Academy of Science of South Africa
The World Academy of Sciences - Regional Office for Sub-Saharan Africa (TWAS-ROSSA)Not a member yet
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Quest Volume 15 Number 3 2019
No full textCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2019). Quest: Science for South Africa, 15(3). [Online] Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11911/126Machine learning: Benjamin Rosman gives us an introductory overview - The rise of the machines in our quest to understand the universe: Michelle Lochner explains how machine learning is used in astronomy and cosmology - Quantum machine learning: Betony Adams, Francesco Petruccione and Maria Schuld explain what it is and how it can help us - Machine learning for biomedical engineering: A Stellenbosch University research group shares its machine learning experience - Seeing spots and counting chirps: Ian Durbach tells us how machine learning can be used in ecological surveys - Shark! Machine learning for beach safety - #LINO19: Katekani Shingange and Francis Otieno tell us about their Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting experience - Building new forms of matter, brick by LEGO® brick: Ben Skuse reports on the #LINO19 lecture by Wolfgang Ketterle - Fifth centenary of world’s first circumnavigation: Helen Swingler reports on an exhibition to mark the quincentenary - Scientific repercussions of the first circumnavigation: Álvaro de la Cruz-Dombriz shows how discoveries made 500 years ago remain relevant today - Standing up for clean air: Danielle Millar and Caradee Wright highlight the need for action on air pollution - ASSAf reaches out for National Science Week - Wood-munching fungus has genome decoded - Body of work on Basotho medicinal plants - My science fair journey - Math-Art steams ahead - Nectar-lapping lizards pollinate hidden flowers - Books - Puzzles - Subscription
Poverty, Inequality and Global Climate Change: Connecting the Discussions
Get PDFCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2019). Poverty, Inequality and Global Climate Change: Connecting the Discussions [Available online] DOI http:// dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2018/0035The conference was a response to an urgent need to bring together
communities of scientists who are exploring matters of poverty,
inequality and climate change. While there are individual cross overs, this is still happening to a limited and in an ad hoc manner with a continued lack of an integrated framework to address global concerns
reflected in the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, there is a need to bring together biophysical and social scientists in a combined effort to jointly address concerns of poverty, inequality and climate change. The conference was a contribution to doing this within the South African context, and was intended as an initiating step towards a process of cross over between traditions and disciplines of research.Academy of Science of South Afric
Quest Volume 15 Number 1 2019
No full textCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2019). Quest: Science for South Africa, 15(1). [Online] Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11911/108The periodic table –past and present celebrating the 150th anniversary of the periodic table’s discovery
- transition metals elements in groups 3 to 12 benefit society in a variety of ways - elements of a smartphone our phones contain many different periodic table elements, with very specific functions
- Isotope geochemistry Roger Diamond gives an introductory overview of isotopes and the information they yield - Ötzi the iceman isotopes reveal the life story of a man who lived 5 000 years ago feature - making massive leaps in electronics at nanoscale Schalk Mouton meets a rising
star of the physics lab - lighting up what we cannot see Lize Engelbrecht shares some useful applications of fluorescence microscopy - hydrogen power - Nicklaus Kruger explains the benefits of hydrogen as a fuel for the future. - the fly has flown Julie Coetzee tells us about the release of a new biological
control agent.Department of Science and Technology (DST
Neonicotinoid Insecticides: Use and Effects in African Agriculture - A Review and Recommendations to Policymakers
Get PDFCite: Network of African Science Academies (NASAC), (2019). Neonicotinoid Insecticides: Use and Effects in African Agriculture - A Review and Recommendations to Policymakers. [Online] Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11911/131Agriculture is critically important for African societies and economies, but ensuring food security for Africa’s growing population is a major challenge due to climate change, structural changes in land use and management, and intensification of agriculture, including the use
of pesticides. A synergistic relationship between agriculture and the beneficial services offered by nature (such as pollination and natural pest control) is a foundation of sustainable agriculture on which future food security depends. Such ‘ecosystem services’ are provided
mainly (although not exclusively) by invertebrates, and the rapid decline in biodiversity in general and insects in particular globally has implications for productivity and future food security. Beneficial insects increase agricultural productivity and the quality of crops and are as (if not more) important in the African context than the rest of the world.
One factor that has been shown to contribute to loss of ecosystem services in Europe and elsewhere is the increased use of a class of systemic insecticides called neonicotinoids, which act as insect neurotoxins. They are taken up by all parts of the plant, are water soluble and can thus spread in the environment, exposing not only the target pests but also beneficial insects ranging from honey bees and other pollinating insects to natural predators of the targeted
pests. As a result, the use of some of these insecticides has been restricted in the European Union (EU) and some other countries.
The debate preceding the EU restrictions was informed by a study on the impact of neonicotinoids on agriculture and ecosystem services by the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC). Building on this foundation, the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP)
and the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) collaborated in a study to examine the implications of neonicotinoid insecticide use for ecosystem services and sustainable agriculture in Africa. The study was conducted between October 2018 and October 2019 and involved two workshops with scientists from 17 African countries as well as an extensive review of relevant African research. This project has collated an unprecedented amount of information, allowing the current situation relating to neonicotinoids in Africa to be assessed
for the first time. The findings have been subjected to peer review and endorsed by NASAC member academies.German Federal Ministry of Education and Researc
Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Communication and Information Sciences
Get PDFCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2019). Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Communication and Information Sciences [Available online] DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2019/0041The peer review report entitled Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Communication and Information Sciences is the ninth in a series of discipline-grouped evaluations of South African scholarly journals. This is part of a scholarly assurance process initiated by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). The process is centered on multi-perspective, discipline-based evaluation panels appointed by the Academy Council on the recommendation of the Academy’s Committee on Scholarly Publishing in South Africa (CSPiSA). This detailed report presents the peer review panel’s consolidated consensus reports on each journal and provides the panel’s recommendations in respect of DHET accreditation, inclusion on the SciELO SA platform and suggestions for improvement in general. The main purpose of the ASSAf review process for journals is to improve the scholarly publication in the country that is consonant with traditional scholarly practices.Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf
Consultative Workshop on the Shale Gas Science Action Plan for South Africa, 14-15 March 2019
Get PDFCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2019). Consultative Workshop on the Shale Gas Science Action Plan for South Africa [Available online] DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2019/0046In support of the South African government to explore the potential of shale gas, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) commissioned ASSAf to undertake work that would culminate in the development of a national research program commonly referred to as the ‘Science Action Plan’. The workshop intended to unpack and finalise some of the key focal areas.
The Science Action Plan proposes ten research topics under six flagship programmes. The workshop focussed on the flagship programme titled “Geology, gas resources, seismicity, exploration technology/engineering and electromagnetic interference”. The overall purpose of the workshop was to:
1. Share experience on the process of shale gas resource quantification and key capabilities required to embark on this process, employing internationally recognized best practice;
2. Expose the South African delegates to the development and application of the complex technologies associated with horizontal drilling and well stimulation using hydraulic fracturing;
3. Discuss scenarios (positive or negative) related to the implementation of a shale gas industry and lessons learnt globally which would inform the implementation of South African regulations to deal appropriately with such challenges;
4. Evaluate and discuss the various technical aspects related to the shale gas extraction value chain.Department of Science and Technolog
Neonicotinoids and their Impact on Ecosystem Services for Agriculture and Biodiversity in Africa
Get PDFCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2019). Neonicotinoids and their Impact on Ecosystem Services for Agriculture and Biodiversity in Africa. [Online] Available at: DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2019/0040The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) in collaboration with Leopoldina hosted a workshop on Neonicotinoids and their Impact on Ecosystem Services for Agriculture and Biodiversity in Africa from 14-16 November 2018.
The purpose of the workshop was to:
• Bring together experts and researchers on the use and/or impact of neonicotinoid insecticides in Africa.
• Establish a network for information exchange and joint activities
• Develop a plan for future activities, their coordination and the dissemination of findings.
African economies and societies are greatly dependent on agriculture; thus, the workshop aimed to identify and collate data which would allow the potential risks in Africa to be better evaluated.
German government through the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)German government through the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF
Winning the Fight Against Corruption: A Trans-Disciplinary Approach
Get PDFCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2019). Annual Young
Scientists’ Conference 2018 - Winning the Fight Against Corruption:
A Trans-disciplinary Approach [Available online] DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2019/0045.This 9th Annual Young Scientists’ Conference which was hosted by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and SAYAS in September 2018 deliberated on Corruption and its negative effects on Africa’s progress.
Corruption continues to hamper efforts aimed at promoting democratic governance, socio-economic transformation, peace and security, and the enjoyment of human rights on the African continent. Research by a range of institutions including academia, non-governmental organisations, policy think tanks, the private and public sectors, as well as the media, can help identify the causes, effects and types of corruption. This is crucial in understanding and fighting corruption.Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)
Department of Science and Technology (DST)
South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS)
South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)
Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World South Africa National Chapter (OWSD SANC
Towards Coordinating National Role Players and Activities to Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): A Focus on SDG 6 (Water & Sanitation)
Get PDFCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2019). Towards Coordinating National Role Players and Activities to Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): A Focus on SDG 6 (Water & Sanitation) DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2019/0056The workshop titled “Landscaping the coordination of national role-players and activities toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6 on water and sanitation) in South Africa” was held on 23 and 24 July 2019. The event was a partnership between the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), the Interacademy Partnership (IAP) and the South African Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS),
as the national champion of SDG 6. The overall objectives of the workshop were:
1. to demonstrate the importance of the coordination of the water sector for the benefit of all stakeholders and the ultimate realisation of SDG 6;
2. to provide information to the water sector on progress towards achieving the SDG targets and identify where there are gaps and opportunities for further collaborative working;
3. to help further inform the definition of each of the SDG 6 targets;
4. to demonstrate the value of a national science academy in convening different stakeholders working on shared challenges and strengthening the science-policy interface; and
5. to highlight the vital role of scientific research in helping to deliver the UN SDGs.Interacademy Partnershi
Neonicotinoids and their Impact on Ecosystem Services for Agriculture and Biodiversity in Africa
Get PDFCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2019). Neonicotinoids and their Impact on Ecosystem Services for Agriculture and Biodiversity in Africa. [Online]
Available at: DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2019/0054The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) in collaboration with Leopoldina hosted a working group meeting on Neonicotinoids and their Impact on Ecosystem Services for Agriculture and Biodiversity in Africa from 13-15 May 2019 at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi.
This working group meeting follows from a workshop which was held in South Africa in November 2018. The purpose of this working group meeting was for outstanding experts in the field to collaborate with the project’s scientific director to draft a report that summarises and outlines the state of knowledge on neonicotinoids and their impact on ecosystem services for agriculture and biodiversity in Africa. Furthermore, to draft key recommendations from science to policy-makers on the question of the use of neonicotinoids, and to discuss communication of the results to the relevant political and scientific authorities and the media.German government through the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF