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What’s in a name? The naming of Australopithecus sediba May 10, 2010

Posted by Alan in : SAJS, Uncategorized , add a comment

Prof Alan Morris, UCT; Associate Editor of SAJS

The first person to describe a new fossil gets the rights to name it. This has got be done at the time of the first publication as the privilege is not retrospect. Hesitate and someone else will pip you at the post. The payout is pretty impressive because the once the fossil has been named, the name is there forever with your priority stamped all over it in Latin.

But not everything in the name game is about priority and bragging rights. The whole system of classification is an art, not a science, and the choice of name tells you as much about the researcher as it does about the fossil. (more…)

Role of libraries in research March 24, 2010

Posted by Zweli in : Events, Humanities and Education Studies, Open Access Scholarly Publishing , add a comment

South African Library Week 2010 will be celebrated from 22 – 27 March 2010 with the theme: “Reading changes lives“. SALW2010 was launched on Saturday 20 March at the National Library of South Africa to coincide with the date of the declaration of the first public library in South Africa in 1818.

The Academy is made up of researchers wanting to benefit society through their research. Libraries play a crucial role in this endeavour.

During Library Week we acknowledge the role that libraries play in the production of research. Whereas the internet at large provides general information resources, libraries provide authoritative information resources such as books, journals and access to academic electronic resources.  Click here to read more about SALW2010.

Earth’s axis moved in Chile quake, claims NASA researcher March 11, 2010

Posted by Louise in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so far

Nasa reports that one of their Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory research scientists, Richard Gross, has calculated that Chile’s 8.8 magnitude earthquake of 27 February 2010 may have shifted the Earth’s axis by about 8 centimeters and made days a bit shorter. Using a complex model Gross has come up with a preliminary calculation suggesting this has made our days 2.7 milliarcseconds shorter than before. To read the article click here .

Biosafety and paranoia post-9/11 August 18, 2009

Posted by Phakamile in : Health Studies, Projects , add a comment

Since the bombings of the Twin Towers in the US on September 11, 2001 there has been a great deal of emphasis on safety in different countries. Some countries have stepped-up and strenghtened their safety so as to ensure this doesn’t happen to them. The other issue of biosafety against any form of biorisks has also seen many countries form specialised committees of scientific experts and/or agencies that specialise in dealing with biorisks. Biosafety policies have been implemented by some countries whereas others are still in the process of either developing or implementing them.

Even though these biosafety policies are good and necessary, there also seems to be a degree of paranoia in some countries. Some academic institutions/biotechnology research centers have suffered because of the restrictions imposed by these policies, where, amongst other things, they can’t work with certain pathogens as they are demeed biological risks. Paranoia about biosafety is even evident at airports in certain countries. Despite all this paranoia, many lessons have been learnt regarding good laboratory practice (GLP) and ethical issues surrounding biosafety. As the saying goes: it’s better to be safe than sorry!

SciELO SA goes live! August 13, 2009

Posted by Susan in : Open Access Scholarly Publishing , add a comment

ASSAf’s Open Scholarly Publishing team has been involved in the launch of a  pilot site for SciELO SA, initially on the ScieELO Brazil site, has been established using their existing hardware, software, and mark-up processes. (more…)

HIV vaccines: should SA be focusing on alternatives? August 13, 2009

Posted by Linda in : SAJS , add a comment

In the wake of disappointing results from the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), and an equivalent trial which was halted in South Africa last year, Lynn Morris, from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases , and co-workers argue that there is still optimism for the development of a vaccine against HIV.

As the country with the most HIV infections in the world, South Africa has the greatest need for an HIV vaccine. Rather than cutting back on vaccine development, the country should double its efforts in a smart and innovative way. History shows that vaccination is still the most effective way to counter viral epidemics – smallpox, measles, hepatitis and other infections have either been eradicated or successfully controlled. The lessons learned from developing the polio vaccine are useful reminders that making a vaccine is no easy task, and that we still face many obstacles.

 Read more:  S. Afr. J. Sci. 105 (5/6), 168-169.