Programme Director, Prof. Patricia Berjak;
President of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSA"f), Prof. Robin Crewe;
Vice President of the Academy of Science of South Africa, Prof. Iqbal Parker;
Executive Officer of the Academy of Science of South Africa, Prof. Roseanne Diab;
Members of ASSAf Council;
Awardees,
Ladies and Gentlemen
At the outset, let me congratulate the Academy on a year of hard work and singular achievements.
Scientific advice
Back in 2006 your President, Robin Crewe, wrote the following in ASSAf’s annual report: “The primary challenge for the new council is to establish the Academy as the preferred source for evidence-based advice on issues of national concern.”
I think that the Academy continues to make good progress towards achieving this objective.
In regard to global issues, Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) has completed a number of consensus and forum studies - one on climate change in Durban in preparation for COP 17 next month, another on our new electricity plan, which is subject to annual review, and one on HIV.
The work done through the Committee on Poverty Alleviation has produced consensus and forum studies on economic development in small towns, housing delivery, science-based improvements in small-scale agriculture, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and maternal, newborn and child health.
While a growing and impressive body of policy advice is being generated by the Academy, we need to ensure that the studies are brought to the attention of the appropriate decision makers. We also need to become better at translating policy advice into robust plans.
The work of the Academy also needs to be made more accessible to a broader audience. You have an important role in building and strengthening an informed and critical citizenry.
On science and research issues, ASSAf has helped to generate new thinking and fresh approaches to the challenge of expanding PHD graduation rates and improving the quality of PHD graduates.
Given the very clear and well crafted set of recommendations, I hope the DST and its agencies will make practical use of this very important report.
Similarly, the recent reports on clinical medicine and on academic publishing provide an important basis for the development of fresh strategies and responsive policies.
I am also looking forward to the findings of your work on expanding access to scholarly journals through cost-effective country licenses.
Along with the increased reach of the SANReN network to all university campuses, these reports will go a long way towards addressing historical inequalities in access to key research and education resources.
Humanities report
Most recently, ASSAf published a Charter on the Humanities and Social Sciences was published under the authority of the Department of Higher Education and Training.
There are a number of similarities in the recommendations of the two reports, as well as some marked differences.
Both reports argue that enrolment in and funding for the humanities and social sciences are in need of urgent attention.
Both reports reflect a concern that the humanities have become subordinate to the natural sciences.
There is no doubt about the importance of the humanities and social sciences in our country.
There is also no doubt in my mind that more must be done to strengthen support for the humanities and social sciences.
Steps are already under way in the National Research Foundation (NRF) to give special attention to humanities and social science grant funding. The establishment of South African Research Chairs in the humanities is also an important step in strengthening the area.
I believe the recommendations have important implications for the academic community. They suggest a need to rethink the composition and structure of undergraduate programmes, to rethink early specialisation, and to rethink teacher qualifications in South Africa.
Modification of the institutional structure of ASSAf may also be required so as to make ASSAf’s commitment to the humanities clear.
However, more research is required into the reports’ recommendations before action can be taken.
I will be meeting the Minister of Higher Education and Training to discuss the matter and to ensure synergy between the two departments in this important area.
Ministerial Committee
Some of you may be aware that I established a Ministerial Review Committee last year under the chairmanship of Professor Loyiso Nonxga to advise me on three broad issues related to the national system of innovation.
The first issue is to advise on the framework conditions needed to coordinate the components of the national innovation system.
The second issue is to advise on the appropriate institutional arrangements and structures (existing or to be established) to direct the innovation system, to highlight future challenges and research needs, and to set out a suitable time frame for addressing them.
The third issue is to advise on the location and levels of government, university, business, and foreign investment in innovation and specifically to propose an investment plan.
I am pleased to report that the Committee is close to completing its work and I am looking forward to receiving their final report at the end of this month.
Once I release the report, I hope that the Academy will provide me with its response to the report and its recommendations.
International collaboration
Science is collaborative by nature and South African science has become more internationally collaborative in the last decade.
There has been an increase in the number of co-authored papers and there has also been a major increase in the number of international partnerships that each of our universities have adopted.
It’s also very important to be aware that scientists themselves are the primary drivers in these collaborations (whether nationally of internationally) – seeking to work with the best people, institutions and equipment, wherever they may be.
The role that DST plays is to facilitate these collaborative initiatives and to help to focus the research and writing on the major South African challenges.
Thus, our scientists punch well above their weight in comparison to many other countries.
ASSAf has played a major role it in representing South African science and scientists abroad, particularly in Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and in the African Union (AU).
I am sure we will see very positive growth in the success of African partnerships as we work together to strengthen inter African research collaboration.
Academy for young scientists
I congratulate ASSAf on the launch of its academy for young scientists.
I believe this was inspired by another example of international collaboration, the 2010 “Collegial Review Report”, compiled by representatives of the US National Academy of Sciences. The report identified that the greatest challenge facing ASSAf was increasing its profile, in government and throughout the country.
ASSAf responded to this with an academy for young scientists – planned, implemented, and launched in under one year.
The South African Young Academy of Science will give our young scientists an opportunity to speak at the centres of national scientific power.
I have no doubt that the South African Young Academy of Science will make an important contribution to retaining talent in the scientific community.
The Academy has also launched a scientific writing platform to provide young scholars with opportunities to improve their writing skills.
The awards
It gives me great pleasure to congratulate the ASSAf Awardees, the two Gold Medal awardees, and the Sydney Brenner Fellowship awardees.
Tonight is the beginning of exciting times for you all.
The Academy will be announcing fifteen new members, who will enhance the Academy’s intellectual depth and breadth.
It’s my sincere hope that over the coming years the new members will increasingly be representative of South African society.
In closing, let me tell you that the department has been thinking about the possibility of introducing a single awards ceremony, the National Science and Technology Awards.
In fact, I’m pleased to announce tonight that the Academy, the National Science and Technology Forum and the National Research Foundation have reached agreement in principle for a joint awards ceremony for 2012, but further discussion will have to take place over its precise structure and form.
My warm congratulations go to all awardees, and my sincere appreciation goes to Dr Rosseane Diab and her team for their good work in running ASSAf.
I thank you.
Speech by the Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor MP, at the ASSAf annual awards gala dinner
