TEDGlobal 2017
Kevin Njabo: How we can stop Africa's scientific brain drain
凱文賈布: 我們要如何阻止非洲的科學人才外流
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非洲人要如何為非洲的問題找到解決方案？保育生態學家凱文賈布以他個人的故事，訴說自己差一點就成為留學國外不再返回非洲科學家，以及為什麼現在他在非洲建立永久的基地來培育和幫助當地的人才。賈布說：「我並非獨自回來，而是還帶著西方的科學家、企業家及學生一起。實現這點，非洲將會朝著解決自身問題的方向邁進。」
Kevin Njabo - Conservation biologist
Kevin Njabo is coordinating the development of UCLA's newly established Congo Basin Institute (CBI) in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Full bio
Kevin Njabo is coordinating the development of UCLA's newly established Congo Basin Institute (CBI) in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
So many of us who care
about sustainable development
about sustainable development
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很多人關注永續發展
以及當地人民的生計，
以及當地人民的生計，
00:16
and the livelihood of local people
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是出於非常個人的理由。
00:18
do so for deeply personal reasons.
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00:22
I grew up in Cameroon,
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我在喀麥隆長大，
00:23
a country of enchanting beauty
and rich biodiversity,
and rich biodiversity,
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那是個迷人美麗、物種豐富的國家，
00:27
but plagued by poor governance,
environmental destruction, and poverty.
environmental destruction, and poverty.
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卻困於糟糕的治理、環境破壞、貧困。
00:32
As a child, like we see with most children
in sub-Saharan Africa today,
in sub-Saharan Africa today,
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小時候，就像現今非洲撒哈拉以南
大部分孩子一樣，
大部分孩子一樣，
00:37
I regularly suffered from malaria.
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我常常遭受瘧疾折磨。
00:39
To this day, more than one million people
die from malaria every year,
die from malaria every year,
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至今，每年有超過
一百萬人死於瘧疾，
一百萬人死於瘧疾，
00:44
mostly children under the age of five,
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大部分是五歲以下的孩子，
00:46
with 90 percent occurring
in sub-Saharan Africa.
in sub-Saharan Africa.
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90% 的病例都發生在撒哈拉以南非洲。
00:51
When I was 18, I left Cameroon
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我十八歲時離開了喀麥隆，
00:54
in search of better
educational opportunities.
educational opportunities.
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去尋找更好的教育機會。
00:57
At the time, there was
just one university in Cameroon,
just one university in Cameroon,
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那時，在喀麥隆只有一所大學，
01:00
but Nigeria next door
offered some opportunities
offered some opportunities
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但鄰國奈及利亞，
給受過英語教育的喀麥隆人
提供接受不同領域訓練的機會。
提供接受不同領域訓練的機會。
01:02
for Cameroonians of English instruction
to be trained in various fields.
to be trained in various fields.
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01:07
So I moved there,
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所以我去了那裡。
01:08
but practicing my trade,
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但畢業之後，在奈及利亞
以生態學家的身份從事我的行業
以生態學家的身份從事我的行業
01:10
upon graduation
as an ecologist in Nigeria,
as an ecologist in Nigeria,
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01:13
was an even bigger challenge.
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卻是更大的挑戰。
01:14
So I left the continent
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所以當波士頓大學
提供博士學位的獎學金時，
提供博士學位的獎學金時，
01:16
when I was offered a scholarship
to Boston University for my PhD.
to Boston University for my PhD.
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我離開了非洲大陸。
01:23
It is disheartening to see that,
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讓人沮喪的是，在面臨艱巨挑戰時，
01:24
with all our challenges,
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儘管我們非洲大陸有人才、有技術。
01:26
with all the talents,
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01:28
with all the skills we have
in Africa as a continent,
in Africa as a continent,
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但在解決自己的問題時，
01:30
we tend to solve our problems
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01:33
by parachuting in experts
from the West for short stays,
from the West for short stays,
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我們卻傾向用空降到非洲
做短期停留的西方專家，
做短期停留的西方專家，
而把非洲最好、最聰明的人才
出口到其他國家，
出口到其他國家，
01:36
exporting the best
and brightest out of Africa,
and brightest out of Africa,
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01:40
and treating Africa as a continent
in perpetual need of handouts.
in perpetual need of handouts.
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然後把非洲視為是一塊
永遠需要施捨的大陸。
永遠需要施捨的大陸。
01:45
After my training at Boston University,
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我在波士頓大學畢業之後，
01:47
I joined a research team
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我加入的研究團隊隸屬於
加州大學環境及永續研究所。
加州大學環境及永續研究所。
01:48
at the University of California's
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01:50
Institute of the Environment
and Sustainability
and Sustainability
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01:52
because of its reputation
for groundbreaking research
for groundbreaking research
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因為它在開創性研究
以及政策和專案的開發上享有盛名，
以及政策和專案的開發上享有盛名，
01:55
and the development
of policies and programs
of policies and programs
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並拯救了全世界數百萬的人，
01:57
that save the lives
of millions of people the world over,
of millions of people the world over,
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02:00
including in the developing world.
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包括發展中國家。
02:02
And it has been shown
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目前已知的是，
02:04
that for every skilled African
that returns home,
that returns home,
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每當一個有技能的非洲人返鄉，
02:06
nine new jobs are created
in the formal and informal sectors.
in the formal and informal sectors.
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平均就會創造出
九個正式和非正式的工作。
九個正式和非正式的工作。
02:10
So as part of our program, therefore,
to build a sustainable Africa together,
to build a sustainable Africa together,
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因此，我們專案的一部分
是要建立一個永續的非洲，
是要建立一個永續的非洲，
02:14
we are leading a multi-initiative
to develop the Congo Basin Institute,
to develop the Congo Basin Institute,
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我們發起了一個多重計畫，
要開發剛果盆地學院，
要開發剛果盆地學院，
02:18
a permanent base
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它是個永久的基地。
非洲人可在這裡和國際研究者合作
02:20
where Africans can work in partnership
with international researchers,
with international researchers,
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自行解決本地的問題。
02:24
but working out their own solutions
to their own problems.
to their own problems.
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02:29
We are using our interdisciplinary
approach to show how universities,
approach to show how universities,
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我們用自己的跨學科方法
來展現大學、非政府組織
以及私人企業
以及私人企業
02:33
NGOs and private business
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如何共同進行國際開發。
02:36
can partner in international development.
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02:39
So instead of parachuting in experts
from the West for short stays,
from the West for short stays,
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所以，與其讓來自西方的專家
空降之後短暫停留，
空降之後短暫停留，
如今我們建立在非洲的會永久存在，
02:43
we are building a permanent
presence in Africa,
presence in Africa,
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提供一站式服務，包括物流、住房，
02:46
a one-stop shop for logistics, housing
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以及非洲與國際學者的合作項目的發展。
02:50
and development of collaborative projects
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02:52
between Africans
and international researchers.
and international researchers.
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02:54
So this has allowed students like Michel
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這讓像米歇爾這樣的學生
能在非洲接受高品質的教育。
能在非洲接受高品質的教育。
02:57
to receive high-quality
training in Africa.
training in Africa.
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03:00
Michel is currently working in our labs
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米歇爾目前在我們的實驗室工作，
探究氣候變遷對於昆蟲的影響，
這是他的博士論文，
這是他的博士論文，
03:03
to investigate the effects
of climate change on insects, for his PhD,
of climate change on insects, for his PhD,
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且他已經得而了他的
博士後研究員資格，
博士後研究員資格，
03:06
and has already secured
his post-doctorate fellowship
his post-doctorate fellowship
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讓他能夠繼續留在非洲大陸。
03:09
that will enable him
to stay on the continent.
to stay on the continent.
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03:12
Also through our local help program,
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此外，透過我們的當地協助計畫，
03:15
Dr. Gbenga Abiodun,
a young Nigerian scientist,
a young Nigerian scientist,
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班加艾比歐登博士，
一位年輕的奈及利亞科學家，
一位年輕的奈及利亞科學家，
03:19
can work as a post-doctoral fellow
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能夠以後博士研究員的身份，
為南非的西開普大學的
專業發展基金會工作，
專業發展基金會工作，
03:21
with the Foundation
for Professional Development
for Professional Development
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03:23
in the University of Western Cape
in South Africa
in South Africa
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03:26
and the University of California
at the same time,
at the same time,
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同時也在加州大學研究，
03:28
investigating the effects
of climate variability and change
of climate variability and change
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研究氣候變遷對非洲瘧疾傳染的影響。
03:32
on malaria transmission in Africa.
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03:34
Indeed, Gbenga is currently
developing models
developing models
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的確，班加目前正開發的模型
03:36
that will be used
as an early warning system
as an early warning system
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將被用來預警非洲的瘧疾傳染。
03:40
to predict malaria transmission in Africa.
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所以，我們不再把非洲最好、
最聰明的人才出口到其他國家，
最聰明的人才出口到其他國家，
03:43
So rather than exporting
our best and brightest out of Africa,
our best and brightest out of Africa,
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03:47
we are nurturing and supporting
local talent in Africa.
local talent in Africa.
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而是在非洲培養和支持當地的人才。
03:50
For example, like me,
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以我為例，
03:52
Dr. Eric Fokam was trained in the US.
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艾瑞克佛康博士是在美國受教育的。
03:56
He returned home to Cameroon,
but couldn't secure the necessary grants,
but couldn't secure the necessary grants,
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他回到家鄉喀麥隆工作，
但卻缺少必要的科研資助。
但卻缺少必要的科研資助。
他發現在這種情況下，
儘管自己有能力進行科研和學習，
儘管自己有能力進行科研和學習，
03:59
and he found it incredibly challenging
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04:02
to practice and learn
the science he knew he could.
the science he knew he could.
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但現實卻難於登天。
04:06
So when I met Eric,
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當我遇到艾瑞克時
他已經打算要回美國了。
04:08
he was on the verge
of returning to the US.
of returning to the US.
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但我們說服他
與剛果盆地學院展開合作。
與剛果盆地學院展開合作。
04:10
But we convinced him
to start collaborating
to start collaborating
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04:13
with the Congo Basin Institute.
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04:14
Today, his lab in Buea
has over half a dozen collaborative grants
has over half a dozen collaborative grants
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現今他在布埃亞的實驗室
有超過六項經費合作的計畫
04:19
with researchers from the US and Europe
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與美國和歐洲的研究者一起進行，
04:22
supporting 14 graduate students,
nine of them women,
nine of them women,
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資助十四名研究生，
其中九名是女性。
其中九名是女性。
他們全都在進行開創性的研究，
04:25
all carrying out groundbreaking research
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探究在氣候變遷下的生物多樣性、
04:27
understanding biodiversity
under climate change,
under climate change,
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人類健康，以及營養。
04:30
human health and nutrition.
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04:32
(Applause)
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（掌聲）
所以，不用再持有
非洲需要施捨的想法，
非洲需要施捨的想法，
04:38
So rather than buy into the ideas
of Africa taking handouts,
of Africa taking handouts,
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我們用我們的跨學科方法，
04:42
we are using our
interdisciplinary approach
interdisciplinary approach
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讓非洲人也有能力
找到自己的解決方案。
找到自己的解決方案。
04:45
to empower Africans
to find their own solutions.
to find their own solutions.
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04:48
Right now, we are working
with local communities and students,
with local communities and students,
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現在，我們在和當地社區及學生、
一位美國企業家，
04:52
a US entrepreneur,
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及來自美國和非洲的科學家合作，
04:54
scientists from the US and Africa
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試圖找出永續的方法來種植
黑檀木，非洲的代表性硬木。
黑檀木，非洲的代表性硬木。
04:57
to find a way to sustainably grow ebony,
the iconic African hardwood.
the iconic African hardwood.
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05:03
Ebonies, like most African hardwood,
are exploited for timber,
are exploited for timber,
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黑檀木和大部分的非洲硬木一樣，
被拿來當木材使用，
被拿來當木材使用，
05:07
but we know very little
about their ecology,
about their ecology,
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但我們不是很了解它們的生態特性。
它們是如何散播的，
05:09
what disperses them,
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以及它們如何在我們的森林中
生存 80 到 200 年。
生存 80 到 200 年。
05:11
how they survive in our forest
80 to 200 years.
80 to 200 years.
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05:16
This is Arvin,
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這位是雅文，
我們的實驗室一位年輕的博士生。
05:17
a young PhD student working in our labs,
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正在進行最先進的組織培養研究。
05:21
conducting what is turning out to be
some cutting-edge tissue culture work.
some cutting-edge tissue culture work.
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05:25
Arvin is holding in her hands
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在雅文手中的
05:27
the first ebony tree that was produced
entirely from tissues.
entirely from tissues.
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是第一株完全從組織
培育出來的黑檀木。
培育出來的黑檀木。
05:31
This is unique in Africa.
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這在非洲是獨一無二的。
現在我們能夠從不同的植物組織
培育出非洲的樹木，
培育出非洲的樹木，
05:33
We can now show that you can
produce African timber
produce African timber
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05:36
from different plant tissues --
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用葉、莖、根，
05:37
leaves, stems, roots --
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05:40
in addition from generating
them from seeds,
them from seeds,
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而不只是從種子來培育。
這是個非常艱難的任務。
05:42
which is a very difficult task.
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05:45
(Applause)
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（掌聲）
其他的學生將用雅文在我們實驗室
所鑒定的黑檀木品種
所鑒定的黑檀木品種
05:49
So other students will take
the varieties of ebony
the varieties of ebony
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05:51
which Arvin identifies in our lab,
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05:54
graft them to produce saplings,
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接枝成樹苗，
05:56
and work with local communities
to co-produce ebony
to co-produce ebony
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並與當地社區合作
生產黑檀木和當地種類的水果，
05:59
with local fruit tree species
in their various farms
in their various farms
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種在各地的農場裡，
06:02
using our own tree farm approach,
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用我們自己的種樹農法。
06:04
whereby we invite all the farmers
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我們藉此邀請所有的農夫，
06:06
to choose their own tree species
they want in their farms.
they want in their farms.
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選擇他們想種在自己農場的樹種。
06:10
So in addition to the ebony,
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所以，除了黑檀木，
06:12
the species which the farmers
choose themselves
choose themselves
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農夫們自己選擇樹種，
06:14
will be produced
using our modern techniques
using our modern techniques
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也能用我們的現代技術培育，
整合到他們的土地使用系統中，
06:16
and incorporated into
their land-use systems,
their land-use systems,
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06:19
so that they start benefiting
from these products
from these products
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這樣他們就能開始從這些產物獲利，
同時等候黑檀木成熟。
06:21
while waiting for the ebony to mature.
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06:24
Today we are planting
15,000 ebony trees in Cameroon,
15,000 ebony trees in Cameroon,
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現今，我們在喀麥隆種植了
一萬五千株黑檀木。
一萬五千株黑檀木。
這是頭一回
06:27
and for the first time,
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06:29
ebony won't be harvested
from the middle of a pristine forest.
from the middle of a pristine forest.
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黑檀木不是從原始森林中取得的。
這是為我們的
非洲硬木所做的模型，
非洲硬木所做的模型，
06:32
This is the model
for our African hardwoods,
for our African hardwoods,
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我們延伸模型，
06:35
and we are extending this
to include sapele and bubinga,
to include sapele and bubinga,
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納入薩佩萊木和古夷蘇木都，
這些都是高價格的硬木。
06:38
other highly prized hardwoods.
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06:40
So if these examples existed
when I was 18,
when I was 18,
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如果我十八歲時已有這些例子，
我就不會離開非洲了，
06:45
I would never have left,
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但因為剛果盆地學院的計畫，
06:47
but because of initiatives
by the Congo Basin Institute,
by the Congo Basin Institute,
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我回來了。
06:50
I am coming back,
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06:52
but I'm not coming back alone.
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但我並非獨自歸來，
06:54
I'm bringing with me Western scientists,
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我還帶著西方的科學家、
企業家和學生，
企業家和學生，
06:56
entrepreneurs and students,
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06:58
the best science from the best
universities in the world,
universities in the world,
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以及世界頂尖大學的頂尖科研成果，
來非洲工作和居住。
07:01
to work and to live in Africa.
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我們得再發揚光大
這本土、強大又賦能的方法。
這本土、強大又賦能的方法。
07:04
But we all need to scale up this local,
powerful and empowering approach.
powerful and empowering approach.
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07:10
So far we have half a dozen
universities and NGOs as partners.
universities and NGOs as partners.
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目前，我們的合作夥伴包括
六間大學和非政府組織。
六間大學和非政府組織。
07:15
We are planning to build
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我們打算要建立一間綠色機構，
07:17
a green facility that will expand
on our existing laboratory space
on our existing laboratory space
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從我們既有的實驗室空間來擴充，
再加上更多的住房以及會議設施，
07:20
and add more housing
and conference facilities
and conference facilities
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來推動長期的學科研究。
07:22
to promote a long-term
disciplinary approach.
disciplinary approach.
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07:25
I want it to offer more opportunities
to young African scholars,
to young African scholars,
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我希望它能給年輕非洲學者
提供更多機會，
提供更多機會，
並通過在撒哈拉以南非洲
擁有十七個研究站的
擁有十七個研究站的
07:28
and would scale it up by leveraging
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07:31
the International Institute
of Tropical Agriculture's existing network
of Tropical Agriculture's existing network
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國際熱帶農業研究所的
既存網路擴大規模。
既存網路擴大規模。
07:34
of 17 research stations
across sub-Saharan Africa.
across sub-Saharan Africa.
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07:38
The tables are starting to turn ...
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形勢開始被翻轉了，
07:41
and I hope they keep turning,
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我希望能繼續翻轉下去。
07:43
to reach several African nations
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希望能延伸到數個非洲國家，
07:45
like Côte d'Ivoire, Tanzania and Senegal,
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像是象牙海岸、
坦尚尼亞，與塞內加爾，
坦尚尼亞，與塞內加爾，
07:49
among the top fastest growing economies
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這些都是最快速成長的經濟體，
07:52
that can attract several opportunities
for private-sector investment.
for private-sector investment.
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能吸引不少私營部門投資的機會。
07:59
We want to give more opportunities
to African scholars,
to African scholars,
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我們希望能給非洲學者更多機會，
我渴望能看見有一天
08:02
and I long to see a day
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08:04
when the most intelligent Africans
will stay on this continent
will stay on this continent
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最聰明的非洲人會待在這塊大陸上，
並能透過像剛果盆地學院這類計畫，
08:07
and receive high-quality education
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08:09
through initiatives
like the Congo Basin Institute,
like the Congo Basin Institute,
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接受到高品質的教育，
當這點能夠實現時，
08:12
and when that happens,
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非洲將會朝向解決非洲
自身問題的方向邁進。
自身問題的方向邁進。
08:13
Africa will be on the way
to solving Africa's problems.
to solving Africa's problems.
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我希望五十年後
會有人來 TED 演講，
會有人來 TED 演講，
08:17
And in 50 years, I hope
someone will be giving a TED Talk
someone will be giving a TED Talk
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談如何阻止西方人
離開家鄉的人才外流，
離開家鄉的人才外流，
08:20
on how to stop the brain drain
of Westerners leaving your homes
of Westerners leaving your homes
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到非洲工作並居住。
08:24
to work and live in Africa.
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08:26
(Applause)
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（掌聲）
08:27
Thank you.
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謝謝你們。
08:28
(Applause)
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（掌聲）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Kevin Njabo - Conservation biologistKevin Njabo is coordinating the development of UCLA's newly established Congo Basin Institute (CBI) in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Why you should listen
Dr. Kevin Yana Njabo is the Associate Director and the Africa Director for the Center for Tropical Research (CTR), a part of the University of California, Los Angeles’ (UCLA) Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. He also holds a joint Assistant Professor appointment at both Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, and the Department of Environmental Health Sciences. He is responsible for supervising CTR’s research teams in Africa and coordinating the development of UCLA’s newly established Congo Basin Institute (CBI) in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Dr. Njabo also serves as a Visiting Professor at the National University of Rwanda and the Higher Institute of Environmental Sciences, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
His research interests are examining the link between biodiversity and human health where he attempts to address the underlying causes of this emergence and how they relate to changes in biodiversity. His area of research focuses on Africa as a platform for case studies of these relationships with the hope that this work will help develop new interdisciplinary tools and methods to forecast and mitigate risks to biodiversity and health, creating sound strategies to enhance the societal benefits of conserving biodiversity. He serves on several professional bodies including the Board of Governors and Global Vice President of the Society for Conservation Biology; Council Member of the Pan African Ornithological Congress Committee and member of the editorial board for Austin Environmental Sciences, a newly initiated peer-reviewed open access journal with an aim to develop a platform for innovative researchers working in the areas of Environmental Sciences.
Kevin Njabo | Speaker | TED.com