Scientific Thinking for Society: Annual Performance Plan 2015/2016

1. Applying scientific thinking in the service of society Annual Performance Plan 2015/2016Presentation to Parliamentary Portfolio Committee14 April 2015

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 • Promotion of effective, evidence-based scientific advice • Promotion of public interest in and awareness of science & science education • Promotion of national, regional and international linkages

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

5. Programmes of the Academy

6. Governance and Administration • Promote good governance -Compliance, unqualified audits, sound financial and HR management, efficient execution of Council decisions • Promote diversification of Membership - Improve gender and race representivity (30% targets) • Recognise, reward & promote science excellence - Science for Society gold medals, 2 Sydney Brenner fellowships, 2 Distinguished Visiting Scholars

7. Scholarly Publishing Programme • Promote access to knowledge resources - Increase by 10 the number of titles on OA platform (SciELO SA) - Promote access to core commercial databases • Undertake quality assurance (journals, books etc.) - Establish peer-review evaluation panels - Publish 3 discipline-grouped panel reports - Coordinate activities of National Scholarly Publishers’ Forum & National Scholarly Editors’ Forum

8. Promote scholarly activity through publication of SAJS • Publish 6 issues per annum • Increase content in ‘News and Views’ section • Increase quality of accepted manuscripts • Improve impact factor (2014 ISI impact factor = 1.03) • Introduce article-level metrics for improved impact measurement

9. Quest • Quest:Science for South Africa - full- colour, quarterly, popular science magazine • Print-run 25 000 per issue • Aimed at learners (Grades 10-12), educators and scientific community to increase public awareness of science • Improve Quest impact through • Targeted distribution strategy • Greater cooperation with DBE, University Education Departments, SAASTA, science centres

10. Policy Advisory Programme • Provide evidence-based science advice in support of policy development • Ensure effective dissemination and uptake of reports • Host workshops on topics of national importance • Conduct commentaries on government policies • Localisation/domestication of evidence-based reports • Monitor impact of study reports

11. Policy Advisory Programme Health Studies • M&E of impact of recently published reports: Revitalising Clinical Researchand Improved Nutritional Assessment of Micronutrients • Continuation of consensus study on Training of Health Workforce in SA (Health Professionals Education) • Initiate study on Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs); • Complete collaborative study on Sexual and Gender Diversity in Africa • Collaborative study on Root Causes for Low Coverage and Under-Immunisation of the African Child with IOM & African science academies

12. Policy Advisory Programme Education Studies • Finalise consensus study on Revitalising Agricultural Education and Training in SA • Consolidate findings of the 3-year LAMAP pilot project • Seek funding for continued implementation of LAMAP • Initiate consensus study on Mathematical Sciences for the Future

13. Policy Advisory Programme • Science for Poverty Alleviation • Develop an action plan for Standing Committee & refine focus • Hold a symposium on a key focus area • Humanities • Engage key stakeholders to promote cause of the Humanities • Initiate annual ASSAf Humanities Scholarly Lecture

14. Policy Advisory Programme • Biosafety and Biosecurity • Launch and disseminate study on The State of Biosafety and Biosecurity in South Africa • Monitor and evaluate impact of The State of Biosafety and Biosecurity in South Africa • Initiate consensus study on New Genetic Engineering Technologies • Host a meeting on The State of Biosafety and Biosecurity in Southern Africa with SADC academies

15. Policy Advisory Programme • Climate Change • Disseminate & monitor & evaluate impact of The State of Green Technologies in South Africa • Initiate study on climate change impacts • Energy Studies • Disseminate & monitor & evaluate impact of consensus study on The State of Energy Research in South Africa • Prepare proposal for Biennial Review of State of Energy Research in South Africa • Complete consensus study on Technical Readiness of South Africa for Hydraulic Fracturing • Host a joint workshop with Leopoldina on renewable energy

16. Policy Advisory Programme Science-Policy Nexus • Implement tasks in ESASTAP Plus programme • Finalise book on The State of Science in South Africa for ASSAf’s anniversary celebrations in 2016

17. Liaison Programme • Initiate and develop relations with global, African and SADC science Academy networks, national science Academies and other science organisations • Continue to play a leadership role in global scientific organisations e.g. IAP, IAMP, TWAS, OWSD, ICSU, NASAC • Leading role in African science academy development • Preparations for IAP General Assembly in 2016 • Support for ICSU ROA and strengthen relations with ICSU • Give effect to MoUs with Leopoldina and INSA

18. Liaison Programme • Promote women in science activities • Give effect to OWSD National Chapter through activities that promote women’s participation in science and provide networking opportunities • Host a joint meeting of representatives of all women in science platforms in SA • Increase the number of OWSD members in SA • Host a meeting of OWSD fellowship holders in SA • Finalise a study on Gender and Agriculture

19. Liaison Programme • Promote young scientists’ activities • Promote participation of young scientists in national scientific activities, including ASSAf Standing Committees • Organise and host an Annual Young Scientists’ Conference – theme is Women’s Empowerment - Identify and nominate young scientists for international activities - Collaborate with and support South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS)

20. Communication and Publications • Marketing Academy • Production & dissemination of ASSAf reports • Monitoring the impact & uptake of evidence-based reports • Production & dissemination of SAJS • Production & dissemination of Quest magazine • Monitor the usage & impact of Quest magazine in schools and other learning institutions • Promote science awareness among youth through participating in science events • Raising science awareness & engagement through cooperation with government, learning institutions, science advancement entities and business

21. PROJECTED BUDGETSUMMARY MTEF PERIOD: 2015/16 TO 2017/18

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