Kalsey Belle chosen as Seychelles’ Next Einstein Forum ambassador |21 March 2016

“Can you imagine a thinker who combines the brilliance of Einstein and the compassion of Mandela?”

These were the opening remarks of TED Prize winner Neil Turok as he launched the commencement of the Next Einstein Forum (NEF) Global Gathering conference. Turok, founder of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), an organisation which offers a creative Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education to African students, is confident that the next Einstein will be from Africa.

NEF, an initiative pioneered by AIMS, is the first global science forum taking place on African soil.  Its role is to strengthen science education and research across the continent, showcase Africa’s top young scientists and leverage science led development. It serves as a continental platform for scientists, policy makers, industry and civil society to come together to promote science and technology for global development.

NEF’s 2016 theme is ‘Connecting Science to Humanity’. In light of this theme, AIMS launched an Ambassador programme, whereby one applicant per country is selected to be an NEF Ambassador to help initiate science public engagement platforms in their respective countries.

Through the collaboration with University of Seychelles and active guidance of the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC), Kalsey Belle was nominated by NEF to be the Seychelles Ambassador at its Global Gathering which was held from march 8-10. Having recently completed her Engineering with Business Finance degree with a First Class Honours from University College London, Kalsey has returned to Seychelles and started work as a Project Analyst at the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC).

At the three-day conference, hosted in Dakar, Senegal, various heads of state including the President of Rwanda and Senegal, ministers, leading researchers, scientists and youth congregated to position science at the centre of development efforts. The event provided an opportunity for attendees to learn about scientific progress across the continent, the major impacts these are having (or will have) on Africa's scientific future and influence continental science policy.

In her role as Ambassador, Ms Belle attended various panel discussions covering a host of topics such as ‘Encouraging Women in STEM’, ‘Cultivating STEM Talent for Tomorrow’s Global Challenges’ and ‘Top Scientific Discoveries/Initiatives in Africa’ among others.

“It was a great honour to be representing my country on an international platform, especially when I was asked to do a reading in front of the entire NEF audience. The event was an eye-opening experience and I met some truly amazing and inspirational people,” Ms Belle said.

Aside from representing Seychelles, Ms Belle is one of five ambassadors who were selected to act as an Ambassador Leader at the international event. As Ambassador leader, Ms Belle must not only promote NEF and science diplomacy in Seychelles, but she must also help co-ordinate similar events happening internationally in other African nations throughout her two-year mandate.

Having witnessed the power that science can have in transforming people’s lives through her involvement in Engineers Without Borders at university, Ms Belle used the opportunity at the conference to learn how various African nations have fabricated policies that have nurtured a culture of research and innovation within their countries.

She wishes to channel this knowledge in replicating similar strategies in Seychelles.

Coupled with her overview of ongoing and upcoming projects in the utility sector and her involvement in NGOs such as SYAH and AIESEC, Ms Belle networked with various individuals and organisations whom she feels are pursing projects that Seychelles can benefit and/or collaborate on. In her role as liaison between NEF, SNYC and Seychelles as a whole, Ms Belle will share the knowledge gained during the conference to numerous institutions, to not only contribute towards Seychelles’ economic growth but also towards youth empowerment.

From the enthusiasm displayed by delegates, organisers are convinced that the next NEF Global Gathering in Kigali, Rwanda in 2018 will be an even greater success. The March 8-10 conference in Dakar was the mere beginning of the journey to revolutionise science in Africa.