B. Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) Events
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This community contains non-peer reviewed slide sets (PDF format) and audio/video recordings (MP4 format) from events and presentations during those events, and in which ASSAf participated or where ASSAf was represented. The content of the collections listed have not been peer-reviewed, but it is believed that it can contribute to the academic discourse, and be used in the advancement of science and discussions/decisions around science.
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Browsing B. Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) Events by Issue Date
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Item Deployment of Open Data Driven Solutions for Socio-economic Value through Good Governance and Efficient Public Service Delivery(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) & Department of Science and Technology (DST), 2018) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Department of Science and Technology (DST)The notion of making data ‘open by default’ challenges the deep rooted cultures of national privacy as it calls for data to be treated as a public resource. South Africa embarked on several initiatives to endorse open data, especially government data in order to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance. However, the progress has been very marginal. In light of this, the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) brought together representatives from government, academia and the private sector to look at how open data-driven solutions can create economic and social value, improve service delivery in public services, support more transparent and accountable governments and foster innovation to transform citizens’ well-being, cities, and governments for good. The discussions unveiled that laws on open data need to move parallel to the progress and developments made in open data. It was noted that scientists, governments and policy makers need to approach open data realistically and acknowledge where we are as a country, were we want to go and how to get there. This approach to open data can potentially create economic and social value, improve service delivery in public services, support more transparent and accountable governments and foster innovation to transform citizens’ well-being. The outcome of the discussions aimed to contribute to and advance policy-relevant knowledge, provide a platform for the dissemination of evidence-based knowledge to inform and influence decision-making and identify policy gaps and suggest new research agendas.Item Stakeholders Awareness Workshop on the 2019 White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI)(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) & Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), 2019) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)This was the 2nd of three Innovation for Inclusive Development (IID) seminars held on 02 July 2019, at Future Africa Conference Centre, University of Pretoria, Gauteng by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) in partnership with the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). The workshop provided an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on the policy intents of the 2019 White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI). The White Paper sets a long-term policy direction for the South African Government to ensure the growing role for the STI, which is aligned to developmental challenges of the country. The paper is based on the extensive review of the National System of Innovation (NSI) and focuses on using STI to accelerate inclusive economic growth and to assist South Africa to benefit from global development such as rapid technological advancements, geo-political and demographic shifts. The new White Paper seeks to ensure that South Africa benefits from the potential of STI to advance the objectives of the National Development Plan (NDP) by instilling a culture of valuing STI, expansion and transformation of research systems, institutional landscape and human resource base of the STI, increased funding and funding efficiencies etc. The outcomes of the workshop will feed into the DSI’s Decadal Plan to direct the implementation plan for the 2019 White Paper on STI. Further engagements will be conducted with stakeholders in preparation for the drafting of the Decadal Plan.Item Protection of Intellectual Property for Grassroots Innovation(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) & Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), 2019) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)The seminar was hosted on 21 May 2019, at Protea Hotel Fire & Ice, Menlyn, Pretoria by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) in partnership with the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). The seminar was centred around the Grassroots Innovation Programme (GIP), which is designed to identify and support innovators and inventors who do not have a formal education or access to formal innovation facilities. The GIP intents to provide grassroots innovators with technical skills development, access to technical expertise and intellectual property (IP) protection, among other things. The seminar set-out to provide a platform to raise awareness on policies that govern IP for grassroots innovation and to further discuss the importance of IPR, reinforcing national policy dialogues and processes around the interface between Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and grassroots innovation, both in South Africa and Globally, with particular interest on India. The seminar also showcased two innovators who shared their journeys, highlighting opportunities and challenges they experienced. One of the take-home messages was that supporting grassroots innovation is complex and it requires partnership with government and it’s agencies, private sector, academia, NGO’s and innovators themselves. The 2019 White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) requires a system which is responsive, inclusive and supports all forms of innovation, including effective grassroots innovation programme for the country.Item Annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) & Department of Science and Technology (DST), 2019) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Department of Science and Technology (DST)In 2015, South Africa joined other member states of the United Nations (UN) to sign and ratify the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda). The UN consequently established the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM) to leverage STI in realising the 2030 Agenda. The annual UN STI Forum (Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for SDGs) was then established to discuss the inclusion of STI in the implementation of SDGs. The forum calls on for member states to develop and implement inclusive STI for SDG action plans/roadmaps or strategies as part of the national responses to the 2030 Agenda. In the South African context, the DST has been tasked to coordinate the development and implementation of the national STI for SDGs action plan. This action plan is intended to enhance and position the National System of Innovation (NSI) to meaningfully contribute to national, regional, continental and global efforts and to implement and integrate the SDGs into STI policies, specifically the draft White Paper on STI. The forum intended to solicit input from stakeholders to develop the national STI for SDGs Action Plan and reflect on its appropriate governance and coordination structure in preparation for the member states Voluntary National Review (VNR) report to be presented to the UN in 2019.Item The Smart City Initiatives in South Africa and Paving a Way to Support Cities to Address Frontier Issues Using New and Emerging Technologies(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) & Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), 2020) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)This was the 3rd of three Innovation for Inclusive Development (IID) seminars hosted on 3 September 2019, St George’s Hotel, Pretoria by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) in partnership with the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). The intent of the seminar was to solicit input from various stakeholders to define characteristics of a smart city in the South African context, how the concept aligns with the 2019 White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and where cities are in terms of their smart city strategies and/or projects. The outcome of the seminar brought a common understanding that the country needs a national framework on smart cities and that the framework should meet basic needs in a manner that advances inclusive economic growth in an environmentally sustainable manner. The following aspects were considered to achieve this: a clear definition of a smart city from a South African context, addressing all the existing challenges and not emulate first world smart city models; smart cities should link to the global market but provide solutions to local problems and not compete with first world countries; the national framework and policies for smart cities should clearly define roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders, be flexible and amendable in line with the 4IR; incorporate building blocks of smart cities, including: STEM education, citizen rights, enablers (such as power, water and internet connectivity), urban versus rural, shared goals and vision. The proceedings will form part of DSI’s ongoing consultations on the concept of smart cities.Item Building Profitable and Sustainable Community Owned Connectivity Networks(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) & Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), 2020) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)The IID seminar titled “Building Profitable and Sustainable Community Owned Connectivity Networks”, was hosted on 31 August 2020 on Zoom Webinar. The 2019 White Paper on science, technology and innovation (STI) recognise the pivotal enabling role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in realising an inclusive and prosperous information society and knowledge economy. One of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)’s key role is to catalyse the digital ecosystem and develop scalable models for community owned connectivity networks to replicate in other areas. Rural areas provide challenging environment to implement communication infrastructure for data and Internet based services, including high cost of network implementation and lack of customer base, low-income streams, highly scattered and low population density. The DSI has thus partnered with the University of Western Cape (UWC), the Mankosi Village community, with support from the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) to scaleup the Zenzeleni Community Owned Connectivity Networks (COCN). The Zenzeleni COCN has been in existence since 2012 and provides timely, reliable and affordable Wi-Fi connectivity to the remote rural areas of Mankosi and Zithulele in Mthatha. The webinar, facilitated by Ms Ellen Fischat from Story Room aimed to look at how rural and township wireless connectivity models, including Zenzeleni COCN can be scaled-up to increase the number of people connected in the rural settings, more so in light of the COVID-19 crisis. It is evident from the proceedings the need for community networks to provide access to connectivity and also more importantly, what connectivity enables. Subsequent discussions would need to focus on the users and owners of these community networks to understand how their lives have improved through the deployment of the technology. This will shed light of the financial feasibility and benefit. Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), South Africa.Item The policy & practice of drug, alcohol & tobacco use during Covid-19(Science Forum South Africa (SFSA), 2020-12) Science Forum South Africa (SFSA); Soodyall, Himla; Gilligan, Aidan; Shelly, Shaun; Venter, Francois; Letlape, Kgosi; Kinderlerer, Julian; Pedersen, David BudtzThis discussion formed part of the Science Forum South Africa (SFSA) 2020 event. The World Science Forum will be held in Cape Town in December 2021 under the theme of “science for social justice”. As a precedent, this documentary examines the ethics of intervening in the lives of others under the lens of South Africa’s go-it-alone ban on tobacco and alcohol sales to tackle COVID-19. Leading medical, policy and civil society experts from at home and abroad weigh up the scientific evidence for and against. Taxation, jobs, sectoral interests, religious indoctrination, values and civil liberties all come into play. Further issues debated include concepts of recent history and subjugation versus today’s democracy and the rule of law. Have fundamental principles of autonomy, human dignity, freedom and equality been forced to give way? Is the medical profession’s “unconscionable collusion” acceptable? How must lawmakers navigate between the rights and responsibilities of individuals to look after themselves and the rights and responsibilities of States to look after their citizens? Above all, as this pandemic collides with the known syndemics of TB, malaria, HIV/Aids, hepatitis etc., the panel argues for the urgent acceptance and application of harm reduction science worldwide, if lives really do matter.Item COVID-19 and Human Rights: Perspectives on Socio-economic Rights and Violence(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2020-12-07) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Heyns, Christof; Jewkes, Rachel; Liebenberg, Sandy; Mbazira, ChristopherSouth Africa like other countries worldwide, was forced to impose lockdowns to curb the spread of COVID-19 since March 2020. While the measures taken by the government aided in slowing down the spread of the pandemic, they have had far-reaching consequences for a range of socio-economic rights, such as the rights to education, food, and work. They have also had serious consequences for civil and political rights, including through a rise in the levels of domestic violence, and because of the use of force by law enforcement officials in imposing these measures. This panel discussion explores the impact of COVID-19 on socio-economic human rights and violence faced by citizens.Item Dual-Use Research of Concern(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2021) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)Dual-Use Research of Concern (DURC) describes research (typically in the life sciences) that is intended to produce answers to legitimate research questions but may be misapplied with nefarious purposes. DURC is defined by the National Institutes of Health as follows: “DURC is life sciences research that, based on current understanding, can be reasonably anticipated to provide knowledge, information, products, or technologies that could be directly misapplied to pose a significant threat with broad potential consequences to public health and safety, agricultural crops and other plants, animals, the environment, materiel, or national security”. The misuse of research findings, either intentionally or not, is a long-standing concern of science, but governance of the subject has been lagging. In the United States, several policies and legislation governs DURC nationally, and internationally to those that may be receiving research funding or attempting to publish research findings in US-based scientific journals. Currently, there is no policy or legislation in South Africa governing DURC (directly),other than the Acts and Regulations addressing non-proliferation. This webinar is a scientific engagement to share knowledge and experiences with DURC internationally and nationally.Item Why environmental management must become the new normal (2/4)(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS), 2021) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE); Institute of Natural Resources (INR); South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS)SAGE hosted a webinar series in partnership with ASSAf, SAYAS and INR on “Why environmental management must become the new normal”. The series aimed at raising awareness on the importance of emergency risk mitigation in the context of environmental management. The series sought to answer the following questions: 1. How can we prevent future pandemics and human-driven environmental emergencies? 2. How should we manage the environment in a more pro-active and integrated fashion? The second webinar focused on the following topics: 1. South Africa's National Healthy Eating Guidelines Sustainable Diets the People and the Planet. 2. Environmental Management as the New Normal: Towards a Framework for the Covid 19 Pandemic Analysis. 3. Investing in Ecological Infrastructure for Water Security. 4. Pathway towards Climate Mitigation and Resilience requires a Transdisciplinary Approach.Item Launch of the Consensus Study Report on: The Root Causes of Low Vaccination Coverage and Under-Immunisation in Sub-Saharan Africa(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2021) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Uganda National Academy of Sciences (UNAS)Despite the global availability of proven efficacious and cost-effective vaccines for the past several decades, vaccine-preventable diseases kill more than half a million children under five years of age every year In Africa –representing approximately 56% of global deaths (WHO, 2017). Sub–Saharan Africa (SSA) alone accounts for 40% of all global deaths, a phenomenon attributed to lack of access to available lifesaving vaccines (Wiysonge, Uthman, Ndumbe, & Hussey, 2012). WHO estimates that in 2019 the African region accounted for approximately 43% of unimmunised and incomplete immunised infants in the world (i.e.: 8.5 million of the global 19.4 million). Relatedly, the region scores the lowest immunisation coverage, at 76% versus the global coverage of 86% (WHO, 2020a). This is despite several documented efforts by different stakeholders to improve coverage in the region (Mihigo, Okeibunor, Anya, Mkanda, & Zawaira, 2017). Many studies have been conducted on coverage and drivers for and bottlenecks against immunisation in SSA. (Wiysonge, Uthman, Ndumbe, & Hussey, 2012), (Wiysonge, Young, Kredo, McCaul, & Volmik, 2015), (Mihigo, Okeibunor, Anya, Mkanda, & Zawaira, 2017), (Madhi & Rees, 2018) (Bangura, et al., 2020), all of which have observed that there is varied performance among the constituent countries, and also within countries over time, denoting some implicitly common underlying correlates threading through areas of higher performance; and the same is seen with the poorer performing areas. This consensus study therefore seeks to categorise and make explicit these “root causes” and based on documented successes, to make recommendations to address the bottlenecks and harness the opportunities for reaching every child with all the recommended vaccines. The theory of change presentation style used in this report, categorising the root causes under four broad interlinked themes, can provide a common basis to rally like-minded partners around a thematic cause and thus develop multicomponent, comprehensive strategies to bring about impactful change. This is in line with the call made by the World Health Organisation Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation, which recommended that countries, regions and global immunisation partners commit to a comprehensive review of progress, impact, and implementation of the WHO Global Vaccine Action Plan to inform a post2020 strategy taking into account lessons learned. This strategy will assist with attaining the relevant United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.Item Annual National Scholarly Editors’ Forum (NSEF) Meeting(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2021) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)ASSAf’s Scholarly Publishing Programme (SPP) hosted its annual National Scholarly Editors’ Forum (NSEF) two-days meeting on 10 and 11 November 2021. The NSEF annual meeting is an opportunity for scholarly journal editors to interact on issues pertaining to scholarly journal publishing in South Africa.This year’s meeting was themed ‘The future of scholarly publishing in South Africa’.Item The Presidential Employment Stimulus: Research Opportunities(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) & Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), 2021) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)The Panel discussion titled “The Presidential Employment Stimulus: Research Opportunities”, was hosted on 10 December 2020 by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) at the Science Forum South Africa (SFSA) 2020. The Presidential Employment Stimulus was launched in parliament on 15 October as part of government’s Economic Recovery Strategy. It directly funds 800,000 employment opportunities that are being implemented within the current financial year, but it is anticipated that it will also become a medium-term programme. The stimulus includes public employment programmes, job retention programmes and direct support to livelihoods. The single largest programme is run by the Department of Basic Education, which, in the last fortnight, recruited 300,000 young people as school assistants, to assist schools to deal with the setbacks faced as a result of the pandemic. The stimulus supports employment in the environmental sector and over 75,000 subsistence producers are receiving production grants through an input voucher scheme. There is a once-off grant to assist over 100,000 registered and unregistered Early Childhood Development Practitioners back on their feet, as well as a significant stimulus to the creative sector. The session set out to provide an introduction to the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP), a key programme within government’s economic recovery plan led by Dr Kate Philip. The key objective was to get input from the research community on how the work that they are already doing and future work could contribute to the M&E efforts and be augmented in such a way that the PESP could become a medium-term programme. The DSI plans to hold further engagements in 2021 to mobilise the wider research community to provide evidence-based research in order to shape the research agenda that would support the M&E work and identify short-term issues that need to be factored into the department’s work plans, under the guidance of Dr Philip.Item Webinar Three of a Three-part Series: What must be done if the state is to be capable of poverty and inequality reduction?(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); SARChI Chair in Social Policy at the University of South Africa (UNISA), 2021) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); SARChI Chair in Social Policy at the University of South Africa (UNISA)The Standing Committee on the Science for the Reduction of Poverty and Inequality (SCSfRPI) is a committee of the acclaimed Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). In July 2020, the ASSAf Council mandated the committee to focus on poverty and inequality concerning the pandemic and consult interdisciplinary science on reducing poverty and inequality. In response, the SCSfRPI conceptualised a webinar series that will delve into the following themes:Item Finding the balance: public health and social measures for COVID-19 in the DRC and South Africa(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Académie Congolaise des Sciences (ACCOS), 2021) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Académie Congolaise des Sciences (ACCOS)Item ASSAf and NHREC POPIA Stakeholder Engagement with the RECs, 18 May 2021(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2021) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC)ASSAf is facilitating the process to develop a Code of Conduct for Research under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), having hosted three stakeholder events that were attended by scientists and researchers from diverse disciplinary backgrounds. ASSAf has set up a Steering Committee to oversee the process of developing a Code of Conduct for Research, as well as a Drafting Committee who are drafting the document. At the last virtual consultation forum hosted on 3 May 2021, presentations were offered on the process of developing a Code of Conduct, as well as on thematic areas of interest, including consent, genomics research, information matching programmes and the use of social media data in research. Stakeholders were given an opportunity to share insights and provide comment on the development of the Code of Conduct. The stakeholder engagement with members of the RECs aims to take a deeper dive into considerations of the POPIA Code of Conduct for Research in the Ethics Review. The intention is to better understand the concerns of REC members and what would be most useful to their work in understanding the risks related to personal information of research participants. The Discussion Document published on 3 May in the South African Journal of Science provides background on the deliberations of the Committees and can be consulted for further information. The Code of Conduct remains under further discussion as the broader community provides their inputs. There will be several addendums to the Code of Conduct, and we will specifically ask for inputs that would strengthen these documents and make them more practically useful to the research community.Item Wastewater surveillance in the Management of Covid 19: experiences from three Countries(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), 2021) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)Webinar presented and hosted by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) on 31 August 2021. Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 RNA has emerged to be an important tool in the management of the disease. The viral RNA can be isolated in wastewater around one to two weeks before it is usually detected through human testing at community level. Direct correlations have been found between the concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater and the number of cases of COVID-19 in a particular wastewater catchment area, providing the basis for a COVID-19 Early Warning System. Being relatively affordable and reliable, the tool appears to be particularly valuable in settings where epidemiological data are not available, to establish and adjust public health management strategies. In this webinar, the experiences, challenges encountered, and lessons learned in the course of rolling out wastewater surveillance programmes in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Nigeria are discussed, including preliminary information on the tracking of SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater.Item Origins and destinations known: learning from the tracer study of international African doctoral graduates(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2021) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)South Africa’s universities host a large considerable number of international doctoral students, of whom international Africans make up close to 40% of the eventual PhD graduates. Immigration policy requires the graduates to return ‘home’ upon completion, raising the question - where do they go to? The conventional wisdom is these highly-skilled graduates will leave the continent for opportunities in the North. This lack of information presents a serious gap in evidence for policy making. With NRF support a tracer study of International African doctoral graduates of the five research universities was carried out over the period 2012- 2016. Performing the tracer study called for dealing with severe informational obstacles. The online survey achieved a 42% return rate and provides robust, and quite surprising insights.Item ASSAf Copyright Amendment Bill Workshop, 29 June 2021(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2021) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)The genesis of the Copyright Amendment Bill was in 2009, when the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) initiated various studies and impact assessments. In July 2015, the DTI published a Draft Copyright Amendment Bill for public comment. The final 2017 version of the Bill was approved by Parliament in 2019 and it was sent to President Cyril Ramaphosa for action in terms of Section 79(1) of the Constitution. Section 79(1) states that “The President must either assent to and sign a Bill passed in terms of this Chapter or, if the President has reservations about the constitutionality of the Bill, refer it back to the National Assembly for reconsideration”. The President referred the Bill back to Parliament for review on 16 June 2020, on constitutionality issues. In response to the President’s reservations, Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry has invited stakeholders and other interested parties to submit written submissions on certain sections of the Bill by no later than 9 July 2021. The current copyright law is outdated and does not address the digital environment. The Academy of Science of South Africa seeks to take into account the status of the copyright legislation and the anticipated effects of the amendment Bill on different issues and thereafter, provide recommendations to the President. This webinar workshop was hosted on 29 June 2021. Access the YouTube video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/LBhJfAKPTN0.Item Webinar One of a Three-part series: What to do to reduce poverty and inequality? 10 May 2021(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2021) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute (SPII)The ASSAf Standing Committee on the Science for the Reduction of Poverty and Inequality (SCSfRPI) has been mandated by the ASSAf Council to focus on poverty and inequality in respect to the pandemic, and to consult interdisciplinary science in the consideration of how to reduce poverty and inequality. In response, the SCSfRPI conceptualised a webinar series that will delve into the following themes: 1. What to do to reduce poverty and inequality? 2. How to fund interventions to reduce poverty? 3. What must be done if the state is to be capable of poverty and inequality reduction?