South Africa assumed the BRICS rotational Presidency on 1 January 2018 and will host the 10th BRICS Summit in July 2018. In line with the established tradition of previous BRICS Summits, South Africa is hosting a wide range of BRICS activities leading up to and following the Summit, including the 6th BRICS STI Ministerial Meeting and the 8th BRICS STI Senior Officials Meeting. South Africa will also host the 3rd BRICS YSF.
As South Africa celebrates Youth Month, the Department of Science and Technology, in partnership with the Academy of Science of South Africa, will host the 3rd BRICS Young Scientist Forum from 25 to 29 June in Durban at the Maharani Hotel.
The Forum is taking place under the theme "Building BRICS youth leadership through science, technology and innovation", and will address a wide variety of challenges, such as youth entrepreneurship, the role of women in science, the significance of science diplomacy, and today's research imperatives in energy, water and the social sciences.
The four-day event will include parallel sessions on energy – Present and future energy imperatives of the BRICS economies – water – The strategic importance of water resources in the context of climate change – and social sciences – The impact and challenges of modern ICT technologies on youth identity and cultural choices.
There will also be a Young Women in Science Dialogue. It will provide a platform for young women scientists and researchers to discuss pertinent issues and challenges in institutions of higher learning and the workplace, in terms of career choices, mobility, equality and empowerment; and to discuss country perspectives and approaches on practical solutions to these challenges at institutional and policy levels.
The BRICS Young Innovator Prize will be awarded in special recognition of talented young entrepreneurs and researchers whose outstanding innovations (inventions, products, applications and services) will have a profound impact on the socio-economic environment and conditions of life in BRICS societies today.
A workshop on Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship will discuss practical experiences and seek to address questions such as how to set up an innovation ecosystem for the youth, and how BRICS countries can support each other in this strategic endeavour. It will also look at the translation of young scientists' research work into marketable products and services, and the creation of sustainable innovative start-ups. An important outcome of the workshop could be an agreement to set up a platform for BRICS young innovators.
A seminar on science diplomacy will also take place. The seminar will seek to contextualise the role and importance of science diplomacy, advice and communication in networking and career development, and look at the need to establish a research network to enhance cooperation and communication between young scientists in BRICS countries.
The event is expected to be an exciting platform for the exchange of ideas and perspectives on youth and science, as well as an opportunity to find creative solutions for our common good.
The media is invited as follows:
Date: 25 to 29 June 2018
Time: 9h00 to 15h00
Venue: Elangeni/Maharani Hotel, 63 Snell Parade, Durban
For RSVP and enquiries:
Veronica Mohapeloa
Cell: 083 400 5750
E-mail: veronica.mohapeloa@dst.gov.za
