Women still under-represented in S&T, is consensus at TWOWS Conference July 12, 2010
Posted by Andrea in : International Relations, Liaison , add a commentRepresentatives from the South African chapter of the Third World Organisation for Women in Science (TWOWS) attended the TWOWS Fourth General Assembly and International Conference on “Women Scientists in a Changing World”, which was held in Beijing, China on the 27-30 June 2010. (more…)
What’s in a name? The naming of Australopithecus sediba May 10, 2010
Posted by Alan in : SAJS, Uncategorized , add a commentProf 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…)
Securing the Humanities in an Age of Failing Economics April 7, 2010
Posted by Peter in : Humanities and Education Studies, Projects, Uncategorized , add a commentProf Peter Vale, Co-Chair, ASSAf Consensus Panel on the Humanities
From almost every corner of the Anglophone world, the complaint is the same: “The Humanities are under threat”. I use the qualifier because, sadly, my ability to access other language worlds – beyond the Dutch-Afrikaans link – is limited.*
The question is what is to be done to recover and revive the Humanities?
Research and deliberations into ASSAf’s own Consensus Report on the Humanities in South Africa is well under way and the hope is to issue a preliminary report in late October, 2010. My own view of this issue is framed by an understanding of political economy – the rise of neo-liberal economics has emphasized economic growth and efficiency and, in this particular universe, the Humanities have no place ( the State of Science in South Africa, pg 210). This is a fallacy, of course. Take the creation of jobs. In this country alone, right now, one of the strongest areas of economic growth is Afrikaans cultural production – most of this is both creates jobs and pushes economic growth. (more…)
Earth’s axis moved in Chile quake, claims NASA researcher March 11, 2010
Posted by Louise in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so farNasa 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 .
TWAS Conference approaches: the final countdown October 13, 2009
Posted by Andrea in : Events, International Relations, Liaison , add a commentPreparations for the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) 11th General Conference to be hosted by ASSAf at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Durban from 19-23 October 2009 are well underway. Over 400 TWAS Fellows and invited guests are scheduled to attend what promises to be a momentous event. The theme for this year’s conference is “Science for Africa’s Development”. TWAS Committees and Council will assemble for two days prior to the start of the conference. Science and Technology (S&T) in South African will be showcased in a symposium comprising invited presentations from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and representatives from the Centres of Excellence in South Africa. (more…)
ASSAf reaches out to learners and educators August 13, 2009
Posted by Mutheu in : National Relations , add a commentMembers of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) provided mentorship lectures to learners and educators during the recent National Science Week in the Free State, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The National Science Week is an initiative by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), through the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) which aims to celebrate science. It involves various stakeholders from government, private and not-for-profit sectors of society who conduct and exhibit multiple science based activities during the week. This year, the National Science Week ran from 1-8 August 2009 in all nine provinces simultaneously at multiple sites in each province.
This year’s science week was launched in the Northern Cape province by DST Minister, Naledi Pandor. Through ASSAf’s regional mentorship lecture approach, which targeted both learners and educators, scientist were able to interact with learners, provide guidance on science-based careers, and understand some of the challenges that are facing educators within the science system in South Africa. This also provided an opportunity to increase the awareness of ASSAf among learners, educators, and other key stakeholders.
