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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Reconceptualising Health Professions Education in South Africa
Get PDFCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2018). Reconceptualising Health Professions Education in South Africa. [Online] Available at: DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2018/0021This consensus study was initiated by ASSAf as a response to the ongoing challenge of shortages of healthcare professionals. The study was conceptualised following an ASSAf workshop on the Lancet report titled Health professionals for a new century: transforming education to strengthen health systems in an interdependent world.
The study aims to address the full value chain in health sciences education from student selection, through pedagogical developments, unpacking of the current bottlenecks in the system and looking at how the future health sciences education system can be financed and regulated.
Objectives of the study are to provide evidence-based information and recommendations to policymakers and relevant stakeholders on how health professional education might be transformed to improve the health of the nation. This includes the various professions in health.
Some of the key findings of the study include: barriers in student section; inadequate production and retention of skilled health professionals; urban-rural maldistribution of graduates; core competencies’ challenges; internship and community-service obligations and transition; and shortcomings in financing of health sciences education.
Recommendations on how to address the challenges are very practical. It is envisaged that policymakers and relevant stakeholders will implement these for the revitalisation of health professions education in order to improve health of South Africans.Stellenbosch University Rural Medical Education Partnership Initiative (SURMEPI
The State of Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity in the SADC Region
No full textCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2018). The State of Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity in the SADC Region. [Online] Available at: DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2018/0027This proceedings report is the product of a two-day workshop (19 –20
March 2018) on The State of Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region which was held at Emperor’s Palace, Johannesburg.
The key objectives for this two-day workshop were to:
• Discuss issues of laboratory biosafety and biosecurity importance for the region.
• Strengthen existing collaborations/networks and establish new ones.
• Exchange information and knowledge.
The four key challenges that were found to be common across all SADC countries that participated were:
• Lack of or inadequate (and fragmented) legislation, regulations and guidelines relevant to laboratory biosafety and biosecurity.
• Limited or lack of capacity – including infrastructure, resources and human capacity.
• Lack of or limited training programmes on laboratory biosafety and biosecurity.
• Low level of awareness about laboratory biosafety and biosecurity, especially among researchers/scientists.Department of Science and Technolog
Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Architecture, Built Environment and Engineering
No full textCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2018). Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Architecture, Built Environment and Engineering. [Online] Available at: DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2018/0023The peer review report entitled Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Architecture, Built Environment and Engineering is the seventh 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
Science Business Society Dialogue Conference: Strengthening the Science Business Society Dialogue in the SADC Region
No full textCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2018). Science Business Society Dialogue Conference: Strengthening the Science Business Society Dialogue in the SADC Region. [Online] Available at: DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2018/0025The conference explored various topics in the area of Science-Business Dialogue. These included: strengthening mining policies and research in the SADC Region; the challenge of mining of legacy sites; remediation experiences; underground pumped hydroelectric storage (UPHES) technology; technological solutions: underground pumped hydroelectric storage (UPHES) technology; innovative approaches in mining. The conference was attended by delegates representing science, business and policymakers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and also from other African countries, Europe, Asia and Australia.Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf
3rd Worldwide Meeting of National Young Academies: One Health – Health and Development
Get PDF78 pagesThis report is the summary of the meeting proceedings of the Third Worldwide Meeting of National Young Academies which took place from 20 to 21 July 2017 at the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre, Boksburg, South Africa. This meeting was hosted by the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS) and co-organised by the Global Young Academy (GYA)
The state of research, development and innovation of electrical energy efficiency technologies in South Africa
No full textCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2018). The state of research, development and innovation of electrical energy efficiency technologies in South Africa. [Online] Available at: DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2017/0017The focus of this report is on electrical energy efficiency, but it also provides some guidance on how an enhanced focus on tribology may contribute to energy efficiency. Since electricity production consists of a value chain (generation, transmission, distribution and end use), energy efficiency technologies and methods may be applied at each point, resulting in cumulative improvement in the efficiency of the energy system, with subsequently reduced losses and associated financial gains.
An overview of the current capabilities, and current and planned energy efficiency technology development and strategies in place in South Africa, enables effective coordination of efforts and improves progress toward mainstreaming energy efficiency in South Africa, whilst simultaneously avoiding duplication of efforts and maximising the use of limited resources.
The study aims to inform the Department of Science and Technology (DST) of opportunities for further development in terms of human capital development, intellectual property output and technology development and innovation, in order to promote the adoption of energy efficiency technologies in South Africa.Department of Science and Technolog
Status of Postgraduate Research Training in Engineering in South Africa
No full textCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2018). Status of
Postgraduate Research Training in Engineering in South Africa
[Available online] DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2018/0032.The aim of this study is to document and assess the status of postgraduate research training in engineering in South Africa with respect to possible systemic challenges or shortcomings.
The study was undertaken for the Department of Science and Technology (DST) by an eight-member panel appointed by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) Council. The report commences with a situational analysis that highlights South Africa’s young and growing population, an industrial sector producing mainly low to medium-technology products, a respected tertiary education system and a government that is supporting science and technology. It further stresses the need for economic growth and international competitiveness to address the problems of poverty and unemployment, concluding that postgraduate training in engineering and active participation in research and development could play a key role in positioning South Africa as an attractive destination for participation in the global manufacturing enterprise. The need for South Africa to transition to high-technology manufacturing is emphasised.Department of Science and Technology (DST
Quest Volume 14 Number 4 2018
No full textCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2018). Quest: Science for South Africa, 14(4). [Online] Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11911/107On the cover on the brink of catastrophe the world is heading for meltdown, as the latest IPCC special report shows - IPCC 1.5°C report: here’s what the climate science says It’s going to be tough, but we can do it. By Keith Shine - what southern Africa needs to do to manage rising temperatures the climate situation in southern Africa is already worse than in most other regions, reports Robert Scholes features - What the latest assessment on global warming means for southern Africa for climate change ‘hotspots’like Botswana and Namibia, local warming and drying will be greater than the global average. By Mark new - Does sunny South Africa really have an ideal climate for tourism? Not every tourist leaves the country satisfied with the weather they experienced explain Jennifer Fitchett and Gijsbert Hoogendoorn - Wetlands – providing ecosystem services Alanna Rebelo explains how palmeit wetlands function as ecosystem engineers - How we recreated a lost Africa city with laser technology Using laser lights to see the past. By Karim Sadr - Senamile’s journey to CERN Noni Sophe talks to the first African woman to conduct an experiment at the nuclear research facility at the CERN laboratory - Who gets the revolving chair? By Tsepo Majake - How African researchers are adding to deeper knowledge about neutrons. By Ntombizikhona Beaulah Ndlovu news - How to grow a dinosaur ear - New fossils from north China shed light on the incremental evolution of insect-eating - Jurassic giant of South Africa dinosaurs - Multimedia graphic design – 73 000 years ago - Shedding a new light on optical trapping and tweezing.Department of Science and Technolog
Quest Volume 14 Number 2 2018
Get PDFCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2018). Quest: Science for South Africa, 14(2). [Online] Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11911/100COVER STORIES: Studying chimpanzee language: how chimpanzee language is teaching us about our own, by Michael Wilson. A landmark in African marine science: Mark Gibbon explains the new EAF Nansen Programme. Studying the understudied: reptile diversity in African savannas field course, Robin Maritz and Bryan Maritz tell us about how reptiles are being used to teach students about scientific research and biodiversity. Surviving a super-eruption: Humans thrived in South Africa through the Toba super-volcanic eruption around 74 000 years ago, according to recent research. Using the archives to know where you are going, you must know where you have been. Reviewing archival news media for information on Namibia's marine life. Titus Shaanika tells us how to use history in science features. Bone accountancy: Engela Duvenage tells us how studying bones sheds light on the past. The evolution of brain size: new insights from Homo naledi: a recently released paper suggests that it is not simply large brain size that makes modern humans what they are. Quest investigates. Why studying African birds’ varied migration patterns is so important African bird migration patterns provide important information for conservation, by Les Underhill. South African ship and robots to uncover the future of climate change in South Africa: South Africa at the forefront of the science of climate change, by Subusiso Biyela. NEWS: A new archaeological investigation in Sibudu’s Howiesons Poort indicates the use of barbs in hunting technology. Global warming could spell disaster for king penguins. Cold-blooded pythons make for caring moms. REGULARS: Back page science, Mathematics puzzle, Book review.Academy of Science of South Afric