GenStat Discovery Edition 3

Climate Change in Africa - A Step in the Right Direction

Hemel Hempstead, UK December 2007

On Monday 5 November, Stewart Andrews, the CEO of VSN International visited The University of Nairobi to launch GenStat Discovery Edition 3 – free data analysis software available to non-commercial organisations throughout the developing world.

The release of GD3 includes new features such as menus for sample-size calculations, complex survey analysis, mixed-model predictions and the analysis of circular data such as wind directions. These are important techniques in the fields of agriculture and climatology, where research and analysis are vital in empowering African countries to combat the negative effects of climate change.

GenStat Discovery Edition 3 is a powerful element in the research and development of new agricultural techniques that can survive impending climate change and aid subsistence farming. Preparation to reduce the risk, along with developing agricultural practices that can withstand changing climates, could mitigate the effects if embraced more widely.

Reports such as “up in Smoke” suggest an estimated $10bn to $40bn is needed annually for successful adaptation to climate change in Africa.  Without immediate action climate change threatens to overpower endeavours to tackle poverty on the African continent which is already, on average, 0.5°C warmer than it was 100 years ago.

While much of the on-going climatic and agricultural research in Africa is of good quality, assessments have shown there is often little impact in the field. Scientific papers remain unpublished and proposed solutions have a low adoption rate, often due to a lack of available tools for research and analysis. High quality statistical software is expensive; a growing concern for many of the African research Institutes and Universities who simply cannot afford such resources.

In 2003, with this in mind, VSN International, the developers of the GenStat statistical software package, launched the GenStat Discovery Edition available at no cost for non-commercial use in Africa (students, lecturers, government researchers, NGOs).

Based on its success VSNi released the GDE to developing countries throughout the world. Four years down the line VSNi are looking forward to the launch of GenStat Discovery 3 which will be distributed throughout the 89 countries who have already adopted the software.

About VSN International

Headquartered in the UK, VSNi is a software house providing best-of-breed data analysis software and services to the analytical communities, as well as analytical technology ('engines') to third-party software and solutions vendors.

VSNi is the developer of the GenStat statistical system and one of the world leaders in data analysis solutions.

Media contacts