Net opinion pieces are exclusive contributions from the world’s leading experts in science and international development. SciDev.Net has published exclusive contributions from figures such as [[Calestous Juma]], [[Paul Boateng]], [[Mark Lynas]], [[Gordon Conway]] and [[Mariéme Jamme]].
'''Multimedia:''' SciDev.Net produces original multimedia content such as videos, podcasts, photo essays, image galleries and audio-video slideshows.
'''Practical guides:''' Written by experts in their field, practical guides help readers strengthen and learn new skills. These guides:
* Provide expert advice for journalists to sharpen their skills and improve their coverage of hot topics for print, broadcast and online media
* Help scientists with ‘how to’ guides on getting research published, briefing policy makers and publicizing their work
* Support science communicators with tools and tactics on areas such as blogs, press releases and covering controversial issues
'''Spotlights''': These special collections of articles focus on a ‘hot topic’ and provide an in-depth look at the key issues facing developing countries. Spotlights published to date include:
* Shelter crisis: rebuilding after the storm<ref>{{Cite web|title = Shelter crisis: Rebuilding after the storm|url = http://www.scidev.net/global/design/spotlight/shelter-crisis-rebuilding-storm-spotlight.html|website = SciDev.Net|access-date = 2016-02-23|last = SciDev.Net}}</ref>
* Managing health crises after Ebola<ref>{{Cite news|title = Managing health crises after Ebola: Key resources|url = http://www.scidev.net/global/ebola/feature/managing-health-crises-ebola-key-resources.html|website = SciDev.Net|access-date = 2016-02-23|last = SciDev.Net}}</ref>
* Transforming cities for sustainability<ref>{{Cite web|title = Transforming cities for sustainability: Facts and Figures|url = http://www.scidev.net/global/cities/feature/transforming-cities-sustainability-facts-figures.html|website = SciDev.Net|access-date = 2016-02-23|last = SciDev.Net}}</ref>
* Making higher education work for Africa<ref>{{Cite web|title = Making higher education work for Africa|url = http://www.scidev.net/global/education/spotlight/higher-education-africa.html|website = SciDev.Net|access-date = 2016-02-23|last = SciDev.Net}}</ref>
* Big data for development<ref>{{Cite news|title = Big data for development|url = http://www.scidev.net/global/data/spotlight/big-data-for-development.html|website = SciDev.Net|access-date = 2016-02-23|last = SciDev.Net}}</ref>
'''Data visualisations:''' Since 2014 SciDev.Net has been producing data visualisations. These interactive features transforms the latest issues in international development into accessible information that informs data-led decision making. SciDev.Net have worked with a number of partners, including [[Sightsavers|SightSavers]], to produce data visualisations on a wide variety of topics including:
* Mapping trachoma to eliminate blindness<ref>{{Cite news|title = Mapping trachoma to eliminate blindness|url = http://www.scidev.net/global/disease/data-visualisation/trachoma-mapping-project.html|website = SciDev.Net|access-date = 2016-02-23|last = SciDev.Net}}</ref>
* The hidden [[digital divide]]<ref>{{Cite web|title = The hidden digital divide|url = http://www.scidev.net/global/icts/data-visualisation/digital-divide-data-interactive.html|website = SciDev.Net|access-date = 2016-02-23|last = SciDev.Net}}</ref> (nominated for the Kantar Information is Beautiful Awards 2015)<ref>{{Cite web|title = The Hidden Digital Divide — Information is Beautiful Awards|url = http://www.informationisbeautifulawards.com/showcase/795-the-hidden-digital-divide|website = www.informationisbeautifulawards.com|access-date = 2016-02-23}}</ref>
* Africa's hydropower future<ref>{{Cite news|title = Africa's hydropower future|url = http://www.scidev.net/global/energy/data-visualisation/africa-hydropower-future-interactive.html|website = SciDev.Net|access-date = 2016-02-23|last = SciDev.Net}}</ref>
* Urbanisation and the rise of the city<ref>{{Cite web|title = Urbanisation and the rise of the city|url = http://www.scidev.net/global/cities/data-visualisation/urbanisation-where-why-when-interactive.html|website = SciDev.Net|access-date = 2016-02-23|last = SciDev.Net}}</ref>
==Topics and regions==
The SciDev.Net website was restructured and relaunched in March 2008<ref>{{Cite web | title=Research for Development - New look SciDev.Net | url=http://www.research4development.info/news.asp?articleID=50194 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408072958/http://www.research4development.info:80/news.asp?ArticleID=50194 | access-date=2025-01-11 | archive-date=2008-04-08}}</ref> to provide access to material via ‘topic gateways’, which bring together news updates and analysis on key issues. The topics covered are:
*Agriculture
*Environment
*Health
*Governance
*Enterprise
*Communication
Science and technology news is also available via ‘regional editions’:
▲The SciDev.Net website is made up of a global edition and sixfive regional editions. SciDev.NetIt publishes in four languages: English, Spanish, French, and Arabic. Content includes : news, analysis, multimediaopinions, practicalin-depth guidesfeatures, learning series reportspodcasts, opinions editorials, spotlights and data visualisations.
*Afrique Sub-Saharienne
Content is categorised under the following topics: agriculture, environment, health, governance, enterprise and communication.
*América Latina y el Caribe
Articles are written mostly by freelance journalists, the majority of whom are based in low- and middle-income countries.
*الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا
*South-Asia
*South-East Asia and the Pacific
*Sub-Saharan Africa
==Podcasts==
Coverage is informed by regional advisory groups consisting of an extensive number of journalists, consultants, advisors and registered users based in developing countries. They work to ensure that a developing country perspective is represented.
SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa editions produce a podcast series in English (Africa Science Focus), French (Santé, Science et Développement) and Arabic (The Spark). The podcasts feature scientists from across Africa and the Middle East talking about topical science issues and the impact of science on development in the region. In 2021, the Africa Science Focus podcast was awarded silver in the AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://sjawards.aaas.org/awards/field_award_category/audio-144/field_award_level/silver-12/field_award_year/2021-150The podcasts are published on the website and are available to download from a range of other platforms.</ref>
== Training ==
SciDev.Net has over 15 years’ experience of specifically supporting southern journalists and researchers to communicate scientific evidence through workshops and on-the-job mentoring. Since its inception, SciDev.Net has delivered workshops for approximately 1,500 journalists.
| 