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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12th Annual Meeting of African Science Academies (Amasa)
Get PDFAcademy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2016). Poverty Reduction Proceedings Report. [Online] Available at: DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2016/0009Welcome Address from Assaf (Prof Barney Pityana,
Vice-President, Assaf) 6
Welcome from Partner Organisation (Prof Yousuf
Maudarbocus, Vice-President, Nasac) 9
Keynote Address (Dr Mamphela Ramphele, Nelson Mandela
Foundation) 10
Theme 1: Food Security and Agriculture
(Facilitator: Prof Himla Soodyall, Human Genomic Diversity
and Disease Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand) 16
The Scramble for Africa’s Food Security: Food and Nutrition Trends in
the sub-Saharan Economic Powerhouses (Prof Julian May, Director,
DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security, University of the
Western Cape) 16
How to Look at Food Security as a Complex Issue (Dr Patrick Caron,
CIRAD, France, and Chairperson, High-Level Panel of Experts of the
Committee on World Food Security) 20
Strategy for Agricultural Transformation in Africa (2016 - 2025):
Feed Africa (Mr Joseph Coompson, Agriculture and Agro-Industry
Department, African Development Bank) 22
New Zealand-based Opportunities for Africa to Enhance its
Agriculture (Prof Hazel Chapman, University of Canterbury,
New Zealand and Founder and Director, Nigerian Montane Forest
Project, Nigeria) 26
Theme 2: Social Determination of Health
(Facilitator: Dr Oladoyin Odubanjo, Executive Secretary,
Nigerian Academy of Sciences) 33
Urbanisation as a Social Determinant of Health Imperative:
Addressing Spatial Inequality while Meeting Rapid Urbanisation –
Who Gets Left Out? (Dr Olufunke Fayehun, Nigeria Young Academy
of Science) 33
The Disease Burden – Health Infrastructure, Social Cohesion and/or
Exclusion that Affect Social Determinants of Health: HIV/AIDS, Ebola,Department of Science and Technology, the IAP, the New Zealand High
Commission in Pretoria. GenderInSITE was sponsored by UNESCO, USAID,
the Centre of Excellence in Food Security of the University of the Western
Cape, the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and NASAC
Addressing the global challenges of multimorbidity – lessons from South Africa
Get PDFCite: The Academy of Medical Sciences, (2016). Addressing the global challenges of multimorbidity – lessons from South Africa. [Online] Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11911/28The main objective of this workshop was to consider the burden of multimorbidity in South Africa and the UK, and
ask how we can achieve a more coherent and consistent approach to defining, researching, and addressing
multimorbidity. The workshop brought together experts and evidence from South Africa, the UK and other
countries on the prevalence, burden, and determinants of multimorbidity.
The aims of the workshop were as follows:
• Identify gaps in our knowledge on the basis of the available evidence and identify the associated research
priorities required to address them.
• Consider how health systems in both the UK and South Africa are currently dealing with multimorbidity,
and in particular discuss the key challenges and the costs and financing issues associated with
multimorbidity – particularly in light of efforts to achieve universal health care.
• Consider lessons that can be learned by each country from the other.
• Ask how we can achieve a more coherent and consistent approach to defining, researching, and
addressing multimorbidityUK Government’s Global Challenges Research Fun
Quest Volume 12 Number 1 2016
No full textCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2016). Quest: Science for South Africa, 12(1). [Online] Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11911/10Contents: Timing is everything: Hermann Uys explains the weird and wonderful world of time-keeping with atoms - How old is the Earth?: 'Deep time ' is a vital concept when working out the age of the Earth, Tebogo Makhubela and Jan Kramers explain - Time - evidence for the existence of mathematical reality?: Abstract concepts in mathematics become real through our understanding of time by Zurab Janelidze - Achilles and the tortoise and other paradoxes: Quest investigates Zeno's famous paradoxes - The dream of a green economy: How South Africa needs to move towards sustainable agriculture by Constansia Musvoto - Time and its measurement through the ages: Jan Smit tells us how the measurement of time developed - More than flavour for food: Catherine Kaschula tells us about the wonderful properties of garlic - Non communicable diseases and the possible role of the school tuckshop: Patricia Albers and Caradee Wright suggest how school tuckshops could help to prevent obesity and its associated diseases - Quest: Science for South Africa: Tsepo Majake shows how Quest is expanding into social media and events - Self-paced learning, collaboration, creativity - the school of the future is now: Star Schools explain the excitement around electronic learning - Why time moves forward - NWU now developing trailblazing medicine - Cosmic glasses for space exploration - Stellenbosch University researchers receive R9.7 million for 'Off the Beaten Track' project - 20 years of Science for Society - Research helps intensify battle against TB - Machine learning helps discover the most luminous supernova in history - Running faster than T. rex - Jupiter's red spot - Prehistoric hunter-gatherers - evidence of warfare - Science Centre Conglomerate - committed to sharing scientific knowledge with the public - Mathematics puzzl
Proceedings of the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) Conference on Science Advice
Get PDFCite: Academy of Science of South Africa, (ASSAf), (2016). Proceedings of the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) Conference on Science Advice. [Online] Available at: DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2016/0005The purpose of the conference was to explore various topics under the theme of Science Advice. These included: science advice ecosystems; science advice in times of disasters/emergencies; science advice in the international arena; country readiness for science advice; and, the interplay between science advice, politics and the media. The contributors and panticipants of the conference included distinguished scholars, representatives of national academies, experts and science advisors from most of the IAP member countries.Academy of Science of South Afric
Diversity in Human Sexuality: Implications for Policy in Africa
No full textCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2015). Diversity in human sexuality: implications for policy in Africa. [Online] Available at: DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf/0022ASSAf, in collaboration with the Uganda National Academy of Sciences, undertook a consensus study on Diversity in Human Sexuality: Implications for Policy in Africa in 2015. The topic of sexual and gender diversity has elicited very different reactions in African countries and amongst scholars in Africa. Same-sex activities are becoming more visible in African populations, yet the subject is consistently avoided or the practice denied or criminalised. Although it has been regularly and widely claimed that homosexuality is “un- African”, reputable studies by historians and anthropologists have found same-sex relationships to have been prevalent since the pre-colonial period in Africa. Thirty-eight of fifty-three African nations criminalise homosexuality, thereby imposing varying degrees of legislative restrictions on sexual preference and practices, and on the fulfillment of human rights of individuals and affected groups. Furthermore, the stigmatisation and criminalisation of homosexuality has made public health interventions, particularly with respect to HIV prevention and treatment, difficult to effectively implement.US National Academy of Sciences, United States
Rockefeller Foundation, United State
Workshop on Measuring Deprivation in Order to Promote Human Development
Get PDFCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2016). Workshop on Measuring Deprivation in Order to Promote Human Development. [Online] Available at: DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf/0003Poverty reduction is a critical factor outlined in both the Millennium Developmental Goals 2015 (MDGs) and the National Developmental Plan (NDP) – Vision 2030. In order for South Africa to make progress in this regard, definitions of the different forms of deprivation and human development and indicators for their measurement are needed to monitor and evaluate any programme implemented to reduce poverty.
The focus of the workshop was to understand the different dimensions of poverty and how appropriate and good measures of poverty can be developed and implemented. The workshop aimed to facilitate a holistic approach, inclined toward key recommendations outlined in the NDP – Vision 2030. The aims and objectives of the workshop were to:
• Enhance understanding of poverty and its different dimensions.
• Enhance understanding of the debates over the types of measures required to monitor the different dimensions of poverty and the levels at which poverty thresholds should be set and by whom.
• Document the phases and substance of the poverty measurement debate in post-apartheid South Africa and the details surrounding this discussion.Department of Science and Technology
Gender in science, innovation, technology and engineering (GenderInSITE)
Academy of Science of South Afric
Quest Volume 11 Number 4
No full textClimate change in South Africa - how are we tackling this?: QUEST looks at how local scientists are leading the continent's research
into the effects of climate change; Water, fire and large mammals: Climate change in Africa is not all about carbon dioxide - QUEST explains; Global climate change: are we to blame?: Mike Lucas asks the questions about climate change; The Hot Birds programme: understanding the risks of climate change for desert birds - Susie Cunningham discusses how climate change is affecting birds in hot regions; Stopping HIV infection in its tracks: QUEST looks at new approaches to preventing HIV infection; New species of human relative discovered in South Africa: More ground-breaking palaeoanthropology research from Wits; The build-up to UNFCCC COP 21
Xolisa Ngwadla explains the South African perspective; Waterwise: how climate will affect our water supply Mike Lucas discusses our precious water supply; Our oceans - constantly changing: Mike Lucas shows how our activities are affecting our oceans; Why tyres burst at high speed: Jan Smit dispels some myths about burst tyres; Water, air, plants and sea life: Jan Smit and Lerato Molebatsi explain the relationship; CSIR projects drastic temperature increases over Africa under climate change; Ancient Egyptian raptor mummy from South Africa yields a world first; Dung hits UCT headlines again; NASA mission reveals speed of solar wind stripping Martian atmosphere • T. rex may have been a cannibal; Why alternative medicine should be integrated into conventional healthcare; The million-year-old monkey: new evidence confirms the antiquity of fossil primate from the Dominican Republic; The most distant object in the solar system.Academy of Science of South Africa: Department of Science and Innovatio
Quest Volume 11 Number 3
No full textWomen in science: QUEST looks at the role of women in science through the ages; To infinity and beyond: women in space science
SANSA has many talented women exploring the secrets of the Universe; Awakenings: Petrie Jansen van Vuuren explains how to wake damaged brains; Food for thought: What's at 'steak'?: Zander Venter talks about how food production affects our environment; Aliens and islands: Peter Ryan looks at invasive alien species on remote islands; Solving the puzzle of restoring the missing fynbos; Elana Mostert, Mirijam Gaertner, Stuart Hall, Mukundi Mukundamago and Patricia Holmes explain the importance of restoration in conservation biology; A life in science: QUEST asks Dr Keolebogile Motaung about her life in science; Modelling our oceans: Nomkwezana Kobo explains how her passion for maths led to her study of our oceans; Make science cool at school and change our
country's future Caradee Wright and Smeetha Singh explore the benefits of school science clubs; Unravelling the mystery of how dinosaurs get their names; University of Free State researchers work to save giraffes from extinction in Africa; Seabirds find fine dining among jellyfish • Hunter-gatherers ate porridge; What can be done to make sure that wind energy and Africa's vultures
co-exist?; The impact of savanna fires on Africa 's rainfall patterns; Valorisation of chicken feathers into high-value materials; CSIR to reposition SA's pulp and paper industry.Academy of Science of South Africa: Department of Science and Innovatio
The State of Biosafety and Biosecurity in South Africa
Get PDFCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2015). The State of Biosafety and Biosecurity in South Africa. [Online] Available from: DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf/0020This consensus study report presents the findings of a systematic assessment of the state of biosafety and biosecurity in South Africa, including an evaluation of legislation, regulations and practices at both national and institutional levels. The findings report on strengths, weaknesses and gaps in the laws and in their implementation, and the practices relating to biosafety and biosecurity at laboratory level. Recommendations are made to address the weaknesses and gaps identified.
Research and development in the life sciences are important elements of South African growth and development and are essential to address the needs of the country. It was thus imperative that ASSAf contributes towards ensuring that life science research in South Africa is conducted safely, securely and ethically. This is in the interests of all South Africans and in the interests of the life science community.
With this broad objective, ASSAf constituted a Biosafety and Biosecurity panel of experts to assess and comment on the relationship between science and security in South Africa. While it is deemed important to extend an assessment of biosafety and biosecurity to the greater southern African region, this was not possible in the timeframe permitted for the study, but remains an important objective in the long term.
The research conducted for this consensus study included:
1. An investigation into the applicability and balance of relevant ethical principles through a review of literature in order to establish a context for biosafety and biosecurity considerations.
2. An assessment of existing, relevant legislation and regulations in relation to biosafety and biosecurity in order to identify strengths, weaknesses and gaps in laws and in their implementation.
3. A critical overview of the implementation of biosafety and biosecurity measures in laboratories in South Africa and an assessment of the extent to which laboratory practices address safety and security concerns.
4. An evaluation of existing measures and capacity to detect, identify, control and prevent the natural, accidental or deliberate spread of infectious agents.
The panel used a variety of methods to conduct the research, including but not limited to:
1. Convening a series of panel discussions on biosafety and biosecurity.
2. Assessing existing legislation and regulations in relation to biosafety and biosecurity to identify strengths, weaknesses and gaps in laws and in their implementation.
3. Conducting a survey of life scientists’ experience and perceptions of biosafety and biosecurity measures in laboratories in South Africa.
4. Evaluating existing measures and capacity to detect, identify, control, and prevent the natural, accidental, or deliberate spread of infectious agents.
5. Consultation with experts from a variety of disciplines (including experts with proven biosecurity expertise).
Ultimately, the goal of the study was to:
1. Make sustainable and evidence-based recommendations to the South African government and the scientific community to address the identified weaknesses in: existing legislation; the implementation of biosafety and biosecurity in laboratories; existing measures and capacity to detect and control spread of infectious diseases; and to raise awareness about existing measures (including practices and legislation) to reduce the risks associated with dual-use research and to engage the life science community in a dialogue about biosafety and biosecurity.
2. Make recommendations to remove weaknesses and gaps in existing legislation and in the implementation of such legislation.United States’ DTRA’s CBE