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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The Human Costs of Climate Change
Full text linkWebinar presented on 14 July 2022 as part of the 8th ASSAf Presidential Roundtable series
Mental Health and the role of traditional healers
Full text linkMP4 Video; Duration: 01:29Please cite as: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2022). Mental Health and the role of Traditional Healers. [Online] Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11911/242Webinar presented on 8 July 2022 by the Academy of Science of South Africa. The provision of treatment, care and rehabilitation services for people with Mental, Neurological and Substance use (MNS) disorders is a multisectoral responsibility. Traditional healers have a unique role to play, especially in resource-limited settings. It is estimated that there are about 200 000 traditional healers as compared to 975 registered psychiatrists – who mostly practise in urban areas and the private sector.
Traditional health practitioners and those linked to faith-based organisations play a significant role in providing services for people with MNS disorders. These are often an entry point into systems of care. These providers, therefore, could play a significant role in identifying people with such disorders, and in some cases, have worked cooperatively with health services in providing for the mental health and spiritual needs of individuals. There is a need to understand the role of traditional health practitioners in mental health care.
This webinar seeks to understand the role, knowledge, attitude, and practice of traditional healers in mental health care with the aim to encourage their participation in terms of the treatment, care and rehabilitation of people with MNS disorders.Access the proceedings at http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11911/253 or http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2022/0082Janssen Pharmaceutica (Pty) Ltd (South Africa
Highlights of the 2021 webinar series on reducing poverty and inequality in South Africa post-COVID
No full textMP4 video: 1.38GB, 1:00:00MP4 video: 47.9MB, 03:00The Standing Committee on the Science for the Reduction of Poverty and Inequality (SCSfRPI) is a committee of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). In July 2020, the ASSAf Council mandated the committee to focus on poverty and inequality concerning the pandemic and consult interdisciplinary science on reducing poverty and inequality. In response, the SCSfRPI conceptualised a webinar series that delved into the following themes: 1. What to do to reduce poverty and inequality?
2. How to fund interventions to reduce poverty?
3. What must be done if the state is to be capable of poverty and inequality reduction? These clips provide a summary of the discussions during the entire webinar series.Access full video on YouTube (incl. promotional video): https://youtu.be/JHATtZrWnRcAccess promotional video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0dnsEXPnwcQAlso see Webinar One of a Three-part series: What to do to reduce poverty and inequality? Access at http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11911/183 or https://youtu.be/GfHgsElkrTcAlso see Webinar Two of a Three-part Series: How to Fund Interventions to Reduce Poverty in South Africa? Access at http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11911/188 or https://youtu.be/35G91An6XaMAlso see Webinar Three of a Three-part Series: What must be done if the state is to be capable of poverty and inequality reduction? Access at http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11911/193 or https://youtu.be/APSkk5cshWoStudies in Poverty and Inequality Institute (SPII); Bureau for Economic Research (BER); SARChI Chair in Social Policy at the University of South Africa (UNISA
Impact of climate change on food systems: Using transdisciplinary science to drive mitigation and adaptation solutions to protect and promote health
Full text linkMP4 video, Size: 1.41GB; Duration: 1:56:42Please cite as: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) and Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) (2022) Impact of climate change on food systems: Using transdisciplinary science to drive mitigation and adaptation solutions to protect and promote health. Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11911/257A recent systems-based approach to tackling climate change and health issues, from the global InterAcademy Partnership and its regional academy networks, examined how science can guide innovation, policy and practice for climate mitigation and adaptation. Among adverse climate change effects are those mediated by multiple impacts on food production and, consequently, on health and livelihoods. Outputs from the global assessment and specifically from Africa will be presented to exemplify the diverse challenges and opportunities to identify and implement solutions, integrated between agriculture and other sectors, at all levels of governance.Adverse effects of climate change on food and nutrition security are already apparent and projected to worsen. Transformative change for sustainable food systems and nutritional quality, including climate-smart, resilient agriculture, involves improving research capacity, extension services and political commitment, aligned with SDGs. Implementing evidence-based, customised, mitigation and adaptation solutions based on advances in biological and social sciences and informatics to deliver both supply- and demand-side changes, requires engagement with all stakeholders. Other priorities discussed include reconsideration of indigenous and underutilised food contributions and examination of food processing and other steps in the food chain and circular economy.InterAcademy Partnership (IAP); Network of African Science Academies (NASAC
Quest Volume 18 Number 4
Full text linkPlease cite as: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) (2022) Quest: Science for South Africa, 18(4). Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11911/263Hot origins: The ancient history of natural glass - Master of disguise: The ubiquitous nature of glass - Zero-carbon glass? SA upping its circular economy game with glass innovations - At the cutting edge of glass manufacturing: From ‘lightweighting’ to innovative energy reductions - State-of-the-ART glass festival wows in Italy Venice, the home of glass art, this year partnered with Milan to celebrate the Italian Glass Weeks - Get the scoop on mental health (and healthy poop)! Our microbiome can play a significant role in our mental health - True mental health recovery for young South Africans - with the help of our peers: Making the case for a recovery approach to mental healthcare - Backing the bugs: To control South Africa’s water weeds - Young Scientist Profile: Young scientist visits with Nobel Laureates - The “How to get ahead during and after school” series: Part 3 - Grade 12, a survival kit and life after school - Back to the moon! - Six South African women scientists receive awards from L’Oreal and UNESCO - UFS geography lecturer joins research expedition to Marion Island - Bio-inspired nanofibres: Weaving biological tissue with nanomedicine to repair brains - A truly global effort to battle Parkinson’s disease: South African doctors and researchers partnering with counterparts all over the worldDepartment of Science and Innovation; Academy of Science of South Afric
Statement by senior international science advisors In advance of the 15th conference of the parties to the convention on biological diversity
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Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Economics and Business Management
Full text link116p.Please cite as: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2021). Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Economics and Business Management. [Online] Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2022/0079The peer review report titled 'Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Economics and Business Management' is the 13th 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 and war
Full text linkMP4 video, Size: 2.73GB; Duration: 1:32Please cite as: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2022). Science and War. [Online] Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11911/235In times of war, scientists ask themselves what their role can and should be, in the face of humanitarian disasters, disruption and challenges to our ability to collaborate on a global platform. History shows us that science can do great good, and great harm. Our responsibility now is to seek knowledge for the good of humanity. Nowhere is this more evident than in the response of the academic community to the current crisis in Eastern Europe. It is clear, too, that as part of the greater global society, we acknowledge the severe impacts of all wars against humanity, whether in Europe or the Middle East or Africa. We should embrace fleeing refugees from the Congo or Syria with the same concern as those from Ukraine - only then does international solidarity mean anything at all. There is reason for pause, and to consider the issues that are at stake because of wars: the disruption and destruction of human lives and the halting of progress towards addressing the broadest global challenges – hunger, poverty, climate change, pandemics, inequalities and natural disasters. Scientists across the world should be supported in working together to find solutions, for peace and the greater good
Priorities for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research and Services in South Africa webinar
Full text link22 pagesAcademy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2022). Priorities for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research and Services in South Africa webinar. Available online] DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2022/0010Children and adolescents under the age of 18 years comprise 34% of the population, and child and adolescent Mental, Neurological and Substance Use (MNS) disorders are common and an important cause of disability and distress. Providers at all levels should be competent to screen for and identify common childhood mental disorders, which usually present with developmental delay, emotional and/or behavioural symptoms and/or learning difficulties. Given the burden of disease, the fact that many mental disorders begin in childhood, and that early intervention is most effective in childhood and adolescence, it is essential that effective promotion, prevention, treatment, care and rehabilitation interventions should be provided for children and adolescents. In this webinar, hosted by the Academy of Science of South Africa, leading experts in child and adolescent mental health presented their priorities for child and adolescent mental health services and research in South Africa.Janssen Pharmaceutica (Pty) Lt
Annual National Scholarly Editors’ Forum (NSEF) Meeting
Full text linkASSAf’s Scholarly Publishing Programme (SPP) hosted its annual National Scholarly Editors’ Forum (NSEF) two-days meeting on 21 and 22 November 2022. The NSEF annual meeting is an opportunity for scholarly journal editors to interact on issues pertaining to scholarly journal publishing in South Africa. This year’s meeting was themed ‘The latest trends and challenges in the rapidly changing world of scholarly publishing’.Day 1: Session 1: ASSAf Business Meeting [https://youtu.be/9BRlBNNgAto]Day 1: Session 2: Changing Scholarly Journal’s Accessibility [https://youtu.be/pSu7PRL_kiY]Day 1: Session 3: Enhanced Engagement [https://youtu.be/a6epo18SNfg]Day 1: Session 4: Keynote Presentation [https://youtu.be/XZ-gn1rSaEg]Day 1: Session 5: Creative Outputs [https://youtu.be/-XctsyU_s4o]Day 2: Session 1: Research Integrity and Ethics [https://youtu.be/Q4IkWU3m1ok]Day 2: Session 2: Peer Review [https://youtu.be/tYfV-A-ETm4]Day 2: Session 3: Editor's Support [https://youtu.be/JnnTL8X9EeI]Day 2: Wrap-up and Closure [https://youtu.be/aS1iQGVU9VM