African fellowship

The Schlumberger Foundation African Scientist Visiting Fellowship at Clare Hall is open to African nationals based at African universities and in the early stages of their academic career. Successful candidates will spend up to a year at Clare Hall while carrying out research in a scientific or technical discipline.

A requirement of the Fellowship is that recipients return to Africa afterwards to help create an academic community there so that others on the continent can benefit from their expertise. It is expected that the first Schlumberger Foundation African Scientist Visiting Fellow will arrive in Cambridge during 2006 or early 2007.

Maarten Scholten, Chairman of the Schlumberger Foundation, said: “Education, particularly in science and engineering, is the vital ingredient that will ensure continued social and economic development in African countries. Well-travelled scientists can have a significant impact as role models back in their home countries, and the Schlumberger Foundation hopes to be able to play a part in galvanising interest in science for the next generation through the funding of this Fellowship.”

The President of Clare Hall, Professor Ekhard Salje, said: “Clare Hall has for 40 years welcomed visiting fellows from over 48 nations, working in all aspects of academic life in Cambridge. Many of them have contributed greatly to their own scientific discipline or have become leaders of their countries, in politics or commerce. They form a global community of over 4,000 life members. I am delighted that African countries will now be able to participate in this outstandingly successful scheme.”