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This collection contains slide presentations and audio/video recordings not provided for elsewhere. This includes events/activities/participation in special day, special week, special month and special year celebrations, as well as science festivals and thematic weeks, e.g. National Science Week, Science Engagement and Open Access Week.
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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 Impact of climate change on food systems: Using transdisciplinary science to drive mitigation and adaptation solutions to protect and promote health(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2022) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); InterAcademy Partnership (IAP); Network of African Science Academies (NASAC)A recent systems-based approach to tackling climate change and health issues, from the global InterAcademy Partnership and its regional academy networks, examined how science can guide innovation, policy and practice for climate mitigation and adaptation. Among adverse climate change effects are those mediated by multiple impacts on food production and, consequently, on health and livelihoods. Outputs from the global assessment and specifically from Africa will be presented to exemplify the diverse challenges and opportunities to identify and implement solutions, integrated between agriculture and other sectors, at all levels of governance.Item SA Launch IYBSSD 2022(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2022-08) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Department of Science and Innovation (DSI); National Research Foundation (NRF)This roundtable discussion formed part of the launch of the SA International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD 2022). More information can be accessed at https://iybssd.africa/. Programme: 1. Moderator: Prof Himla Soodyall, Executive Officer, Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); 2. Opening remarks: Mr Imraan Patel, Deputy Director-General: Research Development Support, SA Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) to accelerate innovation to achieve the SDGs/ Dr Sudesh Sivarasu, Co-chair: South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS); Using science to inspire the next generation of scientists (focus on equity)/ Dr Beverley Damonse, Group Executive: Science Engagement and Corporate Relations, National Research Foundation (NRF); Public engagement of science/ Dr Nnditshedzeni Eric Maluta, HoD and Coordinator: Vuwana Science Resource Centre, University of Venda.Item Health Research and its contribution to South Africa’s democracy(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2022-08) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)Freedom of speech encompasses freedom of research and is an important component of any democracy. Health research, and communication around this research, have contributed to strengthening South Africa's democracy. Generally, COVID-19 research has been well disseminated and discussed openly, between scientists, civil society and government. To this extent, COVID-19 related health research can be said to have strengthened the functioning of our democracy. However, the pandemic has bought to the forefront important questions about the role of health research in a democracy. This webinar explored: 1) The extent to which the discussion around health research during COVID-19 excluded other research voices from the mainstream. 2) The extent to which health research should be a matter of discussion amongst non-specialists? Should there be limits on information shared/discussions held? 3) In an environment of the free flow of information, does the way in which health research information is shared enhance or undermine our democracy? 4) How does the dissemination of health research information affect the relationships between scientists, government and civil society?Item National Scholarly Book Publishers’ Forum (NSBPF) Conference: Local content, global reach: the value of South African scholarly publishers(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2022) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)ASSAf’s Scholarly Publishing Programme (SPP) hosted its National Scholarly Book Publishers’ Forum (NSBPF) conference on 25 July 2022. Scholarly book publishers present the foundational research that is drawn upon by policymakers, journalists, authors and researchers across the globe. ASSAf’s NSBPF is a representative body of publishers dedicated to the promotion of the scholarly book publishing sector in South Africa. The conference aimed to raise awareness of the contribution made by South Africa’s scholarly publishing sector to its national research mission to promote an understanding of the rigour of its processes, and to create a better understanding of the need for resource allocation to ensure its ongoing survival.Item Highlights of the 2021 webinar series on reducing poverty and inequality in South Africa post-COVID(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2022) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute (SPII); Bureau for Economic Research (BER); 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 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 delved 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? These clips provide a summary of the discussions during the entire webinar series.Item Mental Health and the role of traditional healers(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2022) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)Webinar presented on 8 July 2022 by the Academy of Science of South Africa. The provision of treatment, care and rehabilitation services for people with Mental, Neurological and Substance use (MNS) disorders is a multisectoral responsibility. Traditional healers have a unique role to play, especially in resource-limited settings. It is estimated that there are about 200 000 traditional healers as compared to 975 registered psychiatrists – who mostly practise in urban areas and the private sector. Traditional health practitioners and those linked to faith-based organisations play a significant role in providing services for people with MNS disorders. These are often an entry point into systems of care. These providers, therefore, could play a significant role in identifying people with such disorders, and in some cases, have worked cooperatively with health services in providing for the mental health and spiritual needs of individuals. There is a need to understand the role of traditional health practitioners in mental health care. This webinar seeks to understand the role, knowledge, attitude, and practice of traditional healers in mental health care with the aim to encourage their participation in terms of the treatment, care and rehabilitation of people with MNS disorders.Item Priorities for child and adolescent mental health research and services in South Africa(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2022) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)Children and adolescents under the age of 18 years comprise 34% of the population, and child and adolescent Mental, Neurological and Substance Use (MNS) disorders are common and an important cause of disability and distress. Providers at all levels should be competent to screen for and identify common childhood mental disorders, which usually present with developmental delay, emotional and/or behavioural symptoms and/or learning difficulties. Given the burden of disease, the fact that many mental disorders begin in childhood, and that early intervention is most effective in childhood and adolescence, it is essential that effective promotion, prevention, treatment, care and rehabilitation interventions should be provided for children and adolescents. In this webinar, hosted by the Academy of Science of South Africa, leading experts in child and adolescent mental health will presented their priorities for child and adolescent mental health services and research in South Africa.Item Science and war(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2022-03-29) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Royal Society of South Africa (RSSA)In times of war, scientists ask themselves what their role can and should be, in the face of humanitarian disasters, disruption and challenges to our ability to collaborate on a global platform. History shows us that science can do great good, and great harm. Our responsibility now is to seek knowledge for the good of humanity. Nowhere is this more evident than in the response of the academic community to the current crisis in Eastern Europe. It is clear, too, that as part of the greater global society, we acknowledge the severe impacts of all wars against humanity, whether in Europe or the Middle East or Africa. We should embrace fleeing refugees from the Congo or Syria with the same concern as those from Ukraine - only then does international solidarity mean anything at all. There is reason for pause, and to consider the issues that are at stake because of wars: the disruption and destruction of human lives and the halting of progress towards addressing the broadest global challenges – hunger, poverty, climate change, pandemics, inequalities and natural disasters. Scientists across the world should be supported in working together to find solutions, for peace and the greater good.Item Understanding the scourge of predatory journals and conferences in academia(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2021) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)Presented as part of Science Forum South Africa 2021. This presentation highlights some of the key emerging findings and recommendations of an InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) study “Combatting predatory academic journals and conferences” which will report in early 2022. IAP is the global network of over 140 national academies of science, engineering and medicine who work together on policy issues of vital importance. Predatory journals and conferences are pervading the research enterprise: they are driven entirely by profit and involve some form of deception, such as the false promise of rigorous peer review - a hallmark of academic research. What is more, their tactics are becoming increasingly sophisticated and that it is becoming more difficult to distinguish fraudulent practices from low quality or questionable ones. This means that poor science can find its way into the knowledge base and good science can be overlooked when it appears in low credibility journals: if left unchallenged, the implications are profound. The IAP study has been informed by a unique survey of the global research community in which over 1,800 researchers participated. The survey gives a concerning insight into the extent and impact of these predatory practices across the world, what drives them and motivates researchers to use them. By understanding these dynamics and the relative vulnerabilities and exposure to predatory outlets, the survey can help identify the most impactful ways of combatting them. African members of the international working group leading this work provide a preview of the study's findings, including (i) emerging recommendations for key stakeholder communities who play their part in the knowledge ecosystem, such as researchers, research funders, publishers, academic leaders, libraries and indexing services; and (ii) a new spectrum tool designed to assist many of them. An African perspective is prominent in the discussions. The session explores the following key questions: 1. What are predatory journals and conferences? 2. Why are they on the rise? 3. Why are they important? 4. What can be done to curb them? 5. What resources are available to help researchers and others minimise their risk?