21 July 2006
Representatives from various cultural and heritage institutions, science and
research establishments, government departments, higher learning institutions
and non-government organisations (NGOs) will convene at the Indaba Hotel in
Johannesburg for a three-day conference, 26 - 28 July 2006, on Indigenous
Knowledge Systems (IKS). The conference is co-hosted by the Department of
Science and Technology and Trade Conferences International.
All media is invited to attend.
Time: 08h00 - 16h00
Venue: Indaba Hotel, Johannesburg
Conference programme available on request.
Please RSVP to Zama Mthethwa at (012) 843 6780 or 082 808 3956 or e-mail to
zama.mthethwa@dst.gov.za no later
than Tuesday, 25 July 2006.
The conference aims at finding ways of assimilating the traditional
knowledge into the modern system and making provision for a language through
which indigenous people can access modernity.
Issues to be addressed at the conference include the following:
* the role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in sciences
* IKS as a strategic resource to transform South Africa
* challenges on integrating IKS with developed knowledge
* importance of traditional leaders and healers
* innovation, patent and trade of IKS related products
* laws governing indigenous knowledge.
IKS encompasses knowledge systems that cover technologies and practices that
have been and are still used by indigenous and local people towards their
existence, survival and adaptation in a variety of environments.
The conference will give the delegates an opportunity to interact with key
role players for example traditional healers on how to develop and protect
their medical products, promoting collaboration between the indigenous
practitioners, medical practitioners and corporate institutions.
For enquiries please contact:
Kristin Klose
Manager: Communication
Cell: 082 902 9503
E-mail: kristin.klose@dst.gov.za
Nthabi Maoela
Deputy Director: Communication
Cell: 073 648 2876
E-mail: Nthabiseng.maoela@dst.gov.za
Dr Otsile Ntsoane
National Indigenous Knowledge Systems Office
Cell: 082 523 4907
E-mail: Otsile.ntsoane@dst.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
21 July 2006
Source: SAPA
