A major conference in Dakar this week has drawn to Senegal experts from 38 African countries and 200 scientists from all over the world. For the next week, they will be discussing scientific and technical co-operation in Africa; they will be studying and comparing the policies of different African nations towards science; and the will be considering how new technology can best be used on the continent.

The Conference on Science and Technology in the Development of Africa has been sponsored by UNESCO -- the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. Among those attending are the UNESCO Secretary General Rene Maheu.

Ideas already put forward for consideration include the establishment of a pool of international scientific experts whose services would be available to any country, and the setting up by each state of an organisation to plan and co-ordinate scientific policies.