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ASSAf Annual Report 2014/2015 Presentation

This annual report presents the achievements and initiatives of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) in 2014/2015, highlighting its dual mandate to honor scholars and provide evidence-based solutions to challenges. The report details governance, programs, policy advice, and scholarly publishing initiatives undertaken by ASSAf during the period.

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ASSAf Annual Report 2014/2015 Presentation

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  1. Annual Report 2014/2015Presentation to S&T Parliamentary Portfolio Committee

  2. Dual 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 & reward of excellence Promotion of innovation & scholarly activity Promotion of effective, evidence-based scientific advice Promotion of public interest in & awareness of science & science education Promotion of national, regional & international linkages

  4. Alignment Government Goals • Strengthening skills & resource base • Regional development, African advancement & international cooperation • Improvement of health profile of society • Improvement of rural development and food security • Improvement of environmental assets & natural resources

  5. ASSAf Programmes

  6. Governance & Administration Strategic Objectives • Promote good governance through Council • Promote sound financial management • Promote sound HR management • 4 Council meetings • 3 standing committees (Executive, HR and Audit & Risk) that meet regularly • Vice-President, Prof Pat Berjak, passed away • HR Manager appointed January 2015

  7. Governance & Administration • COUNCIL 4 Council Meetings – Office Bearers (88% Attendance) – Non-office Bearers (77% Attendance) • MEMBERS New Members - 23 Total Membership - 441 25% - Women 28% - Black

  8. Membership by Discipline

  9. STAFF Full-time Staff – 33 SAJS – Part-time Editor-in-Chief Quest – Part-time Editor PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE Rented premises in Persequor Park

  10. Policy Advisory Programme Initiate & Implement Evidence-based Projects Health Biosafety & Biosecurity Energy & Environment Humanities STEM Education Poverty Reduction

  11. Policy Advisory Programme Health • Diversity in Human Sexuality: Implications for Policy in Africa– Completed March 2015 Report examined extent to which science supports arguments in favour of criminalising sexual & gender diversity • Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use (MNS) Disorders – Workshop May 2014 & Proceedings Report Nov 2014 Focus on core competencies for MNS disorders – identification, challenges and implementation

  12. Policy Advisory Programme Health Reconceptualising Education and Training of an Appropriate Health Workforce for the Improved Health of the Nation – Commenced 2014 Biosafety & Biosecurity • State of Biosafety and Biosecurity in South Africa– Completed – March 2015 Evaluation of capacity to detect, control & prevent spread of infectious agents

  13. Policy Advisory Programme • Energy & Environment • The State of Energy Research in South Africa – Published August 2014 • State of Green Technologies in South Africa – Published Nov 2014 & launched Jan 2015 • South Africa’s Technical Readiness to Support Hydraulic Fracturing - Commenced 2014

  14. Policy Advisory Programme • Energy & Environment • Impacts of Artisanal Gold Mining - Collaboration with Sudanese Academy. Workshop -September 2014 & Joint Proceedings Report • Environment and Health Symposium – Collaboration with Leopoldina. Planned for June 2015

  15. Policy Advisory Programme Humanities • Conference “On being Controversial: The Humanities reach out” – June 2014 Focus was SA in its 20th year of democracy. Series of encounters: • Satire, Literature, University and Society • Artistic Representation vs Hate Speech • Marikanaand other Daily Massacres • Decent Work • The City • Families in Changing South Africa • Poverty

  16. Policy Advisory Programme STEM Education • Revitalising Agricultural Education and Training – Commenced 2014 • La main à la pâte (LAMAP) Pilot Project – Inquiry-based Science Education projectbeingimplemented in 10 primaryschools in Tshwane South District.

  17. Policy Advisory Programme Poverty • Revitalised Committee on Science for the Reduction of Poverty and Inequality – November 2014 • Workshop on poverty lines planned

  18. Scholarly Publishing Programme SciELO-SA Open Access Platform • 51 journal titles available on platform • 831 issues on platform • 12 816 articles • 832 447 visits = 34% increase National Scholarly Book Publishers’ Forum • Held 3rd annual meeting Peer Review of South African Scholarly Journals • Health Sciences & Related Medical Fields – Published July 2014 • Law & Related Fields – Published August 2014

  19. Scholarly Publishing Programme National Scholarly Editors’ Forum • 8th Annual Meeting - July 2014 • International speakers: Jean-Claude Guédon, University of Montréal Lars Bjornshauge, Directory of Open Access Journals Access to Core Commercial Databases • Advisory Committee established July 2014 • Business case completed

  20. Scholarly Publishing Programme Peer Review - Scholarly Journals, Books & Conference Proceedings • Assisted DHET with evaluation of new journal applications, conference proceedings & books for subsidies • ASSAf to undertake evaluations in future Open Access Platform for SA Scholarly Journals • 2014, SciELO-SA started project for journals to benefit from deeper files to allow for better search results • Backfiles would increase the searchability of the platform • 3 958 backfile articles electronically converted and marked up

  21. Scholarly Publishing Programme Open Access for Research & Development in Africa • January 2015 – Consultative Forum on Open Access: Towards High-level Interventions for R & D in Africa • 45 high-level policymakers & experts from 20 African countries • Participants – e.g. UNESCO, NASAC, KNAW, AAS, KNAS & Kenyan Ministry of Education, Sciences & Technology • Draft NASAC Open Access Statement submitted to NASAC Review - Journal of Energy in Southern Africa and Energy Research Newsletter • Report submitted to DST

  22. South African Journal of Science • Volume 111 (Volume 1: 1905) • Electronic & limited print format • Social media profiles • Full digital issues for mobile and tablet devices available • Highlights and table of contents distributed electronically to 5 400 recipients • 468 submissions from 54 countries • Web of Science Impact Factor 2014: 1.03 • Second most visited title on the SciELO-South Africa platform

  23. Liaison Programme Strategic Partnerships InterAcademy Partnership IAP, IAMP, IAP –umbrella organisation – InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) Prof Daya Reddy - Exec of IAP & IAC Co-chair Prof Jimmy Volmink - IAMP Exec Host IAP General Assembly & Conference - February/March 2016 - Science Advice IAMP – successfully nominated 2 young physicians for IAMP Young Physician Leaders’ (YPLs) meeting at World Health Summit, Berlin, October 2014

  24. Liaison Programme Strategic Partnerships IAC • ASADI Review finalised • Report presented to ASADI Board & Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation • Concluded: significant success i.t.o. objectives impacts on development of African science academies • Successor to ASADI to be driven from Africa

  25. Liaison Programme Strategic Partnerships TWAS • 25th TWAS Conference and General Assembly - Sultanate of Oman - October 2014 • 2 SA TWAS young affiliates - Dr Collet Dandara (UCT) & Dr HenokKinfe (UJ) • Prof QuarraishaAbdool Karim - 2014 TWAS-Lenovo Science Prize in Biological Sciences • Prof Roseanne Diab, ASSAf EO, served for 2nd year on TWAS election committees & Gender Advisory Panel • ASSAf – identified as host of TWAS-ROSSA – 1 March 2015

  26. Liaison Programme Strategic Partnerships ICSU • Prof Daya Reddy - President-Elect from 2017 • ASSAf- hosts ICSU ROA - May 2015 Provides an opportunity to synergise and strengthen activities of both organisations in Africa.

  27. Liaison Programme Overseas Collaboration German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina Indian National Science Academy Commonwealth Science Conference ESASTAP Plus US-Africa Summit British Academy Al-Rodhan Prize on Transcultural Understanding – Prof Jonathan Jansen

  28. Liaison Programme Africa Collaboration • ASADA February 2015 - plan of action for academy development in Africa & conceptualised & driven by African science academies • AMASA -10 – Hosted in Uganda Othercollaborations • ASSAf- Ethiopian Academy of Science • NASAC • ASSAf - Sudanese National Academy of Science

  29. Liaison Programme Women in Science Activities • Women for Science: Inclusion and Participation in IAP Member Science Academies study • GenderInSITE- Consultative Workshop on Gender and Agriculture in the SADC Region • Gender, Ownership, and the Post-2015 Agenda • GenderInSITE/SPRU Workshop and Coordinating Group Meeting

  30. Liaison Programme National Liaison Activities • ASSAf Science-for-Society Gold Medals Prof QuarraishaAbdool Karim, CAPRISA, UKZN Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor & Rector UFS • AU-TWAS Prize for Young Scientists– DrKeren Middelkoop, UCT Prof De Wet Swanepoel, UP • Regional and National Lectures Distinguished Visiting Scholars Prof Bengt Gustafsson, Swedish astrophysicist Prof Zakri Abdul Hamid, Malaysia

  31. Quest Quest:Science for South Africa Full-colour, quarterly, popular science magazine Print-run 25 000 per issue Aimed at learners, educators, scientific community, academics, decision-makers and public Distributed to Dinaledi & public high schools with science departments & at national science events

  32. Statement of Financial Position at 31 March 2015

  33. Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Year ended 31 March 2015

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

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