About Us
THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE OF SOUTH AFRICA ACT (2001): A statutory body placed strategically in the National System of Innovation, The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) was inaugurated in May 1996 in the presence of then President Nelson Mandela, the Patron of the launch of the Academy.
It was formed in response to the need for an academy of science consonant with the dawn of democracy in South Africa: activist in its mission of using science for the benefit of society, with a mandate encompassing all fields of scientific enquiry in a seamless way, and including in its ranks the full diversity of South Africa’s distinguished scientists.
The Parliament of South Africa subsequently passed the Academy of Science of South Africa Act, Act 67 of 2001, which came into operation on 15 May 2002. ASSAf is thus the official national Academy of Science of South Africa, recognised by Government and representing South Africa in the international community of science academies. ASSAf Brochure
ASSAf places a particular emphasis on excellence in the application of scientific thinking to the problems and challenges facing South African society. It draws its membership from all population groups and from all scientific disciplines.
ASSAf is a member of the InterAcademy Council (IAC), which will draw on the resources of all the Academies that are members of the IAP, in order to produce authoritative reports on major issues for governments and international bodies, e.g. The World Bank, United Nations, etc.
Internationally recognised science academies are similar in that they are:
- self-perpetuating, with a merit-based membership that creates an upward aspiration for quality and excellence in scientific endeavours;
- multidisciplinary, striving to represent science as a consilient continuum of knowledge, insight and practical solutions;
- independent of government, but can be funded by government for performing certain tasks;
- a credible voice of science to be heard on topics of national concern, independent of institutional or commercial linkages, obligations and agendas; and
- linked together in an independent global community that can mobilise scientific thinking, skills and knowledge across the world.
OBJECTIVES
Scientific thinking for the good of society
According to the Act the objectives of the Academy are:
- to promote common ground in scientific thinking across all disciplines, for example the physical, mathematical, life, human, social and economic sciences;
- to encourage and promote innovative and independent scientific thinking;
- to promote the optimum development of the intellectual capacity of all people;
- to provide effective advice and facilitate appropriate action in relation to the collective needs, opportunities and challenges of all South Africans; and
- to link South Africa with scientific communities at the highest levels, in particular within Africa, and further afield.
