ACTS - The African Centre for Technology Studies

The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) is a non-profit institution that conducts policy research, undertakes training and raises public awareness on the application of science and technology to sustainable development. ACTS started operating in 1988 and has focussed its research activities on identifying policy options for technological innovation and environmental conservation. The Centre operates through a network of local researchers and stresses the importance of applying local research to development activities. Research activities at ACTS are organized under specific programmes which are distinctive in organization and research methods. The biotechnology programme has published the gene hunters, a study on the long-term impacts of biotechnology on the developing countries with specific reference to Africa. A series of researched papers on biotechnology policy is produced under the title Biopolicy and a study on the conservation of biological diversity in Kenya, Biological diversity innovation has been widely distributed in Kenya and internationally. It shows the potential for diversifying the food base through the use of traditional crops and the potential of using indigenous knowledge to promote genetic resources conservation at the local level. Policy studies are also being undertaken on the protection of intellectual property, the relationship between economic policy reforms and environmental conservation, the impact of existing land tenure laws and practices on the environment, and on the measures that would facilitate commercial application of local technological innovation. In addition to the policy research programmes, ACTS undertakes training initiatives at a number of levels, including science journalism. The latter is linked to the ACTS feature service and to Science Africa, a monthly magazine which is published in conjunction with leading African science journalists. ACTS expects to launch a science and technology information service in the near future. ACTS also has a publishing programme which in the first year of operation published five books, although many more titles are now listed. The aim of the publishing programme is to bring scholarly works to local readers at reasonable costs and to promote debate in areas of vital policy importance that have hitherto been ignored. ACTS PO Box 459917 Nairobi, KENYAThe African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) is a non-profit institution that conducts policy research, undertakes training and raises public awareness on the application of science and technology to sustainable development. ACTS started..