B. ASSAf Workshop Proceedings and Other Reports
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Proceedings Reports are a verbatim reflection of a live ASSAf event. It is published with consent of all speakers.
Peer-Review Status: Non-Peer Reviewed
Enquiries: Henriëtte Wagner
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Item Research, Development, and Innovation on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technologies in South Africa - Proceedings Report(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2024) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Department of Science and Innovation (DSI); South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI)This report captures the proceedings at the launch of the study report on, Research, Development, and Innovation on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technologies in South Africa. The study supports the high-level agreement between South Africa (through the DMRE) and the IAEA by providing a solid foundation upon which a national strategic framework on peaceful uses of nuclear technologies in South Africa can be built. The objectives of the study were to review relevant current and historical national policies, plans and strategies; review the national landscape of existing and emerging RDI role players and activities in the country; develop baseline information around the nuclear technology landscape to assist with targets and indicators for monitoring and evaluation; review the Country Programme Framework (CPF) between South Africa and the IAEA and make recommendations on how the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme could be leveraged to strengthen the nuclear technology sector in South Africa; and make proposals on how to define a South African nuclear technology RDI flagship programme. Characterisation of the needs and gaps contains the following elements: • a brief explanation of the need setting out the context in terms of the severity and relevance. • a strategic objective to be achieved; and • an indicator, or indicators, for the proposed objective. The study was divided into six broad areas, namely: • agriculture and food security, • human health, • radiation protection, • water and environment, • energy and industry, • nuclear safety, security and safeguards.Item Policy Research Study to Determine the Adoption and Integration of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) into Government Policies and Planning Frameworks(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Department of Science and Innovation (DSI); Quantitative Evidence Research cc, 2021) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Department of Science and Innovation (DSI); Quantitative Evidence Research ccScience, Technology and Innovation (STI) is an important construct in South Africa’s policy discourse as illustrated in key national planning frameworks, such as the National Development Plan (NDP) and the 2019 White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI). The White Paper focuses, amongst other things, on the use of STI to accelerate inclusive socio-economic growth and to ensure that all departments working in areas that affect STI are open to innovation uptake and that there is policy coherence across the national innovation system (NSI). The DSI has undertaken twelve (12) Innovation for Inclusive Development (IID) seminars in partnership with the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) to inform and influence the uptake of demonstrated innovation and technologies by other sector departments. However, the integration of these technologies by various government departments in their policies and programmers is unknown. It was on this basis that the DSI and ASSAf commissioned Quantitative Evidence Research to conduct a policy research study to ascertain whether departments are responsive to STI and open to innovation uptake. The report shares recommendations based on policy document analysis and a survey of twelve (12) sector Departments.Item Surveillance and Response to Infectious Diseases and Comorbidities: An African and German Perspective(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2019) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)The conference explored various topics pertaining to Infectious Diseases and Comorbidities. These included: antimicrobial resistance; one health; HIV; TB; Malaria; and HCV. The objectives of the symposium were to scientifically analyse challenges pertaining to infectious diseases and comorbidities as they relate to surveillance, responses and diagnostics; identify current and future research needs that can be employed to tacle emrging scientific challenges; Assess possible solutions to current challenges as they relate to surveillance and response to infectious diseases and morbidities and how these can be used to provide science advice to governments; and, exchange scientific information between young and senior scientists from the sub-Saharan Africa and Germany.Item The State of Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity in the SADC Region(Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2018) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)This proceedings report is the product of a two-day workshop (19 –20 March 2018) on The State of Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region which was held at Emperor’s Palace, Johannesburg. The key objectives for this two-day workshop were to: • Discuss issues of laboratory biosafety and biosecurity importance for the region. • Strengthen existing collaborations/networks and establish new ones. • Exchange information and knowledge. The four key challenges that were found to be common across all SADC countries that participated were: • Lack of or inadequate (and fragmented) legislation, regulations and guidelines relevant to laboratory biosafety and biosecurity. • Limited or lack of capacity – including infrastructure, resources and human capacity. • Lack of or limited training programmes on laboratory biosafety and biosecurity. • Low level of awareness about laboratory biosafety and biosecurity, especially among researchers/scientists.Item The shale gas industry in South Africa: Toward a science action plan. 31 August – 1 September 2017, Proceedings Report(Academy of Science of South Africa, 2017) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)The objective of the conference was to showcase critical national reports on shale gas in South Africa; analyse the regulatory environment; and consolidate common findings and recommendations and provide a platform for debate. The conference was attended by 126 key stakeholders from government, industry and academia. African and international delegates also attend the conference. Among the 126 delegates there were 12 speakers and 9 panellists. The programme was divided into 7 sessions with the last session comprising 2 roundtable discussions. The opening address was delivered by Dr Phil Mjwara, Director-General of the Department of Science and Technology. Further notable representations were made by Mr Jacob Moatshe, Acting Deputy Director-General of Mineral Policy and Promotion at the Department of Mineral Resources (representing the Chair of the governmental Hydraulic Fracturing Monitoring Committee, Advocate Thabo Mokoena (DG of the DMR)), and Ms Busisiwe Khumalo, General Manager at the Eastern Cape office of the Premier.Item Proceedings of a Symposium on Our Nuclear Future: Delay or Demise?(Academy of Science of South Africa, 2014) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)The purpose of the symposium was to bring together a diverse range of stakeholders and invite engagement in a rigorous, evidence-based, scholarly debate on the issue of nuclear energy. Participants and presenters were drawn from various backgrounds: academia, government, private and public sectors, and civil society. South Africa is not alone in the world in grappling with issues related to nuclear energy. International perspectives on costs of nuclear energy were also presented.Item Workshop Proceedings Report GMOs for African Agriculture: Challenges and opportunities(Academy of Science of South Africa, 2010) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)This proceedings report is the product of a two-day workshop hosted by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) from 17-18 September 2009. ASSAf, in partnership with the Union of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities, the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) and the Uganda National Academy of Sciences (UNAS) received funding from the InterAcademy Panel (IAP) to conduct a study on “Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Opportunities and Challenges in Africa”.Item The Emerging Threat of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis(Academy of Science of South Africa, 2011) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)An estimated 2 billion people, one-third of the global population, are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb.), the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB) (Keshavjee and Seung, 2008). Spread through the air, this infectious disease kills 1.8 million people each year, or 4,500 each day (WHO, 2009a). TB is the leading killer of people with HIV, and it is also a disease of poverty—the vast majority of TB deaths occur in the developing world (WHO, 2009a). Exacerbating the devastation caused by TB is the growing threat of drug-resistant strains of the disease in many parts of the world. The development of drug resistance is a predictable, natural phenomenon that occurs when microbes adapt to survive in the presence of drug therapy (Nugent et al., 2010). Although antibiotics developed in the 1950s are effective against a large percentage of TB cases, resistance to these first-line therapies has developed over the years, resulting in the growing emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drugresistant (XDR) TB, and even totally drug-resistant (TDR) TB (see Box 1-1 for definitions). In recognitionItem Proceedings report Changing patterns of Non-Communicable Diseases(Academy of Science of South Africa, 2013) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)The theme of this conference was a superb example of the various activities in which the academies had been involved. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) constituted one of the most critical set of health challenges that faced the global community. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), NCDs constituted some 60% of all mortality at the present time, and more worrying was the upward trend. It was clear that there was urgent work to be done in this area. The timing and appropriateness of the conference theme were of unquestionable pertinence. NCDs provided a set of challenges that could not be successfully addressed through the isolated actions of various institutions and academies, but required collective wisdom, in this case of the group of medical academies.Item Proceedings Report: Technological Innovations for a Low Carbon Society Conference(Academy of Science of South Africa, 2013) Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)The challenge of finding sustainable, low carbon solutions to a global problem, such as climate change, is pertinent for both Germany and South Africa, notwithstanding their different developmental stages and different socio-economic and political contexts. Themes addressed included the energy-water-food nexus for resilient societies; low cost, low carbon innovations for poverty alleviation; smart city innovations; new and emerging technologies, such as carbon capture and storage and The Beauti-fuel Project aimed at converting biomass to liquid fuel, and the potential for solar power in South Africa. It was noted that South Africa can be viewed as a ‘playground’ for finding innovative low carbon solutions due to the untapped wind and solar energy resources and the excellent research capability.
