Issues Limiting development
of Bioinformatics
Francis Oguya,
NMK
The gap in Africa

Weak capacity in
◦ Taxonomy
◦ Curatorial expertise
◦ Infrastructure
◦ Appropriate taxonomic tools

Flow of Taxonomic Information on plants and
animals a major impediment
The gap in Africa
Taxonomy is MOTHER of all biological
sciences because it helps us
◦ Identify
◦ Describe
◦ Classify the diversity of life

Biodiversity must be described properly, it
must be protected and saved and be
utilized sustainably and be further
developed.
Bio-informatics – the solution to
our problems?
It is
 the process of capturing, managing,
interpreting, generating and disseminating
biodiversity information, mainly at the
specimen, species and ecosystem levels.

Bioinformatics provides tools and resources
for managing and analysing the biodiversity
data.
BI ... WHAT....??!!!
The application of Bioinformatics, is a
fairly new discipline in the African
continent and relatively unknown to the
majority of institutions
 BI courses are not taught at our local
universities
 University Faculties are traditional and
uninterested in new applications

Need for Engagement
Lone range Research Scientists are focused on
research with end game - PUBLICATION –
game over!!!
 Little or no - application of research to issues
that are relevant to the country – how can this
be done effectively??
 Linkages between Researchers and
Government organisations which require
PRODUCTS from research

Engagement – chicken & egg situation
The culture of Governments seeking out
research findings – lacking
 Government decision making based NOT ON
EVIDENCE, but anecdotal and emotional
 Researchers seem irrelevant to Government
because they are immersed in their science
and are not developing products addressing
Government needs
 RESULT – Government purse strings are tied,
little/no support for research and BI

Some thoughts...
Researchers need to seek out Government and
find out how they can make contribute
 Researchers need to engage with academic
institutions to enlighten on career pathways
towards taxonomy and BI
 Researchers need to engage with tertiary
institutions to initiate BI programs at
undergraduate level
 Institutions that have Biodiversity holdings
MUST MAINSTREAM BI into their strategic
planning

ASANTE
 THANK YOU
 OBLIGATO
 REMERCIE
