Academy of Science of South Africa Reports

One of the key drivers for an increasing focus on green technologies is climate change, although other concerns, such as the global energy and financial crises, resource depletion and environmental degradation have strengthened interest in green technologies. Further, it is recognised that there can be no transition to a green economy without green technologies and technological innovation.The overall aim of this study is to document green technologies currently being utilised in South Africa, to identify gaps and opportunities for the utilisation of these technologies and to make recommendations to promote the growth of green technologies. The key questions are as follows:•     What are the green technologies currently available and in use in South Africaand how does South Africa compare globally in terms of the uptake of greentechnologies?•     What are the political, economic, sociological, technological, legal &environmental (PESTLE) factors that influence and impact on the implementationof green technologies in the South African context?•     In which sectors/areas are there gaps in the availability and/or implementation of technologies and potential for future growth?•     How best can new technologies be identified for transfer to South Africa and how should this be done to ensure that skills transfer is included?•     Are there opportunities for new innovative green technologies that can beimplemented sustainably?•     Is there a set of indicators that can be used to measure successfulimplementation of green technologies?•     What is needed to promote and increase the use and development of localgreen technologies in South Africa?•     ..

This Report follows a request from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) for an independent critical appraisal of the State of the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) System in South Africa.It follows and builds on two other system reviews, the 2007 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Review of Innovation Policyand the 2012 Ministerial Review Committee report on the STI landscape. Most importantly, the Report considers how the National System of Innovation(NSI) isconceived of within the National Development Plan (NDP) and the expectations that attach to its functioning in this context.The six chapters of the Report take stock of where the country was in 1994, and where it is now, two decades after the fi rst democratic election. The Reportprovides a critical analysis of the NSI and, where possible, seeks to make better use of economic analysis and draws on international experience to tease out the issues. It identifies knowledge deficiencies and offers some immediate recommendations and suggested areas for future research.

This consensus study was initiated by the ASSAf Standing Committee on Biosafetyand Biosecurity. The key objective was to undertake a consensus study in which thefindings and recommendations will contribute to policy development/modificationand to inform practice in relation to the improvement of biosafety and biosecurity in the country.This consensus report provides a review of the state of the biosafety and biosecurityin South Africa. This review includes an overview of existing legislation, regulationsand practices as they relate to biosafety and biosecurity; an evaluation of existingmeasures and capacity to detect, control and prevent the natural, accidental andspread of infectious agents; and a critical overview of current practice in relation tothe implementation of biosafety and biosecurity measures and the application ofethics in South African laboratories.Key findings from the study include the poor education and/or training on researchethics for life scientists, inadequate compliance with the statutory obligations toreport Notifiable Medical Conditions, the lack of a database of both public andcommercial laboratories in the country and a low level of awareness among lifescientists about national and international conventions, laws and regulations relatedto their research.

This report reflects the proceedings of the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP)Conference on Science Advice held from 28 February – 1 March 2016,Hermanus, South Africa.Views expressed are those of the individuals and not necessarily those ofthe Academy nor a consensus view of the Academy based on an in-depthevidence-based study.

This report on the State of Climate Change Science and Technology in South Africa was compiled by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). It was commissioned by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and aligns with the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) of the government of South Africa, which in turn stems from the work of the National Planning Commission and its National Development Plan (NDP).Outcome 10 of the MTSF calls for a report on the state of climate change science and technology in South Africa to be provided to Cabinet by the DST and the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) every two years. This is the first such report.The report aims to:• provide a critical assessment and comparative overview of climate changescientific research and related technological innovations;• identify any gaps or barriers in research and technology development valuechains;• suggest ways to improve the current situation and maximise opportunities for South Africa.A small panel of experts appointed by the ASSAf Council produced the report over the period June to December 2016. Information was sourced from a review of policies, data gathering from published reports and papers, and bibliometric surveys. In addition, a consultative approach was adopted in which information was solicited from semistructured interviews with 20 key stakeholders; questionnaires that were distributed to 45 individuals, representative of the research community, private sector and civil society; a consultative workshop attended by 26 individuals; and selected stakeholder inputs on the draft report. 

This symposium on Technological Innovations for a Low Carbon Society was hosted jointly in October 2012 by the national science academies of South Africa and Germany, ASSAf and Leopoldina respectively, as one of many initiatives of the German-South Africa Year of Science. It presented an opportunity to highlight partnerships between Germany and South Africa and to intensify cooperation between the two academies in an area of strategic importance to both countries.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. 

This report presents the first comprehensive survey of academies of science globallyregarding women’s representation in membership, governance and academy activities. The survey findings show that there continues to be low representation of women in all areas stated above. The findings of this report and its recommendations should be used as a guidelinefor academies of science, globally, to develop strategies on increasing women’sparticipation in academy activities. It should also provide stimulus for action by IAP:The Global Network of Science Academies* and its member academies to collectand report gender-disaggregated data on an annual basis. The collection, analysis and reporting of gender-disaggregated data allowsacademies to introspect on their role as advocates for the increased participationof girls and women, not only within themselves but also in a nation’s science system.It also allows for increased discussions on the importance of applying the gender lens in the conceptualisation and implementation of academy activities, with a specific focus on their science advisory activities.