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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Towards a Low Carbon City: Focus on Durban
No full textCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2011). Towards a Low Carbon City: Focus on Durban. [Online] Available at: DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf/0031This report on Towards a Low Carbon City: Focus on Durban aims to address both mitigation and adaptation opportunities for the city of Durban. The critical issue of transitioning to a low carbon city in the face of serious unemployment and the need for economic development is addressed by emphasising the need to shift to a green economy. The study provides - key overarching recommendations, as well as sector-specific recommendations, which the city needs to address in order to transition to a low carbon city. The recommendations are generally applicable to developing country cities and can be used as a guideline for local governments in other cities.
The city of Durban has been a leader in South Africa with regard to climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives. This study will contribute to the city’s reputation as a leader. The release of the report ahead of the city’s hosting of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2011 is significant and offers Durban an opportunity to establish further its standing amongst global cities.Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department, eThekwini Municipality
Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA
The Emerging Threat of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis
Get PDFCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2011). The Emerging Threat of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis. [Online] Available at: DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf/0013An estimated 2 billion people, one-third of the global population, are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb.), the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB) (Keshavjee and Seung, 2008). Spread through the air, this infectious disease kills 1.8 million people each year, or 4,500 each day (WHO, 2009a). TB is the leading killer of people with HIV, and it is also a disease of poverty—the vast majority of TB deaths occur in the developing world (WHO, 2009a). Exacerbating the devastation caused by TB is the growing threat of drug-resistant strains of the disease in many parts of the world. The development of drug resistance is a predictable, natural phenomenon that occurs when microbes adapt to survive in the presence of drug therapy (Nugent et al., 2010). Although antibiotics developed in the 1950s are effective against a large percentage of TB cases, resistance to these first-line therapies has developed over the years, resulting in the growing emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drugresistant (XDR) TB, and even totally drug-resistant (TDR) TB (see Box 1-1 for definitions). In recognitionUS Academy of Science
Quest Volume 7 Number 1
No full textThe 'queen of sciences': QUEST looks at Marie Curie's contribution to chemistry in particular and science in general; The Periodic Table of the elements: Without understanding the Periodic Table. chemistry can remain a mystery; QUEST explains; The Fischer-Tropsch Process: generating synthetic fuels: SASOL has a history of innovation in the field of synthetic fuels; Chemistry in South Africa - a long established industry: Mining and stock diseases were major forces in the development of the local chemical industry; From plant to production: the Hoodia story: Indigenous knowledge and biotechnology team up; Ecological networks: the key to biodiversity conservation: Industry can be part of biodiversity conservation; Scorched, frozen or flooded! What's happening to the weather?: Are extreme events a sign of climate change?; Green chemistry: from the chemical industry to everyday life: Chemistry is no longer a 'dirty industry'; The International Year of Chemistry Global Experiment: UNESCO and IUPAC launch the IYC in Cape Town in March 2011; Natural products in South Africa: a brief history: The history of natural product production in South Africa started a long time ago; Cameras and sound: new approached in the study of estuarine fish; New technology aids in the understanding of aquatic biodiversity; Ten years of the infra Red Survey Facility: An update of this important astronomical facility in South Africa; Elephants and waves: Seeing physics in everyday life.Academy of Science of South Africa: Department of Science and Innovatio
Quest Volume 7 Number 4
No full textForestry is not about trees - it's about people; Stellenbosch University's Department of Forest and Wood Science takes us on a journey through South African forestry; Converting biomass to energy - a South African perspective: How wood and wood derivatives are
contributing to sustainable energy production in South Africa; The value of wood: Scientific management and innovation are driving sustainable production in South Africa's forests; How strong is that piece of wood?; The use of wood in the construction industry makes it essential that wood strength can be predicted accurately; Forestry and rural development: Forestry plays a vital role in the health of
rural communities; Breakthroughs bring us ever closer to HIV cures: A patient in Berlin may have provided the key to curing HIV; Tool use by early modern humans; Once again, the Blombos Caves are providing insight into early modern human behaviour; United Nations International Year of Forests 2011 - celebrating forests for people: An innovative use of IT and imagination New hope in the fight against HIV infection OuEsr looks at the latest update on the global HIV pandemic 24 HIV: who would have thought ... ?; It seems that radiation treatment could have unexpected effects on people living with HIV; The mathematics behind the transmission of HIV: How to make people think seriously about HIV transmission; What happens to man-made C02 emissions?: Where does all the C02 that our activities produce go?: Conserving our rivers: a meandre along riparian zones; South Africa's rivers play a vital role in conservation; Climate change and our coasts: Our marine and coastal development will not escape the influences of climate change; Acid mine drainage - can it affect human health?: The jury is still out on whether or not acid mine drainage can harm human health, but that is no
reason to ignore its potential to do damage;Academy of Science of South Africa: Department of Science and Innovatio
Quest Volume 7 Number 2
No full textSub-zero physics; Satellites with attitude: How Earth's magnetic field helps satellites navigate; CubeSats - a 21st century (r)evolution:
South Africa is at the forefront of research into cube satellites; Space weather - protecting today's technology for tomorrow: Space weather affects our ability to communicate and navigate on Earth; Letting satellites work for us: South Africa has a remarkable reputation for the use of space science and technology; Stranger than fiction: Extra-solar planets and binary systems: All about a strange planetary systems that has two 'suns'; Acid mine drainage - the chemistry: The chemistry behind this environmental problem; South Africa reaches for the sky: The CEO of the South African National Space Agency answers some questions SANSA space science: The Space Science Directorate of the South African National Space Agency: Earlier this year, South Africa took a giant step into space research; Maximising the benefits of technology: A new agency maximises the benefits of South Africa's significant global share in the space industry; Our eyes in the sky - helping to improve livelihoods on Earth: Satellites have been used for Earth observation since early days of space exploration; Sustainability through Earth observation: Space technology can help us with sustainable use of our resources; Movies as conservation tools: A novel approach to educating about conservation; Maropeng goes stargazing: Maropeng's resident astronomer hosts stargazing events.Academy of Science of South Africa: Department of Science and Innovatio
Increasing Participation of Girls in Science in sub-Saharan Africa
Get PDFCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2011). Inquiry-Based Science Education: Increasing Participation of Girls in Science in sub-Saharan Africa Policy-makers’ Booklet. [Online] Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11911/76This policy-makers’ booklet is a joint project of the Academy
of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC), the Organisation of Women Scientists for the Developing World (OWSDW) and the Gender Advisory Board of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (UNCSTD).Inter-Academy Panel (IAP) global network of science academie
Consensus Study on the State of the Humanities in South Africa: Status, Prospects and Strategies
Get PDFCite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2011). Consensus Study on the State of the Humanities in South Africa: Status, Prospects and Strategies. [Online] Available at: DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2016/0025The purpose of this study was to provide evidence-based advice on the status and future role of the Humanities in South Africa to government and other stakeholders (such as science councils, the department of education, universities) as a contribution towards improving the human condition.
Everywhere, the Humanities is judged by many to be in “crisis.” The reasons for this, in South Africa, include the governmental emphasis on science and technology; the political emphasis on the economically-grounded idea of “developmentalism;” the shift of values among youth (and their parents) towards practical employment and financial gain; and the argument that the challenges faced by our society are so urgent and immediate that the reflective and critical modes of thinking favoured in the Humanities seem to be unaffordable luxuries. The Report provides invaluable detail about the challenges and opportunities associated with tapping the many pools of excellence that exist in the country. It should be used as a guideline for policymakers to do something concrete to improve the circumstances faced by the Humanities, not only in South Africa but also around the world.
Amongst other recommendations, the Report calls for the establishment of a Council for the Humanities to advise government on how to improve the status and standing of the Humanities in South Africa. It also calls for initiation, through the leadership of the Department of Basic Education, considered measures to boost knowledge of and positive choices for the Humanities throughout the twelve years of schooling, including progressive ways of privileging the Arts, History and Languages in the school curriculum through Grade 12.Ford Foundation, South Africa
Oppenheimer Memorial Trust, South Africa
Department of Higher Education and Training, South Afric
