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ASSAf: Honouring Distinguished Scholars and Promoting Scientific Solutions

The ASSAf parliamentary portfolio committee aims to recognize excellence in scientific enquiry and provide evidence-based solutions to national and global challenges. Through various programs and initiatives, the committee aligns with government goals and contributes to addressing the triple challenges of poverty, inequality, and unemployment. Major projects include the celebration of ASSAf's 20th anniversary, membership expansion, collaboration with African and overseas academies, and hosting the IAP conference on science advice. The committee also focuses on good governance, effective communication, and promoting public awareness of science.

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ASSAf: Honouring Distinguished Scholars and Promoting Scientific Solutions

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  1. Parliamentary Portfolio Committee 20 October 2016

  2. ASSAF Mandate • To honour distinguished scholars in all fields of scientific enquiry • To generate evidence-based solutions to national and global challenges

  3. ASSAf Goals • Recognition and reward of excellence • Promotion of innovation and scholarly activity • Effective, evidence-based scientific advice • Public interest in and awareness of science & science education • National, regional and international linkages

  4. Alignment with Government Goals

  5. Alignment with Government Goals

  6. Alignment with Government Goals

  7. Direct Contributions to Triple Challenges Direct

  8. Direct Contributions to Triple Challenges Indirect

  9. Significant Developments/Major Projects • ASSAf celebrates 20th anniversary • Membership of 470 • Record – 3 consensus study & 3 proceedings reports • SciELO SA – 62 South African journal titles • Studies aligned to NDP’s triple challenges & government goals • Collaboration with African & overseas academies strengthened • Hosted IAP Conference on Science Advice – Feb 2016   • Conducted 5-year Institutional Review

  10. Governance and Administration Programme Programmes Science Advisory Programme Communication and Publications Programme Secretariat Liaison Programme Scholarly Publishing Programme

  11. Programme 1: Governance & Administration • Promote good governance through Council • Promote diversification of Academy Membership • Recognise, reward and promote excellence in science

  12. Good Governance • COUNCIL 4 Council Meetings 1 Council Strategic Planning Meeting 3 Executive Committee Meetings 4 Audit & Risk Committee Meetings 4 Human Resources Committee Meetings 1 Annual General Meeting • ATTENDANCE OF COUNCIL MEETINGS Office-bearers 90% Non-office-bearers 61%

  13. MEMBERS New Members - 31 Total Membership - 470 25% - Women 28% - Black

  14. Recognition of Excellence Science-for-Society Gold Medal • Prof AnusuyaChinsamy-Turan, UCT African Union (AU)-TWAS Award • Prof Yahya Choonara - Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation, Wits • Prof MarlienPieters - Earth and Life Sciences, NWU   Sydney Brenner Fellowships • Dr DoritHockman, UCT • Dr Justin NonoKomguep, UCT

  15. Recognition of Excellence Distinguished Visiting Scholar • March 2016 (4 lectures)-Prof Catherine Campbell, London School of Economics 3 Regional Lectures • June 2015 - Dr Jane Lubchenco, Oregon State University & US Science Envoy for the Ocean • Sept 2015 – Prof Richard Catlow, University College London • Feb 2016 - Profs Christopher Mathew & Michèle Ramsay, Wits 1 Panel Discussion • March 2016 - in collaboration SAYAS

  16. Table 1

  17. Programme 2: Communication • Market the Academy among target audiences • Promote public awareness of science

  18. Marketing 8 Evidence-based Reports • Diversity in Human Sexuality: Implications for Policy in Africa • The State of Biosafety and Biosecurity in South Africa • On Being Controversial: The Humanities Reach Out – PR • Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Humanities Part 1: ‘Literature Group’ (Classics, Literature & Languages) • Environment and Health Symposium – PR • Women for Science: Inclusion and Participation in Academies of Science - A Survey of the Members of IAP: The Global Network of Science Academies Members • Insights into South Africa’s Participation in the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development of the European Commission • Measuring Deprivation in order to Promote Human Development in South Africa – PR

  19. Public Awareness Science Events • Science Forum South Africa S&T – Dec 2015 • S&T Budget Vote – 21 May 2015 Exhibitions • ASSAf 20-Year Celebrations – Feb 2016 • IAP Conference Exhibition – Feb 2016 Quest • 5 Science Festivals • 5 Career Guidance • 4 Conferences • 10 Science Events • 11 District Offices Visited

  20. Table 2

  21. Programme 3: Liaison • Initiate & develop relations with global, African and SADC science academy networks, national science academies and other science organisations • Promote participation for young scientists & women in science policy-related activities

  22. International & Regional Collaboration IAP General Assembly & Conference on Science Advice - Hermanus, Feb/March 2016 • Side events Science Advice for African Scientists Off-grid Energy for Rural Development • Report Women for Science: Inclusion and Participation in Academies of Science G-Science Academies – Tokyo, 16 - 19 Feb 2016 InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) • Prof Daya Reddy Executive Committee IAC Co-Chair • Prof Jimmy Volmink (now Prof William Pick) IAMP Executive Committee

  23. International & Regional Collaboration TWAS - 13th General Conference & 26th General Meeting - Vienna, Austria 18 - 21 Nov 2015 Host • ICSU ROA • TWAS-ROSSA TWAS-ROSSA • Biovision Forum - 2 Young Scientists - Lyon, France, 15 - 16 April 2015 • Regional Young Scientist Award - Prof Alta Schutte (NWU), Oct 2015 • TWAS Regional Prize – Prof Jan Smit (NWU), Nov 2015 • TWAS Young Affiliates – 5 from sub-Saharan Africa

  24. International & Regional Collaboration Science Academy Development in Africa • ASADA - 5 Strategic Plan NASAC • Prof Barney Pityana, General Secretary Bilaterals • Austrian Academy of Sciences, Nov 2015 • Bilateral Benin National Academy of Sciences, Arts andLetters, March 2016

  25. International & Regional Collaboration ESASTAP Plus • Report - Insights into South Africa’s Participation in the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development of the European Commission, 7 Dec 2015, Pretoria ESASTAP 2020 • Launched in Cape Town 25 & 26 Feb 2016 • Workshop - ESASTAP 2020 Workshop on Science for Policy Advice

  26. Young Scientists’ Activities ASSAf/TWAS-ROSSA Young Scientists’ Conference • Inspiring Change post-2015: The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation in empowering Women in Africa, 16 – 18 Sept 2015 LindauNobel Laureate Foundation Agreement • Academic partner • Submitted names of 10 Physics young scientists – 5 selected

  27. Gender & Science, Technology & Innovation Host OWSD National Chapter Oversee implementation of GenderInSITE • Focal point for GenderInSITE in southern Africa • Raise awareness of gender in SITE • Demonstrate how gender analysis and application of gender lens can improve development

  28. Table 3

  29. Programme 5: Policy Advisory Programme • Provide evidence-based scientific advice to support policy development • Ensure effective dissemination and uptake of reports

  30. Health Studies • Diversity in Human Sexuality: Implications for Policy in Africa - 10 June 2015, Durban • Diversity in Human Sexuality Dialogue - 6 Aug 2015, Johannesburg • Reconceptualising Education & Training of Appropriate Health Workforce for Improved Health of Nation • Ethical, Legal & Social Issues Related to Human Genetics & Genomics in SA • Mental, Neurological, & Substance Use (MNS) Disorders • Environment & Health Symposium - June 2015, Pretoria

  31. Biosafety & Biosecurity Studies • State of Biosafety and Biosecurity in South Africa - 23 July 2015, Pretoria • Regulatory Implications of New Genetic Engineering Technologies - Commenced Energy and Environment Studies • State of Green Technologies in South Africa Continued to disseminate findings Report referenced & publicised • SouthAfrica’s Technical Readiness to Support Hydraulic Fracturing

  32. Education Studies • Revitalising Agricultural Education and Training – Nearing completion • LAMAP Pilot Project - Completed • Mathematics Symposium -9 - 11 March 2016, Stellenbosch Humanities Studies • On Being Controversial: The Humanities Reach Out – PR published, Oct 2015 Poverty Studies • Measuring Human Deprivation to Promote Human Development Workshop - 9 - 10 June 2015 PR published – Jan 2016

  33. Table 4

  34. Programme 5: Publications • Manage & produce South African Journal of Science • Manage & produce Quest: Science for South Africa

  35. 112th year of publication • +20% annually over 5 years • 471 submissions from 51 countries: 44% South Africa 15% Africa 12% China 7% India • Rejection rate - 89% • Articles published - 135 (2015/16): 96 (2014/15) = +40% • Publication delay - 9 months (2015): 5 months (2016)

  36. Website visits 47 000 (2014/15): 52 000 (2015/16) = +12% • Facebook 420 (2015): 940 (2016) • Twitter 200(2015): 640 (2016) • Electronic distribution 5 400 (2015): 12 000 (2016) • Jan/Feb 2016 - Print copies discontinued • February 2016 - Article-level metrics measure impact - Altmetric measure impact via Facebook, Twitter, social book- marking, blogs, news)

  37. Quest

  38. Table 5

  39. Programme 6: Scholarly Publishing • Promote access to knowledge resources • Undertake quality assurance of journals, books & collected works in SA • Enhance scientific writing for research publishing

  40. Access to Knowledge Resources SciELO-SA Collection (March 2015 –March 2016) SciELO-SA Usage (March 2015 –March 2016)

  41. Access to Knowledge Resources • New Generation Technology • - Journal audit of SA journals • - Implemented Creative Commons • - Pilot project Open Journal Systems (OJS) to publish 4 SciELO-SA journal titles • - Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) introduced • - Portico - digital archive in dark archive (failsafe • disaster recovery) • - Webinar services introduced • - Applied for Directory of Open Access Journals • (DOAJ) • - Scholarly Publishing Help Page established

  42. Table 6

  43. Statement of Financial position

  44. Thank you Website: www.assaf.org.za

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