Communities in ASSAf
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- Collection of both peer-reviewed and non-peer reviewed publications by ASSAf.
- Collection of slides and recordings (incl. video/audio) presented during ASSAf events, or by ASSAf representatives.
Recent Submissions
ASSAf Statement on the Recognition of the Work of Editors and Peer Reviewers of Academic Journals and Books in South Africa
(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2024) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)
This statement by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) addresses the critical, yet under-recognised, contributions of editors and peer reviewers in academic publishing. These roles are essential for upholding research quality and ensuring the integrity of scholarly discourse, yet current academic reward structures often overlook their value. ASSAf highlights the need for university and science council administrators to formally acknowledge and support editorial work, proposing specific recommendations to enhance recognition within performance appraisals. By strengthening the recognition of these roles, ASSAf aims to sustain a credible and effective scholarly publishing ecosystem that supports knowledge dissemination and contributes to national and global research development.
ASSAf and SciELO Guidelines for the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools and Resources in Research Communication
(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2024) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)
The purpose of these guidelines is to guide scholarly journals, book publishers, preprint platforms, and data collectors on the use of content generated by AI applications4 in scholarly communication. These guidelines offer suggestions for updating the Guidelines to Authors section of journals and books, as well as for the internal management of manuscript submissions, evaluation, and final version editing by the editors of the journals or books.
They provide standards and practices for authors, editors, and reviewers regarding the use of AI tools and resources in research communication.
Quest Vol. 20.3 - Climate Changers
(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2024-09-30) Fourie-Basson, Wilda; Wanda, Thami; Smith, Kos; Jacobs, Ferdinand; van Zyl,Wilhelm; Dupont, Pauline; Baltzer, Agnes; Rapolaki, Ramontsheng; Nozwane, Siyabonga; Vietch, Jennifer; Mtontsi,Thomas; Tucker, Ryan; Gundersen, Richard
Bathed in ‘Earthlight’, bathed in hope: Interview with Dr Sian Proctor -SpaceX astronaut; Climate Change in South Africa: What does it mean for the country and its people?; Unraveling the global ocean Zinc cycle: And its implications for a changing climate; Unlocking the secrets of Algoa Bay: New geophysical survey offers insight into SA coastal (and climate) future; Prof. Timothy Dube tackles the climate crisis: With innovative AI solutions for water security; The Awesome Agulhas Current: –And how to understand it; Careers Focus: Climate Science; Beyond parity: The impact of women leaders in science and technology; Infertility in the workplace Navigating challenges, staying the course; Dog-sized dino discovered: Who likely lived underground; Explore STEM with STEMulator: A gift to the nation’s youth; Rare meteorite uncovered: Collaborative effort results in Eastern Cape find; Pan-African STM Cinema Competition Win big with your unique science explainer video; SA mourns the passing of Dr William Smith: ’Teacher of the nation’; YouTube reviews: Hopeful news about Climate Change solutions by ‘climate changers’; Subscription
AI-driven Science: Solving Old Mysteries or Inspiring New Questions?
(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2024) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)
AI-driven science is revolutionising how we approach long-standing theoretical questions, providing solutions to puzzles that have perplexed humanity for centuries. Examples include confirming the existence of gravitational waves, which allow us to predict cosmic phenomena, and solving the structure of complex proteins, which accelerates drug discovery. AI's ability to process and analyse vast datasets far exceeds human capabilities, enabling the resolution of mysteries that were previously beyond our reach.
AI-driven research is not just about solving existing puzzles; it's about unlocking entirely new realms of inquiry. The concept of "Alien Intelligence" suggests that AI's unique thought processes can lead to novel hypotheses and methods of investigation. AI's pattern recognition capabilities can identify previously unnoticed correlations in large datasets, potentially leading to breakthroughs in understanding complex systems like the human brain or climate change. Therefore, AI will not only extend our knowledge frontier but also redefine it, inspiring inquiries into phenomena we have yet to imagine.
This debate was intended to juxtapose the perspective that AI-driven science will primarily solve existing theoretical puzzles, with the view that it will fundamentally transform the scientific inquiry process, inspiring entirely new questions and fields of study.
Mpox in South Africa: Awareness, Action, and Prevention
(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2024) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)
Mpox has become a notable public health issue. This zoonotic disease is caused by the monkeypox virus. Although it was first identified in Central and West Africa, recent outbreaks have occurred worldwide, showing its potential to spread beyond
traditional endemic areas. South Africa, with its diverse population, complex healthcare system, and strong connections through travel and commerce, faces unique challenges in managing and controlling mpox outbreaks.
Given the rising risk and public health implications of mpox in South Africa, raising awareness, sharing knowledge, and coordinating efforts across various sectors is crucial for an effective response. This
webinar aimed to bring together healthcare professionals, public health officials, researchers, and policymakers to discuss the current
state of mpox in South Africa, explore prevention strategies, and enhance the country’s readiness to respond to future outbreaks.
Key objectives of the webinar:
• To educate participants on the epidemiology, transmission, and clinical presentation of mpox in South Africa.
• To explore strategies for preventing mpox spread, including vaccination, community engagement, and public health communication.
• To discuss the role of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing mpox and improving outbreak preparedness in South Africa.
12th ASSAf Presidential Roundtable on Perspectives on the Quality of Life and Well-being of the Elderly in South Africa
(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2024) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)
As of 2022, it is estimated that more than 5 million people, approximately 9%) of South Africa’s population are aged 60 years. Notably, over 60% are females . The increase of the elderly has great impact on socio-economic factors such as access to health care, income, housing etc. The government introduced an Older Persons Act (2006) to establish a framework which aimed to empower, care and support older persons, while promoting their status, rights, wellbeing, safety and security. However, the government’s efforts to successfully design and facilitate support mechanisms for the elderly to live well and independently within the community have been rather slow.
In light of this, the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) hosted the 12th ASSAf Presidential Roundtable Discussion titled “Perspectives on the Quality of Life and Well-being of the Elderly in South Africa” virtually on 14 August 2024. The discussions were led by Prof Himla Soodyall (ASSAf Executive Officer); Prof Crain Soudien, Emeritus Professor in Education and African Studies, UCT; Prof Elena Moore, Professor of Sociology, UCT and Ms Femada Shamam, CEO of The Association for The Aged. The panellists provided expertise on the on the state of quality of life and well-being of the elderly in South Africa, followed by recommendations on the roles that government, business, research institutions, civil society and the society should play in order to improve the ageing experience and quality of life of the elderly.
The ASSAf Presidential Roundtables (PRT) on Science, Scholarship and Society are evidence-based dialogues that bring together high-level experts and stakeholders to address critical issues affecting society at large and are of interest to a broad audience. The roundtables are hosted bi-annually by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and are moderated by the President of the Academy.
Democratising knowledge through Open Science
(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2024) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Botswana Academy of Science (BAS); Kingdom of Eswatini Academy of Sciences (KEAS); Lesotho Academy of Science and Technology (LAST); Academy of Science (TAS) in Malawi; Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences (ZAS)
The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), in partnership with the Botswana Academy of Science (BAS), Kingdom of Eswatini Academy of Sciences (KEAS), Lesotho Academy of Science and Technology (LAST), the Academy of Science (TAS) in Malawi and Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences (ZAS) hosted a collaborative workshop on Democratising Knowledge through Open Science: A collaborative Workshop on 27 August 2024. This workshop assisted to better understand the role of African Academies of Science in advancing Open Science on the African continent.
One Health in Africa: Recognising the Environmental Role
(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2024) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)
The One Health approach recognises that the fields of human, animal and the environment are inter-connected and inter-dependent. The World Health Organisation defines 'One Health' as an integrating, unifying approach to balance and optimise the health of people, animals and the environment, and highlights that it is particularly important to prevent, predict, detect and respond to global health threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the key One Health concerns have been zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, emerging infectious and vector-borne diseases, food-borne diseases and climate change.
Recently, there have been calls for increased attention to the environmental dimension of One Health, which is relatively neglected within the One Health triad at this time. There is a particular need for increased understanding of the shared health threats at the human-animal-environment interface in Africa.
This webinar aimed to:
• Increase understanding of the current status of research and action on One Health in Africa.
• Present selected African case studies, with special emphasis on the role of the environment in One Health.
• Bring attention to the under-studied relations between environment and health within One Health.
• Engage with priorities and future directions for One Health in Africa.
Large Language Models (LLMs): Smart Work or Academic Doping?
(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2024) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)
LLMs are transforming academic research and publishing by significantly increasing scholars' productivity. A 2023 Nature survey revealed that nearly a third of scientists use generative AI for manuscript preparation, with LLMs aiding in tasks such as coding, brainstorming, and literature reviews. LLMs help overcome language barriers and allow researchers to create personalised models tailored to their fields, automate repetitive tasks, and boost productivity, leading to faster publication readiness and enhancing the research journey.
However, LLMs raise significant issues, including biases and exploitation in their training processes and generating errors or inaccurate information. This outsourcing of thought (and, of course, the facilitating of outright cheating by students and scholars) raises concerns about overburdening journal editors, peer reviewers, and course administrators alike. The ease of generating papers with LLMs is increasing the volume of lower-value research, making it harder to identify impactful studies and threatening the integrity and sustainability of scientific publishing.
This debate juxtaposes the optimistic view of LLMs as catalysts for scientific progress with critical perspectives on their potential todilute research quality and integrity.