Towards the South African Marine
& Antarctic Research Strategy
4 June 2014
Gilbert Siko
Background
• The DST derives its functions from the 1996 White Paper on S&T.
– consequently promotes the development of the NSI
• The NRDS has identified priority science missions taking advantage of South Africa’s geographic position.
– Development of Antarctic & Marine research activities are among the science missions that the NRDS has identified
• The TYIP has identified grand challenges for South Africa to prioritise
addressing
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SET Policy Landscape
S&T White Paper
NRD Strategy
10Yr Innovation Plan
1996 2002 2003 2007
Creation of DST
New public S&T missions
Biotechnology
ICT
Advanced manufacturing
Astronomy
Antarctica & Oceans
Knowledge-based economy
Grand challenges
Human capital development Developing the
NSI
MAR Strategy
2015
TYIP GCs
1. Bio-Economy (Farmer to Pharma) 2. Space science and technology 3. Energy security
4. Global change with a focus on climate change 5. Human and social dynamics
– Marine & Antarctic science are covered in all 5 but predominant
in 4. Global Change with a focus on climate change.
Objectives
• To develop a single comprehensive national marine and coastal research agenda as part of the
overarching Marine & Antarctic Research Strategy
• To identify and prioritise mechanisms for optimising Antarctic and Southern Ocean research funding using existing instruments
• Identify areas of research that require development
of new instruments
Process followed
1. The development of a comprehensive research strategy for South African research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean has been the concern of the research community for several years.
2. In 2005 the DST produced an Antarctic Research Strategy for South Africa (ARESSA) that has guided research by SANAP and other bodies since that time.
3. The ASO research plan remains within the scope of the ARESSA Vision and is focused on broad based international and national collaborative, inter-institutional and interdependent principles.
4. The ASO research plan’s four themes are entrenched in all the five Grand Challenges of the DST Ten-Year Innovation Plan. The four themes to be the focus of research supported by the DST are as follows: Earth Systems;
Living Systems; Human Enterprise; and Innovation.
ASO Strategic Research Plan
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Government Partnerships
Towards the Marine & Antarctic Research Strategy
• High Level Research Outcomes
• Geographic Advantage
• Leveraging resources
• Societal Benefits
• Infrastructure
• Governance Model
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Research Strategy Focus
Elements of the Strategy
• Governance
• Research
• Infrastructure
• Governance
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Pre-implementation Phase
• SO Summer
• SO Winter
• Indian Ocean
• Atlantic Ocean
Dedicated
Research Cruises
ATCM
• Collaborations (Research & Logistics)
• Public Engagements (Why?)
• Science Relevance
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International Opportunities
• The SA-EU Joint S&T Cooperation Committee (JSTCC) in January 2014 identified several challenges for strengthening EU-SA cooperation on RDI.
• ESASTAP plus selected 2 areas to strengthen a small number of strategic alliances between South African and European groups as:
– Marine Sciences including Polar Science
oceanography, marine ecology, marine geology, marine biology, maritime meteorology and climatology,
– Raw Materials, Mineral & Mining Research
recovery and supply of raw materials through sustainable extraction (e.g. novel mining techniques), waste managed as a resource (recycling).
• A call is now open to provide twinning opportunities
Grand Approach
A systems approach will enable the
Marine & Antarctic science community to access to huge resources
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