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 The content of the collections listed have not been peer-reviewed, but it is believed that it can contribute to the academic discourse, and be used in the advancement of science and discussions/decisions around science.
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Item 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.Item 2023 World Food Day Webinar on “Opportunities towards Sustainable Food Security in South African Urban Settings”(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and Green Youth Network (GYN), 2023) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)World Food Day (WFD) is celebrated across 150 countries yearly on 16th of October. The theme for 2023 is Water is life, water is food: leave no one behind. The campaign intents to raise awareness worldwide on water as a foundation of life and food. According to the United Nations (UN), 2.3 billion people live in water-stressed countries (1), while 3.2 billion people live in agricultural areas with high water scarcity (2). These water constraints have a negative impact on food security and nutrition. In South Africa a notable proportion of the population is food insecure (3) with over 60% of these households located in urban areas. The City of Cape Town (11,6%) and the City of Johannesburg (11,5%) have the highest proportions of households that experienced hunger in all the six metros. Urban food insecurity is characterised by low dietary diversity, high malnutrition and obesity, and distinct hunger seasons. It is estimated that by 2050, eight in 10 people will be living in urban areas, which means that the prevalence of food insecurity within urban Southern African communities will increase. There is therefore an urgent need to develop policies and solutions to address this “looming crisis” and to manage the water-food nexus in a more sustainable and equitable manner. The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and the Green Youth Network (GYN) partnered to host a webinar on the 3 November 2023 to commemorate WFD 2023 titled “Opportunities towards Sustainable Food Security in South African Urban Settings”. The dialogue aimed to explore youth-centric solutions that have a potential to strengthen food security in South African urban surroundings, taking into consideration the challenge of water scarcity while leaving no one behind. The Webinar featured the following speakers: Prof Marizvikuru Mwale-Manjoro (University of Venda and SAYAS Alumni); Dr Nathaniel Dlamini (Statistics South Africa; Ms Thandeka Nkosi (KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development); and Mr Reuben Riley (Biological Agricultural Era, BioAge). Participants included academics, researchers, entrepreneurs, women, youth, policy makers and the public.Item 5th Annual ASSAf Science-Business Leadership Forum titled “Unmasking the Enigma called FinTech”(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2023) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)The concept of ‘money’ and the world of financial services and products have undergone a remarkable transformative evolution since the Global Financial Crisis, propelled by technological advancements and the global shift towards the digital economy. These financial technology (FinTech) developments range from rapid payment systems, mobile money, digital banking (including central bank digital currencies, CBDCs), cryptocurrencies, blockchains etc. FinTech promises to not only shape the future of transactions but also redefine the fundamental tenets of monetary value and exchange. Between 2010 and 2019, the global FinTech sector witnessed a significant surge in investments, totalling over US$165.5 billion. According to a recent report by the Boston Consulting Group, annual FinTech revenues are projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2030. While promising transformative solutions, FinTech industry is not without its challenges, ranging from regulatory and policy hurdles; security concerns; customer trust; data protection, inclusion of and the impact on previously overlooked demographics. Understanding the broader FinTech environment can help shed light and shape FinTech today and in the decades to come, particularly in Africa. In light of this, the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) hosted the 5th Annual ASSAf Science-Business Leadership Forum on the 3 November 2023 titled “Unmasking the Enigma called FinTech” on 3 November 2023, 09h00 SAT, Virtually. The aim of this dialogues was to stimulate conversations on what FinTech is; its adoption on the African Continent; the regulatory conundrum associated with FinTech; while exploring the use of technology such as AI in addressing money laundering, fraud, identity theft, combatting financing of terrorism and proliferation financing and delving into questions of whether South Africa should introduce a "digital Rand", i.e. a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC); the benefits and risks of such a currency. Panellists included: Prof Vivienne Lawack (DVC: Academic, University of the Western Cape); Prof Co-Pierre Georg (SARChI Chair: Blockchain Technology, University of Cape Town) and Prof Louis de Koker (Professor of Law, La Trobe University, Australia). The full recording is accessible on ASSAf_YouTube. The forum is hosted annually by the Academy and moderated by ASSAf’s President, Prof Jonathan Jansen and the focus is to engage prominent scientists/scholars and leading experts from the business community to deliberate on matters of shared significance.Item Addressing the Recent Measles Outbreak in South Africa(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2023) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)South Africa is grappling with a notable resurgence of measles, a highly contagious viral infection that poses a serious threat to public health. This recent measles outbreak has raised concerns about immunisation coverage, healthcare infrastructure, and the broader impact on community well-being. As a means of contributing to the discussions, ASSAf hosted a webinar on the 23rd of October 2023 to understand the factors contributing to this resurgence, to explore successful strategies employed to contain and manage measles outbreaks and to potentially propose recommendations for immediate response and long-term prevention strategies to curb the measles outbreak and prevent future recurrences.Item Advancing Science in South Africa through High Performance Computing, Connectivity and Data Services(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2024) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)Webinar hosted by ASSAf on 4 April 2024. In today's rapidly evolving landscape of science and research, the demand for cutting-edge technological solutions has never been more crucial. High-Performance Computing (HPC), reliable Internet connectivity, and efficient data management services form the backbone of groundbreaking advancements in various scientific domains. Research and science are undergoing a transformative shift, transitioning into increasingly data-driven disciplines. Within this contemporary landscape, the generation, analysis, and interpretation of vast datasets have become fundamental components of scientific inquiry. Researchers across diverse fields harness the power of data to uncover patterns, correlations, and insights that were previously inaccessible. This data-driven paradigm not only accelerates the pace of discovery but also facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration, enabling scientists to draw connections and make discoveries that transcend traditional boundaries. As technology continues to advance, the ability to navigate and extract meaningful knowledge from large datasets is becoming a defining factor in the success and impact of scientific endeavours. The National Research Big Data Strategy focuses on leveraging big data to advance research and innovation in various sectors. Embracing and mastering the tools of data-driven research is paramount for staying at the forefront of innovation and addressing complex challenges in today's rapidly evolving scientific landscape. Join ASSAf for this webinar to learn how the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC), SANReN (South African National Research Network) and DIRISA (Data Intensive Research Initiative of South Africa) support data-driven science and research, which is paramount for staying at the forefront of innovation and for addressing complex challenges in today's rapidly evolving scientific landscape.Item 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.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 Annual National Scholarly Editors’ Forum (NSEF) Meeting(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2024) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)The National Scholarly Editors’ Forum (NSEF) meeting, hosted annually by the ASSAf’s Scholarly Publishing Programme (SPP), convened on April 11, 2024, with a focus on the theme "Easing into Open Science: A guide for editors". The event provided a platform for scholarly journal editors to engage in discussions and share insights on various facets of scholarly journal publishing in South Africa.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 Annual National Scholarly Editors’ Forum (NSEF) Meeting(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2022-11) 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 21 and 22 November 2022. 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 latest trends and challenges in the rapidly changing world of scholarly publishing’.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 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 ASSAf Humanities Book Award Lecture by Dr Dariusz Dziewanski(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2023) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)The series of lectures serve as a continuation of the award ceremony, providing the award winners with a platform to present their journeys and motivations behind their books, discuss the societal impact of their work, and share the personal influence it has had on their lives. This lecture is aimed at enhancing the recognition of the exceptional scholarly contributions made by Dr Dariusz Dziewanski who was awarded the 2023 Humanities Book Award prize in the Emerging Researcher Category. With his book Gang Entry and Exit in Cape Town: Getting beyond the streets in Africa’s deadliest city, Dr Dariusz Dziewanski provides a detailed qualitative account of what it is like to join and later disengage from gangs in Cape Town. Through the life histories of 24 former gang members, Dariusz seeks to understand the structural forces that push people into gangs and street culture, as well as the potential pathways that gang members have for escaping the streets.Item ASSAf Humanities Book Award Lecture by Prof Lesley Green(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2023) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)The series of lectures serve as a continuation of the award ceremony, providing the award winners with a platform to present their journeys and motivations behind their books, discuss the societal impact of their work, and share the personal influence it has had on their lives. This lecture is aimed at enhancing the recognition of the exceptional scholarly contributions made by Prof Lesley Green who was awarded the 2023 Humanities Book Award prize in the Establisher Researcher Category. The award ceremony took place on the 29th of August 2023.Item ASSAf Humanities Book Awards Ceremony 2023(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2023) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) is happy to announce its winners for the Humanities Book Prize Awards for 2023. These awards are made every year to honour the importance and contribution of scholarly texts to humanist knowledge production and intellectual endeavour in South Africa. Professor Lesley Green is awarded the 2023 ASSAf Humanities Book Award (category ‘Established Researcher’) for her book Rock|Water|Life: Ecology and Humanities for a Decolonial South Africa. Joint winners of the ASSAf Humanities Book Award in the category of ‘Emerging Researcher’ in 2023 are Dr B Camminga and Dr Dariusz Dziewanski for their books Transgender refugees and the imagined South Africa: Bodies over borders and borders over bodies, and Gang Entry and Exit in Cape Town: Getting Beyond the Streets in Africa’s Deadliest City. ASSAf awards these prizes bi-annually for scholarly publications that make outstanding and exemplary contributions to scholarship in the Humanities, Social Sciences or the Performing Arts.Item ASSAf POPIA Public Consultation Forum: Progress on the POPIA Code of Conduct for Research, 03 May 2021(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2021) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)The Academy of Science of South Africa is facilitating the process to develop a Code of Conduct for Research under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), having hosted two stakeholder events that were attended by scientists and researchers from diverse disciplinary backgrounds. We have 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 this virtual consultation forum, presentations will be 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 will be given an opportunity to share insights and provide comment on the development of the Code of Conduct.Item ASSAf Webinar for New Editors – DHET Research Output Policy Implementation(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2023-02-14) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)ASSAf webinar hosted by the Scholarly Publishing Programme staff for new journal editors on 14 February 2023. The aim was to make them aware of the DHET Research Output Policy and to answer questions related to the implementation of the policy.Item ASSAf Webinar for New Editors – Scholarly Publishing Code of Best Practice(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2023-03-22) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)ASSAf webinar hosted by the Scholarly Publishing Programme staff for new journal editors on 22 March 2023. The aim was to provide new editors of South African scholarly journals with the tools to implement publishing best practice and to boost their confidence as editors.Item ASSAf Webinar for New Editors – Tips on Editorial Processes(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2023) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)This webinar was presented on 30 May 2023. It addressed and discussed the following: The editorial process, from submission to publication; Peer-review and different approaches to peer-review; Quality control incl. plagiarism and ethics; Engaging with authors and relationship building; New trends in open access digital publishing, open data and Artificial Intelligence.Item ASSAf Webinar for New Editors – What it means to be a journal editor(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2023) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)ASSAf webinar hosted by the Scholarly Publishing Programme staff for new journal editors on 24 April 2023. Journal editors from a range of disciplines shared their personal experiences of being an editor of a scholarly journal. This webinar is the third in the New Editor Series which aims to provide new editors of South African scholarly journals with the tools to implement publishing best practice and boost their confidence as editors.