Credit: (clockwise from top left) Jeff Israel (ZyMOS), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Caitlin Reddy; joebelanger; artisteer/ iStock/ Getty Images Plus
As 2023 wraps up and 2024 begins, Nature Africa is all set for another year of providing insight into the latest research from the African scientific community; from primary investigators to early-career researchers.
While traditional stories about African health, prehistory, conservation, and agriculture are still important and garner much attention on our agenda, we also focus on new research coming out of the continent. In 2023 we published 351 new articles, including an array of stories ranging from pure science, astronomy, and genomics, to policy-related commentaries and scientific advice.
The story titled “DNA reveals traces of ancient African empires” remains one of the best-read articles of 2023; a reflection of interest in the diversity and movement of people across the continent. Based on one of the most extensive studies undertaken, and with a diverse team of geneticists, archaeologists, and linguists, the story examined DNA from individuals representing 150 ethnic groups across five distinct African countries.
Many stories focused on the study of genomics, exploring Africa's rich genetic diversity. These studies pave the way towards equity and create a unique chance for innovation in cutting-edge diagnostics, medications, and vaccines to address health concerns and disease prevention in Africa and globally. Our focus on genomics in 2023 is perhaps a reflection of a deep dive into genomic research issues earlier in the year with our collection of stories on the topic and our editorial team’s attendance at the International Congress of Human Genetics.
We also published a number of stories in the field of palaeontology. Rhodes University researcher Caitlin Reddy and colleagues studied brittle stars, which encompass more than 2,000 species, of which 137 inhabit South African waters. Reddy had told us that "the detail [on the brittle stars] left us speechless — from the thin plates on its body to the tiny, bristly spines. This degree of preservation is astounding."
Also notable was the honouring of renowned paleobiologist, professor and writer Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan who had a sabre-toothed cat species – Lokotunjailurus chinsamyae – named after her.
Climate change is a recurring theme along key issues in biodiversity, agriculture, and several other fields impacted by climate change. With the recently concluded COP28, it remains an important topic for Africa; not only because of its global impact, but also because it poses a threat to several aspects of development on the continent.
Another key area we focused on in 2023 was research funding in Africa, which necessitated another deep dive with a collection of articles published in November and December. We went on a journey of observations, interviews and close monitoring of the various angles of funding research in the continent throughout the year.
Looking ahead to 2024
In 2024, you can look forward to an array of stories highlighting the interlinkages between researchers and institutions to further establish research in Africa on a global pedestal through South-South and North-South collaborations, as well as public understanding of research in policy development and implementation. In the pipeline are cross-border investigations from the Nature Africa network of writers, researchers, and collaborators across the continent in line with the African Union’s goals.
We will continue to explore an array of journal publications within and without the Nature portfolio to highlight the work of African researchers and their collaborators. We will also continue to highlight and provide perspectives on cutting edge research in climate change impacts and adaptations, as well as mitigation efforts in agriculture and other related research addressing food challenges and innovations.
Research on infectious diseases, global health challenges and advances in genomic research will also continue to be a priority for Nature Africa. Planetary science research by African-led teams will be further explored to bring forth key areas beyond the usual reportage of medical sciences. In this regard, the cutting edge, hard science work of an array of researchers in the global south comes to mind.
We wish our readers a happy new year, full of prosperity, health, a lasting thirst for knowledge and a continuing curiosity for the different fields of science.
