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<p>This study provides the first systematic review and bibliometric analysis of Botswana’s geoscientific research spanning 1990–2022, with the objective of assessing research volume, thematic focus, authorship patterns, and their relation to the Fraser Institute’s Best Practices Mineral Potential (BPMP) index. A total of 199 publications were analysed following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Diamond-related studies accounted for 43.2% of total publications, followed by base and precious metals (28.1%), which showed limited diversification in research themes. A significant finding is the pronounced pattern of authorship, with foreign-led studies accounting for the majority (62.8%), followed by international collaborations (27.1%), while locally-led research is marginal (10.1%). Locally-led research primarily focused on base and precious metals, whereas foreign-led output was overwhelmingly concentrated on diamonds. This research pattern suggests systemic constraints in domestic research capacity, including restricted access to proprietary data, and indicates that the scientific output concerning Botswana’s most strategic mineral resource remains largely under external stewardship. The correlation between annual publication counts and BPMP (<i>r</i> = -0.11) suggests that publication volume alone does not drive investor perception; rather, visibility, data accessibility, and collaborative authorship structure are likely more influential. The study shows the importance of strengthening domestic research leadership, diversifying thematic coverage, and enhancing open-data practices to align Botswana’s scientific visibility with its mineral policy goals and improve BPMP perceptions. Future work should add impact metrics, map collaborations, and test how outputs influence exploration policy and investment improving the study’s value.</p>

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Systematic review of geoscientific research in Botswana (1990–2022)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月2日

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  • Thuto Sebego,
  • Khaulani Fichani,
  • Munyindei Masialeti,
  • Jacob Kaavera

摘要

This study provides the first systematic review and bibliometric analysis of Botswana’s geoscientific research spanning 1990–2022, with the objective of assessing research volume, thematic focus, authorship patterns, and their relation to the Fraser Institute’s Best Practices Mineral Potential (BPMP) index. A total of 199 publications were analysed following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Diamond-related studies accounted for 43.2% of total publications, followed by base and precious metals (28.1%), which showed limited diversification in research themes. A significant finding is the pronounced pattern of authorship, with foreign-led studies accounting for the majority (62.8%), followed by international collaborations (27.1%), while locally-led research is marginal (10.1%). Locally-led research primarily focused on base and precious metals, whereas foreign-led output was overwhelmingly concentrated on diamonds. This research pattern suggests systemic constraints in domestic research capacity, including restricted access to proprietary data, and indicates that the scientific output concerning Botswana’s most strategic mineral resource remains largely under external stewardship. The correlation between annual publication counts and BPMP (r = -0.11) suggests that publication volume alone does not drive investor perception; rather, visibility, data accessibility, and collaborative authorship structure are likely more influential. The study shows the importance of strengthening domestic research leadership, diversifying thematic coverage, and enhancing open-data practices to align Botswana’s scientific visibility with its mineral policy goals and improve BPMP perceptions. Future work should add impact metrics, map collaborations, and test how outputs influence exploration policy and investment improving the study’s value.