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When baby sea turtles hatch they make an arduous, epic trek to the ocean that will be their home. This journey leaves distinctive trackways on the sand but these are quickly washed away, covered over by the elements. That’s why no evidence has ever been found of baby sea turtle trackways - until now. Charles Helm and Martin Lockley explain the 100 000 year-old trackways found preserved in South Africa.
Insufficient resources, dilapidated campuses and inadequate research infrastructure are some of the key issues crippling Africa’s higher education sector. However there are reasons to be hopeful: some universities are bucking the trend and increasing their research output rates. David Mba unpacks which academic institutions are getting it right and how.
Also today:
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Baby sea turtles head for their natural habitat.
noga f/Shutterstock
Charles Helm, Nelson Mandela University; Martin Lockley, University of Colorado Denver
These trackways preserve an incredibly brief moment in time. More importantly, they tell us about ancient climates, and how turtle breeding ranges have changed over the millenia
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It’s not all doom and gloom for African universities – some are getting it right.
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David Mba, De Montfort University
With limited resources and inadequate infrastructure, African universities appear to be under tremendous strain. But some are beating the odds and getting it right.
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Politics + Society
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Keith Gottschalk, University of the Western Cape
This book is a booster to morale. It tells South Africans they can enjoy the impressive economic growth they once achieved.
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Joseph Ato Forson, University of Education
Policies that will drive investment and change the structure of economies in the West African sub region are facing several challenges.
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Business + Economy
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Danny Bradlow, University of Pretoria
Central banks are expected to act without fear or favour. But to deal with climate change, they may have to encourage financial institutions to favour certain types of activities over others.
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Prince C. Oguguo, Grenoble École de Management (GEM)
Countries in Africa have some of the highest rates of entrepreneurship in the world, yet their contribution to the economy is limited. Technology such as the blockchain, drones and AI could provide a way forward.
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From our international editions
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Samson Yuen, Lingnan University
A survey of 8,000 Hong Kong protesters shows that participants increasingly feel that radical protests are the most effective way to make the government heed public opinion.
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Terry Hughes, James Cook University
It’s official. The outlook for the Great Barrier Reef has been downgraded to “very poor”, and the window to act is closing.
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Sarah Pitt, University of Brighton
It's not just measles you need to worry about.
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David Ballantyne, Keele University
It's great that toy companies are celebrating diverse role models, but children could be taught so much more in their write ups of their stories.
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