Knowledge is being more widely applied and more quickly disseminated than ever before, thanks in no small measure to the Internet. And therefore, universal education and universal access to technology are more important than ever before. Today I applaud the scientific work being done in Portugal, and the efforts of Prime Minister Guterres and Minister Gago to train the next generation of scientists, engineers, doctors and astronauts, as well as to close the digital divide, to make sure all the children of this nation have the tools they need to master the Information Age. I am particularly impressed how much scientific research is being done in partnership. In Africa, Asia, and many parts of the world, diseases like AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis are killing not only people, but hope for progress.
Millions suffer from strains of malaria that are increasingly resistant to any drug.
And a third of the world has actually been exposed to tuberculosis. These diseases can ruin economies and threaten the very survival of societies. I enjoyed meeting with the high school students who were using the Internet to study infectious diseases, and share information with other students all across Europe. This kind of research and learning benefits both our nations. It reaches across continents to benefit people who really need it, especially in this case, in Africa.