NextGen Voices on Global collaboration

by Fanuel Muindi 

We need more travel funds for scientists in developing nations. Today’s global scientific community is more connected than any other time in history. The technology available today allows for fast and reliable communication between scientists in different countries, which is essential for collaborative research projects. However, technology alone is not sufficient for sustainable global collaboration between laboratories and research institutions spread across the world. The critical element that is still needed is the personal interaction between scientists. The biggest challenge to collaboration is the cost of traveling for scientists to visit each other’s labs and attend conferences on a regular basis. In particular, the costs associated with travel prevent many scientists in developing countries from visiting labs abroad, attending conferences, and teaching seminars. I think that more travel funds should be set up to increase the opportunities for scientists across the world to meet each other and develop close research and teaching collaborations. More important, more travel funds should be appropriated to student scientists that are currently in the pipeline to help them develop scientific relationships and collaborations early in their careers.