International activities with active ASSAf participation are:
• The InterAcademy Panel (IAP)
• The InterAcademy Council (IAC)
• The African Science Academy Development Initiative (ASADI)
• The Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) (Founder Mem- ber and Vice-President)
• The Academy of Science of the Developing World (TWAS)
• The InterAcademy Medical Panel (IAMP)
• The G8 plus 5 Science Academies
• Bilateral agreements with the Russian Academy of Sciences and the national science Uganda National Academy of Sciences, and pend- ing agreements with India and Nigeria.
National ASSAf activities to promote science in South Africa include:
• Science-for-Society Gold Medals
• Annual Symposium
• Annual Visiting Lecturers
• Sydney Brenner Fellowships
• (TWAS) ASSAf Young Scientist Awards
• Regional Public Lectures
• Partnering on joint projects with other organisations, such as higher education institutions and science councils.
Flagship projects of the Academy in scholarly publishing are:
South African Journal of Science (SAJS)
The Academy publishes the South African Journal of Science, a leading multi-disciplinary research journal in Africa which features a diversity of
original work by researchers throughout the country and abroad. The journal is over 100 years old, appears six times a year and is accessible online.
Quest: Science for South Africa
The Academy publishes a quarterly national science magazine Quest:
Science for South Africathat serves as a platform for communication about scientific research done in South Africa. It showcases South African science in action and is aimed at the broad scientific commu- nity, decision-makers, the public, students, and especially the senior grades at secondary schools
Scholarly Publishing in South Africa
The Scholarly Publishing Programme is aimed at the implementation of the ten recommendations developed in the 2006 Academy Report on A Strategic Approach to Research Publishing in South Africa. This pro- gramme is aimed at enhancing the country’s research productivity and capacity.
General Consensus and Forum Studies:
Clinical Research and Related Training in South Africa
The study aims to contribute towards building a national culture in which clinical research is seen as essential and clinical trials are widely ac- cepted; to improve the level of funding; to ensure that the rights and safety of individuals are protected while simultaneously acknowledging the needs of industry and funders; and to promote a favourable and enabling environment in which government, public institutions, acade- mia and industry can interact more constructively.
HIV/Aids, TB and Nutrition
In August 2007, ASSAf released its consensus study, HIV/AIDS, TB, and Nutrition: Scientific Inquiry into the Nutritional Influences on Human Im- munity with Special Reference to HIV infection and Active TB in South Africa.The study reviewed scientific evidence relating to the influence of nutrition on the course of HIV/Aids and TB.
Committee on Science for Poverty Alleviation The objectives of the Committee are to:
• Oversee a managed forum to assist the national mission of harness- ing new developments in S&T for economic growth and sustainable development;
• Address a series of selected problem areas by bringing together, in a carefully planned, multi-disciplinary workshop mode, leading na- tional (and some international) researchers from a variety of disci- plines; and
• Generate new insights that can assist government policy-makers and others, on the basis of properly debated scientific and technological findings, in the fight to alleviate poverty in South Africa.
Consensus Study on Improved Nutritional Assessment
This study follows on the 2007 consensus report on HIV/Aids, TB and Nu- tritionand focuses on modern nutritional assessment methods, particu- larly tests of micronutrient status that were reliable, affordable and practically helpful. The study seeks to identify the best assessment modes to contribute to prevention and treatment of these pandemic infectious conditions in the country.
A SADC-region Forum Study on the Potential Value-added Functions that National Science Academies can contribute in relation to Universities ASSAf is convening a workshop where existing national science acad- emies based in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and representatives from universities in the SADC countries, which do not (yet) have such academies, jointly exploring ways in which academy functions may add significant value to the university system in each country and the region.
PhD Study: The National Capacity for the Production of Highly-trained, Top-quality Postgraduate Students
For South Africa to be a serious competitor in the global knowledge economy, both the quality and quantity of PhDs need to be expanded quite dramatically. This ambition to escalate the number of well-trained PhDs in South Africa raises fundamental questions about national ca- pacity, critical partners, innovative programmes, strategic investments and cross-sectoral cooperation. A Consensus Study is planned to gen- erate evidence-based national advice to deliver on these goals.
Study on the State of the Humanities in South Africa: Status, Prospects and Strategies:Aims to provide a detailed survey on the state of the hu- manities in SA; to profile the status of humanities graduates and to gen- erate strategies that would strengthen the humanities.
Other ASSAf activities are:
Standing Committee for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathe- matics (STEM) Education:Advises the Academy on critical issues per- taining to STEM education in the country.
International Best Practice on Science Education (A Regional Study):
Focuses on identifying and promoting best practices in science educa- tion (SE) in Sub-Saharan Africa to improve the teaching and learning of science.
ASSAf Committee on Biosafety, Bioethics and Biorisks: Aims possibly to establish a Committee on Biosafety, Bioethics and Biorisks to timeously develop measures to monitor new and emerging epidemics.
ACADEMY LEADERSHIP
COUNCIL MEMBERS IN 2009 - 2011:
President: Prof Robin Crewe
Vice Presidents: Prof Patricia Berjak Prof Jonathan Jansen General Secretary: Prof Wieland Gevers
Treasurer: Prof Francis Petersen
Members:
Prof Hoosen Coovadia Prof Njabulo Ndebele Prof Priscilla Reddy Prof Jimmy Volmink Prof Peter Vale Prof Dan Ncayiyana
Dr Rob Adam Prof Manfred Hellberg
Advisors:
Professor Sunil Maharaj Professor Hester Voster MANAGEMENT STAFF
Executive Officer Prof Roseanne Diab ([email protected]) Chief Operations Officer Dr Xola Mati
([email protected]) Financial Manager Mr Morakeng Malatji
Liaison Manager Mr Simon Rambau
([email protected]) Communication Manager Ms Patricia Scholtz
([email protected]) Projects Manager Dr Nthabiseng Taole
([email protected]) Scholarly Publishing Unit Director Ms Susan Veldsman
Physical Address First Floor Block A
The Woods
41 De Havilland Crescent Persequor Park Meiring Naudé Road Lynnwood, Pretoria 0020
Postal Address PO Box 72135 Lynnwood Ridge 0040 Website:www.assaf.org.za e-mail:[email protected]