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MessagefromNSTFExecutiveDirectorMsJansieNiehaus,NSTFExecutiveDirector,looksatthetransformationneededinSouthAfricaandinthedemographicprofileofscienceandtechnology.Readmore.
NSTFNews‘Makethechange–STEMeducationandmathsreform’DiscussionForumThe‘STEMEducationandmathsreform’DiscussionForum(#STEMreformSA)willbeheldon6August2018,KemptonPark,Gauteng.(STEMstandsforscience,technology,engineeringandmathematics.)proSET(Professionalsinscience,engineeringandtechnology)ishost ingthisevent.Youcanregisteronthewebsite.Forfurtherinformation,[email protected].
FourthIndustrialRevolutiondiscussionforumattheSAInnovationSummitTherewillbeaDiscussionForumonthe4thIndustrialRevolut iontocoincidewiththeSAInnovationSummitinCapeTown.ThefullSummitrunsfrom12-14September2018.It isthebiggestgatheringonthecontinentofinnovation-mindedpeoplefocusedon:entrepreneurialsupportandenablement;dealmaking;thoughtleadership;pipelinecreationandintroduction;businessmatchmaking,andknowledgesharing.FreediscussionforumattendanceforNSTFmembers:PeoplewhowanttoattendtheNSTFDiscussionForum–butnottheSummit–canattendtheNSTFeventfreeofchargeiftheyareemployedby/affiliatedtoNSTFmemberorganisations.SpecialNSTFdiscountsfortheSAInnovationSummit:IfanyonewantstoattendtheSAInnovationSummityouwillgeta5%discountthroughNSTF.Tobookt ickets,gototheTicketSaleslink.Thepromocodeisenteredrightattheendoftheregistrat ionprocesswhenthefinalpriceisbeingprocessed.Theuniquepromocode:2018NSTF
CompletetheNIPMOsurveyTheMinisterofScienceandTechnologyhasappointedapaneltoreviewtheIntellectualPropertyRightsfromPubliclyFinancedResearchandDevelopmentAct(IPR-PFRDAct)andtheNationalIntellectualPropertyManagementOffice(NIPMO).Thepurposeofthereviewisto:
ReflectontheIPR-PFRDAct,itsimplementationandimpactontheNationalSystemofInnovation(NSI)AssessNIPMOsroletodateandcapacitydevelopedAssess(qualitat ivelyandquantitat ively)theimpactoftheIPR-PFRDActandNIPMOwithintheNSI
Aspartofitsreviewprocess,thepanelwouldliketosolicit theviewsofkeyNSIstakeholders,andkindlyrequestsapproximately30minutesofyourt imeincompletingasurvey.Notethatthissurveyisqualitat iveinnatureandhencethereisnorequirementforspecificdatatobeinputtedintothesurvey.Individualrespondentswillbekeptconfidentialandonlyaggregatedresponsesreported.PleasecouldyoucompletetheNIPMOsurveybythe20thofJuly2018.
Allaboutthe2017/2018NSTF-South32AwardsThe20thAwardsfunction-2017/2018NSTF-South32Awards-washeldonThursday,28June2018.Findoutmoreaboutwhathappenedonthenight.ThethemewastheInternationalDecadeofSustainableEnergyforAll(2014-2024)asdeclaredbytheUnitedNations.Thereisavideoofthedanceperformanceonthetheme.Forthewinners:Youcanfindoutallaboutthewinnersonline.WealsohavePDFsofthesupplementsinMail&GuardianandBusinessReport.Forthegaladinner:YoucanfindallthephotosandvideoclipsontheNSTFwebsite.FortheMinister’sspeech:YoucanhearMinisterMmamolokoKubayiNgubane’sspeechoftheDepartmentofScienceandTechnology(DST)atthegaladinner.
FortheUkhoziAward:aSpecialAwardmadefortheNSTFAwards’20th
AnniversaryCelebrationforsomeonewhoplayedanimportantroleinestablishingtheNSTFandtheAwards–lookhere.
TheWho’sWhoofscience,engineering,technology(SET)andinnovationinSouthAfrica:YoucanreadallaboutthefinalistsandmoreintheWho’sWhopublicat ion.AbouttheBrilliantsstudents:TheNSTFBrilliantsProgrammerecognises18first-yearstudents(amaleandfemalefromeachprovince)studyinginthescience,medicineandengineeringfields.ThesestudentshavereceivedtopmarksinmathematicsandphysicalscienceintheNationalSeniorCert ificateExaminationslastyear.(Thisyearthereare20studentssponsoredbytheCarl&EmilyFuchsFoundation.)Readaboutthestudentswhowerechosen.SeephotosfromtheBrilliantsSpeakersprogrammeandthe2018BrilliantsStudentProgrammeAstronomyTour(supportedbySARAO&SAAO).
BookgiftfromtheDST:SincerethankstoMikeBrutonandtheDSTforcopiesofProfBruton’sbook‘WhataGreatIdea’asgiftstoalltheAwardsFinalistsandstudentsoftheBrilliantsprogramme.
proSETfundingprojectsproSETisamembershipsectoroftheNSTFconsist ingofprofessionalbodiesandlearnedsociet iesinscience,engineering,technology(SET)andSETeducation.It promotescooperationamongprofessionalsociet iesinSETandeducation,strivesforimprovedSETeducation,andpromotestheimageofallSETpractit ioners.Everyyear,proSETawardsprojectgrants.Notetherearespecificcriteriaunder'proSETProjectGrants'.Anexampleisthattheorganisationmustbeapaid-upmemberoftheNSTFundertheproSETsectorandmustbeanNGO.Thisisthe5throundofcallforproposals.proSETmemberrepresentatives,pleasecheckyourInboxforthenotice.Deadlineforsubmissionsis31August2018.
BursaryDirectoryFindthelatestbursariesinscience,engineeringandtechnology(SET).ThisserviceissponsoredbytheFuchsFoundation.Recently-addedbursariesincludethosefrom:
NMISABursariesHatchBursaryProgrammeCHIETABursaryProgrammeSAWISEscholarship
Visit theNSTFBursaryDirectorytofindregularlyupdatedinformationonavailablebursaries,theorganisationsthatusuallyprovidebursaries,variousSET-relatedcareerpaths,andinspiringstoriesofpeopleinSET.
NationalScienceWeekNationalScienceWeekwillbelaunchedattheUniversityofMpumalangainNelspruit on28July2018.TheNSTFShare‘nDareProgrammewillkickstartitsact ivit iesforthenewcyclewithfurtheract ivit iesatthesciencecentresthatarebasedinMpumalanga.Thiswillrunfrom28Julyto4August2018.Theseactivit iesaresponsoredbytheCarl&EmilyFuchsFoundation.
SET-relatedpoliciescurrentlyopenforpubliccommentPoliciesopenforcommentallowthescience,engineeringandtechnology(SET)communitytokeeptrackofthechangingregulatoryenvironment.It isthelastchancetocommentonapolicy.
NationalPortsAmendmentBill:Draft (Commentby:Saturday,July21,2018)NationalEnvironmentalManagement:BiodiversityAct:Alienandinvasivespecieslists:Amendments;Regulat ions:Alienandinvasivespecies(Commentby:Monday,July23,2018)NationalInlandFisheriesPolicy(Commentby:Tuesday,July31,2018)Nationalpolicyonpreventionandmanagementoflearnerpregnancyinschools(Commentby:Tuesday,July31,2018)ClimateChangeBill(Commentby:Wednesday,August8,2018)PlantBreeders’RightsAct:Receiptofapplicat ionsforplantbreeders’rights:Commentsinvited(Commentby:Friday,August17,2018)DentalTechniciansAct:Regulat ions:Registrat ionandtrainingofstudentdentaltechniciansandtechnologists:Commentsinvited(Commentby:Saturday,August25,2018)NationalPortsAct:Announcementandinvitat iontosubmitproposalsforreviewof2002NationalCommercialPortsPolicyandAct(Commentby:Friday,August31,2018)NationalHealthInsuranceBill:Draft (Commentby:Thursday,September20,2018)
SET-relatedpolicynews
Indicators
SouthAfricanScience,TechnologyandInnovationIndicators2017(DST)
Medicineandhealth
SAmedicalstudentsgraduatefromCuba(gov.za)WilltheNHIactuallywork?(Mail&Guardian)NewhealthcareplanpromisestooverhaulSouthAfrica’smassivelyskewedsystem(TheConversation)Mentalhealthreceivestoppriority(gov.za)Healthcommitteeconcernedwithstateofhealthservices(Polity)SouthAfrica’suniversalhealthcareplanfallsshortoffixinganailingsystem(TheConversation)SANACgearsupforInternationalAIDSconference(gov.za)
Agriculture
Raceagainsthunger,foodsecurity–Agriculture,ForestryandFisheriesMinisterSenzeniZokwanahaswarnedBRICSAgricultureMinistersthattheyareracingagainstt imetomakeameaningfulimpactagainsthunger,foodsecurityandclimatechange(gov.za)Changeagriculturalcolleges,saysMinister(gov.za)
Education
Counciltomonitorthecountry'sskillsplanning(gov.za)Umalusiblowslidofffakematriccert ificatessites(gov.za)
Climatechange
Gender,PovertyandEnvironmentalIndicatorsonAfricanCountries(SANGONeT)Draft NationalClimateChangeBillpublishedforcomment(Polity)SAmovestoreduceclimatechangevulnerability(gov.za)SAactstoreduceclimatechangevulnerability(infrastructurene.ws)
Waterinfrastructure
SA,Japanjoinhandstoaddresswaterinfrastructure(gov.za)MineralsCouncil,waterdepartmentcollaborateonwaterconservation,demandmanagementproject(Polity)Water,Sanitat ionmasterplaninthepipeline(gov.za)
Energy
RestructuringEskomtopofSouthAfrica'sagenda–Nene(Polity)SouthAfricatoalignenergyplanswithSADCgasmasterplans(Polity)NuclearonbackburnerasrenewablesgaingreatershareofSA’selectricityfuture(eepublishers)NewcoalplantstocostSAR19bn,pushoutrenewables(ITWeb)EskomsecuresR1.35bnloanfromKfWtointegrateNorthernCaperenewablesintothegrid(Polity)Radebesayslabourcannotbe'left behind'inenergytransit ion(Polity)
Oceanseconomy
Thumbsupforsea-basedAquacultureDevelopmentZone(gov.za)Newbodysettomanagemarinepollut ioninSA(infrastructurene.ws)
Youthrepresentation
NYDAwants40%youthrepresentationeverywhere(gov.za)
Sciencerelations
SouthAfrica&Iranenhancesciencerelat ionsbetweenthetwocountries(NRF)MeetingofBRICSscienceministersadoptsDurbanDeclarat ion(DST)
Technology
FourthIndustrialRevolut ionastepcloser(gov.za)GovernmentmayintroducebasiccodinginSAschools(TechCentral)SADCministers,expertsdiscussIndustry4.0skillschallenge(DST)
TheBRICSBusinessCouncil’sEnergyandGreenEconomyWorkingGroupishostingtheBRICSEnergyEvent2018:Johannesburg,24July2018STEMConference&CareerExpo:Johannesburg,27-28July2018ExtruAfrica2018–extrusion,applicat ion,education:Potchefstroom,31July-3August2018AAAS-TWASCourseonScienceDiplomacy2018:TriesteItaly,20-24August2018SABSElectro-TechnicalSectorStakeholderWorkshopandSiteTour:Pretoria,30August2018TheSAInnovationSummit:CapeTown,12-14September2018SciELO20YearsConference:SãoPaulo,Brazil,26-28September2018–Theeventwillcelebrate20yearsofoperation,infullalignmentwiththeadvancesofopenscience.InternationalConferenceonEthicsEducation:Stellenbosch,SouthAfrica,3-5October201836thAnnualInternationalNo-DigConferenceandExhibit ion:CapeTown,8-9October2018EduTECHAfrica2018andEduBUILDAfrica2018:Johannesburg,9-10October2018WasteCon2018:Johannesburg,15-19October2018SAEnergyStorage2018:Johannesburg,22-23October201829thSAIIEannualconference–Steeringthe4thIndustrialRevolut ion:Stellenbosch,24-26October2018AAPGInternationalConferenceandExhibit ion:CapeTown,4-7November2018SciCOM100*Conference2018:focusedonresearchinthefieldofsciencecommunication,StellenboschUniversity,6-7November201813thSouthernAfricanEnergyEfficiencyConfederationConference(2018SAEEC):13-14November2018DrugSafetyAfrica2018Conference:Potchefstroom,20-22November2018SecondInternationalSummitonHumanGenomeEdit ing:HongKong,27-29November2018ScienceForumSouthAfrica:SouthAfrica,12-14December2018TheWaterShowAfrica2019:Johannesburg,12-13March2019Power&ElectricityWorldAfrica2019:26-27March2019TheSolarShowAfrica2019:26-27March2019EnergyEfficiencyWorld:26-27March2019ManufacturingIndaba:Johannesburg,25-26June2019
MembersofNSTFintheproSET(ProfessionalSociet ies)sectorarefeaturedineverynewsletter.ThismonthwelookattheIAIA,SAIMCandSAMF.
TheInternationalAssociat ionforImpactAssessment(IAIA)bringstogetherresearchers,pract it ioners,andusersofvarioustypesofimpactassessmentfromallpartsoftheworld.Oneoftheuniquefeaturesisthemixofprofessionsrepresented.TheSouthAfricanaffiliate,IAIAsaisanofficialaffiliateoftheInternationalbody.Theorganisationholdsinternationalandregionalconferences,trainingprogrammes,andpublishesaquarterlyinternationaljournal.Thereisalsoanewsletter.Seethewebsiteformoreinformation.TheSocietyforAutomation,Instrumentation,MeasurementandControl(SAIMCNPC)strivestobethedrivingforcebehindthedevelopmentoftheAutomationIndustryProfessioninSouthernAfrica.It createsawarenessfortheprofession,definesandsupportseducation,reviewstechnologies,andsetsstandards,amongotherthings.Thisincludesorganisingtechnologyeveningsandcourses,publishinganewsletter,engagingoncurricula,andpublishingtechnicalpapers.Seethewebsiteforfurtherinformation.TheSouthAfricanMathematicsFoundation(SAMF)haspublisheditsfirstnewsletterin2018.
SETeducationRethinkingtheCultureofLearningandTeachinginSA’sSchools(SANGONeT)WestPointpartnersinSouthAfricatopromoteSTEMlearning(AfricanInst ituteforMathematicalSciences)Breakthroughtoliteracyisaneffect ivetooltoaddressourreadingcrisis(SANGONeT)
Universities
TheFourthIndustrialRevolut ionandeducation(SAJS)Foreigndoctoratesareattract ive–butdon’t writeoffhomegrownPhDs(TheConversation)
Industrydevelopmentandinnovation
SolarTurt le'spowerplanforruralwomen(ITWeb)AfricaInnovationSummitIIAnnouncesTop50InnovationsforInnovationExhibit ion–seeFoodSecurityforEveryone,SouthAfrica,andVehicleEnergyHarvestingSystem,SouthAfrica(allAfrica)ThislocalfirmmakescomponentsforNASAspacecraft –butcouldn'tfindfundinginSA(BusinessInsiderSouthAfrica)Makingwaterwhilethesunshines(ITWeb)Miningsimulat ioncentreaddsvaluetotheMandelaMiningPrecinct(eepublishers)Localstudentsdevelopsafety-first aircraft (ITWeb)WEFtoestablishIndustry4.0centreinSA(ITWeb)
Medicineandhealth
Diabetes-detectingchipbringsinventorpopularacclaim(CSIR)BloodlessmalariatestwinsAfrica’sengineeringprize(SciDevNet)'Weareforcedtomoveonfromdeclaringbabiesdeadasifnothinghappens'(Mail&Guardian)HealthSystemsInnovationisthePathtoBetterHealth(SANGONeT)HealthEducationFacesChallenges(ASSAf)SAallergymedicinesarebasedonEuropeanplants—here'swhy(BusinessInsiderSouthAfrica)Apphelpsdeafpatientsbettermanagetreatment(ITWeb)Doctorsmoretoblameforprivatehealthcarecoststhanmedicalaids(EngineeringNews)
Palaeontology,archaeologyandanthropology
Craniumofafour-million-year-oldhomininshowssimilarit iestothatofmodernhumans(phys.org)
Astronomyandspacescience
MeerKATradiotelescopeinauguratedinSouthAfrica–revealsclearestviewyetofcentreoftheMilkyWay(SKASA)SAcompanytodeployhigh-rescameraintospace(ITWeb)SouthAfricawillbecontributingequipmenttothelargestscienceexperimentonEarth.Thisiswhattheyhopetofind.(BusinessInsiderSouthAfrica)ThepotentialofastronomyforsocioeconomicdevelopmentinAfrica(Nature)SApushesspaceagenda(ITWeb)Swedishreceivertocapturecosmicwavesintheworld’slargestradiotelescope(SKAAfrica)DevelopmentinastronomyandspacescienceinAfrica(Nature)Researchersmapoutregionswhereexoplanetscanexistwithintriplestarsystems(phys.org)
Environment,climatechangeandenergyWater
‘BlueistheNewGreen’:DebutAfricaBlueEconomyForumHitstheMark(AfricaNewsroom)Watersecurity:Towardsadefinit ion(CSIR)FromCapeTowntoSãoPaulo,largecit iesarefacingwatershortages(phys.org)Whyordinarypeoplemusthaveasayinwatergovernance(TheConversation)
Climatechangeandenvironment
WorldEnvironmentDayCelebration–thethemefor2018is#BeatPlast icPollut ion(UnitedNationsEnvironment)CSIRbioplast ictechnologyrecognisedforitspotentialtoeradicateplast icpollut ion(CSIR)Climatechangemaysoonhit billionsofpeople—manycit iesalreadytakingact ion(phys.org)HouseholdfoodwastedisposalinSouthAfrica:AcasestudyofJohannesburgandEkurhuleni(SAJS)SeparationatsourcesoontobemandatoryinJoburg(infrastructurene.ws)ThenewPicknPay'plast ic'bagcanbeusedascompostinyourgarden-thisiswhatit lookslike(BusinessInsiderSouthAfrica)HowAfricancit ies’residentsarecreatingclimatechangesolut ions(TheConversation)First wastemanagementoutlookforAfrica–publicat ionlaunchedinPretoria(CSIR)NewairqualityruleswillforceEskomtocomplyorshutdown(infrastructurene.ws)
Energy
ThenewIRPforelectricity,andthefutureofcoalintheelectricitygenerationmixofSA(eepublishers)EnergyEfficiencyinSouthAfricatobePriorit ised(ASSAF)Electriccarstogobbleup9%ofworld’selectricityby2050(TechCentral)Powerfromthesun:AnoverviewofCSPinSouthAfrica(eepublishers)EskomgetsR1.35bnrenewableenergyboost(ITWeb)Howthediscoveryofaprotein’ssecretfunctioncouldboostsolartech(TheConversation)Anindustryindisarray?–theenergyindustry(eepublishers)ConstructionstartsonnewR6.6billionwindfarms(infrastructurene.ws)
Agriculture
Arableagriculturechangessoilmicrobialcommunit iesintheSouthAfricanGrasslandBiome(SAJS)Appcollectsfarmingdatatooptimiseyields(ITWeb)ThisSA-createdirrigationsystemcutswaterusagebyupto70%-andisrevolut ionisingorchards(BusinessInsiderSouthAfrica)Report:Poorlandusecostscountries9%equivalentoftheirGDP(eepublishers)Whyit ’sbeneficialtoorganisesmallholderfarmersintogroups(TheConversation)
Ecology
BlockchainmeasuresimpactofconservationinMadagascar(ITWeb)Mappingendangeredmammalsforconservation(eepublishers)'Shocking'die-offofAfrica'soldestbaobabs:study(phys.org)SA'snewcrypto-currencydevelopedtosaverhino(ITWeb)Giantcrackdownagainstwildlifecrimein92countries(phys.org)Scientistshopetest-tubeembryoscansavenear-extinctwhiterhino(Polity)PoachersunderfireinSA-developedgame(ITWeb)
Technology
OnlinedataportalforAfrica–EsrihaslaunchedtheAfricaGeoPortal(eepublishers)TrainSAyouthinemergingtechnology:PwC(ITWeb)LabteachesengineeringstudentsIIOTskills(ITWeb)SITAsearchesforsocially-consciousinnovation(ITWeb)
Datatools
PublicsectorGISandtoolsshowbenefitsofdataintegration–Government-developedGIStoolsforresourcemanagement,theGautengCityRegionIntegratedGeospatialDataPlatform(eepublishers)
Communication
YouthScienceJournalismProgrammecreatesscienceandtechnologyawarenessincommunit ies(DST)Visualanalysisbestpractices(eepublishers)
Opportunities
TheWorldAcademyofSciencesSub-SaharanAfricaRegionalPartner(TWAS-SAREP)invitesyoutonominatesuitablecandidatesforthefollowingprizes:CallforNominations:TWAS-SAREPRegionalYoungScientists’Prize2018-WaterandSanitat ion(deadline20August2018)andCallforNominations:TWASRegionalPrize2018-ScienceDiplomacy(deadline20August2018)
ScienceMinisterpaystributetoProf.Tyobeka–ScienceandTechnologyMinisterMmamolokoKubayi-NgubanehaspaidtributetoProfessorErrolTyobeka,thefirst blackcandidateinSouthAfricatoobtainanMScandPhDinBiochemistry(gov.za)ProfDayaReddyElectedasPresidentoftheInternationalScienceCouncil(NRF)Youngscholarawardwinnershowspowerofgeo-visualisat ion(eepublishers)First AssociateEditormenteesforSAJS(ASSAf)ProfPatriciaWhitelockAwardedSAIPDeBeersGoldMedal2018(NRF)
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SendusyournewsTheNSTFinvitesallourmembers,aswellasallSETandinnovationroleplayers,tosendusinformationonmeetings,conferencesandactivitiesofinteresttothebroaderS&Tcommunity.Pleasesendusyournewsbythe20thofthemonth,fordistributionatthebeginningofthefollowingmonth,[email protected]
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AbouttheNSTFTheNationalScienceandTechnologyForum(NSTF),establishedin1995,isabroadly-representativestakeholderbodyforallSETandinnovationorganisationsinSouthAfrica,whichseekstoinfluencepolicyformulationanddelivery.TheNSTF-South32AwardsareuniqueinSA,recognisingtheoutstandingcontributionsofindividualsandgroupstoSETandinnovation.Thesciencebursariespageprovidesinformationonbursariesandbursaryprovidersforscience,engineeringandrelatedstudies.
DisclaimerTheNSTFhastakenallpracticalmeasurestoensurethatthematerialcontainedinthisnewsletteriscorrect.TheNSTFreservestherighttomakechangesasitdeemsnecessary.PrivacyRegistrationdetailssubmittedtotheNSTFwillbetreatedconfidentiallyandwillonlybeusedbyNSTFtocommunicatewithitsmembersandsubscribers.
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