SciDev.Net website week: 18 - 24 February 2013

Two novel uses for African mobile-phone masts Mobile-phone towers could be used to map rainfall in areas lacking rain gauges and as a power source for affordable vaccine refrigeration. Editorials Taking the global out of health campaigns  The last stages of polio eradication suggest a new model of health campaigns much more responsive to global changes and local context.  EN More EDITORIALS  News Project eyes robust medical technology for poor countries  A Swiss scheme to use technology to reduce poverty in poor countries has a robust and affordable medical scanner as its first target.  EN | ES  Network to push scientific case for organic farming  A new platform for organic farming will link farmers to researchers, and help shape and coordinate global research agenda.  EN  Cell phones can speed up malaria treatment in remote areas  Mobile phones can help improve malaria detection and treatment in remote rural areas, according to research carried out in Bangladesh.  EN | FR  Mobile masts could help measure rain and chill vaccines  Mobile-phone towers could help fill the gaps in African rainfall data and provide the power needed to keep vaccines refrigerated.  EN  Lack of access to technology 'hampers detection of substandard drugs' Global drug markets are awash with low quality medicine, partly because of inadequate testing in poor countries, says a US report.  EN | ES  Commission aims to draw attention to deteriorating oceans  New ocean commission will provide informal advice to the UN and firms on issues such as overfishing and gaps in governance of the high seas.  EN  Scientists strive to make global disease data more useful  Methodological issues are plaguing efforts to make the Global Burden of Disease study more meaningful and useful for developing countries.  EN Other News Agricultural research 'must support local innovation'  EN  Pakistan's polio cases linked to poor 'cold chain' facilities  EN  Rich farmers 'more likely' to adopt improved rice varieties  EN  Brazil and Chile lack sustainable public procurement  ES  Bolivia to convert deforested areas in agricultural land  ES More NEWS  Opinions In Perspective: Well-framed science can boost its social impact  How scientific knowledge is presented in public debate, by scientists or journalists, has a big influence on its impact, says David Dickson.  EN | ES  Latin America Analysis: Environmental policy and deforestation  When it comes to the environment, there is no dialogue between civil society, the scientific community, government and parliament, says Carla Almeida.  EN | ES More OPINIONS  Features Q&A: Rachad Farah outlines his vision for UNESCO  If elected director-general of UNESCO, Rachad Farah will put southern hemisphere science at the heart of its agenda, he tells SciDev.Net.  EN | ES  More FEATURES  Polio: the last mile Smallpox eradication is often cited as a model — but we can only learn so much from past success, writesNick Ishmael Perkins. Q&A: Rachad Farah outlines his vision for UNESCO Boosting science, keeping social sciences and getting the US back on board are among the priorities for a UNESCO director-general candidate.		Sharing science  Explore our practical guides to communicating science effectively From influencing policy makers to science journalism  Learn more about the value of scientific information and communicating science effectively NOTICES Announcements Forecasting and early warning of dust storms  Closing date: 27 March 2013  Funding Opportunity for Collaborative Research on Climate Change Adaptation in Africa and Asia: Call for Concept Notes  Closing date: 4 April 2013  More ANNOUNCEMENTS  Events eLearning Africa 2013 8th International Conference on ICT for Development, Education and Training  Location: Windhoek, Safari Conference Centre Namibia Date: 29 May 2013 - 31 May 2013  More EVENTS  Grants Saving Lives at Birth: Grand Challenge  Closing date: 28 March 2013  Powering Agriculture Challenge  Closing date: 28 February 2013  More GRANTS  Jobs Senior Programme Manager: Research Access & Availability  Location: Oxford, UK Closing date: 18 March 2013  More JOBS   HIGHLIGHTS Innovations for Grand Challenges The Global Network of Science Academies' 2013 conference looks at how academicians and innovators can help bridge Grand Challenges Tough target A Swiss initiative aims to develop a cheap, sturdy and easy-to-use scanner for hospitals in the developing world Policies sidestep deforestation  Environmental legislation in Latin America tends to put economic interests above environmental protection Planet organic A new platform for organic farming will help shape the global research agenda Framing science Scientists and journalists need to be more vigilant of how scientific information is presented Your top SciDev.Net stories at a glance  Use our new "most read" and "latest" feature to keep up-to-date with popular articles