Applying scientific thinkingin the service of society

Annual Performance Plan 2013/2014

Presentation to Science and Technology

Parliamentary Portfolio Committee

18 April 2013 1

ASSAF Mandate

Dual Mandate

• To honour distinguished scholars in all fields of scientific enquiry

• To generate evidence-based solutions to national and global challenges

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ASSAf Goals

• Recognition and reward of excellence• Promotion of innovation and scholarly

activity• Promotion of effective, evidence-based

scientific advice• Promotion of interest in and awareness of

science education• Promotion of national, regional and

international linkages

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Alignment with Government Goals

• Strengthening skills and resource base• Regional development, African advancement and international cooperation • Improvement of the health profile of society• Improvement of rural development and food security• Improvement of environmental assets and

natural resources

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Programmes of Academy

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Key Achievements of Governance & Administration in

2011/2012• Appointment of Council advisor – Prof Daya Reddy

• Appointment of new NACI representative to Council

• Four Council meetings held

• Unqualified audit achieved

• Member elections – 35 new Members elected →total of 368 Members

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Governance and Administration

2013/2014• Promote good governance

- Compliance, audits, financial and HR management

• Promote recognition of Members & participation in ASSAf activities- Annual Awards, AGM, Member Election, ASSAf Panels, Member Database, Scholarly Lectures

• Pursue closer alignment of ASSAf activities & DST goals

• Coordinate discussions on ASSAf strategic goals

- Membership - representation wrt race, gender, science discipline, innovative Membership models

- Sustainability of ASSAf

- Enhanced role of ASSAf

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Key Achievements of Scholarly Publishing Programme in 2011/2012

• National Scholarly Editors’ Forum (NSEF) – Aimed at enhancing quality of editing of scholarly

journals– Hosted fifth annual meeting

• National Scholarly Book Publishers’ Forum– Finalisation and presentation of recommendations

pertaining to ‘National Scholarly Books Fund’ – Hosted two meetings

• Discipline-grouped peer review of SA scholarly journals– 4 reports nearing completion

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Key Achievements of Scholarly Publishing Programme in 2011/2012

• Open Access Platform– Continued uploading of journals on to OA platform

(SciELO SA) – 22 titles – Daily visits to SciELO SA were 1500 in Feb 2012

• Online scientific writing – IAMP funding– Completion of modules for 4-tiered modular system – Hosted workshop for young medical science

graduates• Access to core commercial databases

– Presentation of report to stakeholders and implementation of recommendations

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Scholarly Publishing Programme2013/2014

• Promote Access to Knowledge Resources- Increase number of titles on Open Access platform- Optimise research access through visibility, usage, uptake and impact

• Undertake Quality Assurance (journals, books & collected works)- Establish peer-review panels- Publication of discipline-grouped peer-review panel reports- Coordinate activities of National Scholarly Publishers’ Forum- Coordinate activities of National Scholarly Editors’ Forum

• Enhance Scientific Writing for Scholarly Publishing- A nationally coordinated, low cost-to-user online course system - Aimed at enhancing the quality of scientific writing for emerging

researchers

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• Volume 109 (Volume 1: 1905)

• 2011 ISI impact factor = 0.78

• New design and branding (Jan 2013)

• New website (Dec 2012) – 5000 visits to date

• New Editor-in-Chief (Nov 2012) – John Butler-Adam

• New submission site (Sep 2012)

– 125 submissions (±1 per day)

– 24% acceptance

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Key Achievements of Policy Advisory Programme in 2011/2012

• Completion of two consensus studies

– “Towards a Low Carbon City: Focus on Durban”

– “The State of the Humanities in South Africa”

• Hosted workshop on “Pathways towards a Low Carbon City” at COP-17 meeting in Durban – Nov 2011

• Launch of joint IOM/ASSAf report on “The Emerging Threat of Drug-resistant TB in Southern Africa”

• Hosted workshop with IOM on “Envisioning a Strategy to prepare for Long-term Burden of HIV/AIDS”

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Key Achievements of Policy Advisory Programme in 2011/2012

• M&E of consensus study report on “Clinical Research in SA” – contributed to DoH plan to strengthen health research in SA

• Hosted workshop and published policymakers’ booklet together with NASAC academies on “Science, Water & Sanitation: Supporting Equitable and Sustainable Development in Southern Africa”

• Hosted symposium on “Nuclear Energy Safety”

• Hosted workshop with Mauritius Academy of Science & Technology on “Agricultural Genetic Modification Policy in Africa”

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Key Achievements of Policy Advisory Programme in 2011/2012

• Launched policymakers’ booklet on “Inquiry-based Science Education: Increasing Participation of Girls in Science in sub-Saharan Africa” – produced together with NASAC academies

•Established Standing Committee on Health and obtained Council approval for Standing Committee on Humanities

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• Initiate and facilitate evidence-based projects on Health, Education, Humanities, Biosafety & Biosecurity, Environment & Energy Studies

• Reconceptualise ASSAf Forum Studies

• Increased generation of Assessment Studies on national priority areas

• Conduct commentaries on government policies

• Localisation/domestication of evidence-based reports

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Policy Advisory Programme2013/2014

Policy Advisory Programme2013/2014

• Health – Publication & dissemination of consensus study on

“Improved Nutritional Assessment of Micronutrients”– Workshop on National Health Insurance– Planned consensus study on “Reproductive Health in SA

Schools”– Planned consensus study on “Training of Health

Professionals” – Monitoring implementation of recommendations of

“Clinical Research” consensus study

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Humanities Studies

- Organise an international conference on Humanities

- Engage with key stakeholders to promote Humanities in SA

Education Studies

- Promote Inquiry-Based Science Education in South Africa

- Implementation of La Main a la Pâte pilot study in Gauteng

-Source financial support for a Consensus Study on Revitalising

Agricultural Education and Training

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Policy Advisory Programme2013/2014

Environment Studies- Publish Proceedings Report - Technologies for a Low Carbon Society

- Assessment Study on State of Green Technologies in South Africa

- Launch Policymakers’ Booklet Science, Water, Sanitation in Zimbabwe

Energy Studies- Disseminate Proceedings Report on Nuclear Energy Safety

- Assessment study on State of Energy Research in South Africa

Biosafety

- Consensus Study on the State of Biosafety & Biosecurity in SA

- Launch Policymakers’ Booklet on GMOs in Kenya18

Policy Advisory Programme2013/2014

Key Achievements of Liaison Programme in 2011/2012

• Awarded Sydney Brenner postdoctoral fellowship

• Awarded 2 Science-for-Society Gold Medals

• Hosted Distinguished Visiting Scholar – Prof Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker

• Hosted annual Young Scientists’ Conference – “Changing Lives through Chemistry”

• Launched SA Young Academy of Science (SAYAS) in Sept 2011 –provide secretariat support

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Key Achievements of Liaison Programme in 2011/2012

• Continued presidency of NASAC

• Engaged in Academy capacity building initiatives with Mauritus and Zimbabwe

• Signed MoU with Mauritius Academy of Science and technology (MAST)

• Completed study on State of Women in S&T in SA as part of Organisation of Women in Science in Developing Countries (OWSD) study – launched at AAAS meeting in Vancouver in Feb 2012

• Completed study on State of Women in S&T in Swaziland for UNESCO

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Liaison Programme2013/2014

• Strengthen Relations with International Science Academies & Networks

- Participate in global scientific meetings - IAP, G Science, IAC, TWAS, OWSD, STSf & IAMP

- Provide capacity building & support to African national science academies & NASAC

- Coordinate participation of SA scientists in global science activities

- Host IAMP General Assembly & scientific conference

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Liaison Programme2013/2014

• Strengthen Relations with National Stakeholders in NSI

- Increased engagement with government departments- Increased engagement with PPC- Pursue multi-governmental cooperation in identifying &

providing

evidence-based solutions to critical societal challenges- Establish collaborative links with stakeholders i.e. business,

embassies & research &technology institutions

- Host & serve as secretariat for COHORT

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• Promote young scientists’ activities - Organise & host Annual Young Scientists’ Conference

- Identify & nominate young scientists for international activities- Promote participation of young scientists in national scientific

activities- Collaborate with and support SAYAS

• Recognise, reward and promote excellence in science

- Award Science-for-Society gold medals to distinguished scientists

- Facilitate recruitment of Sydney Brenner postdoctoral fellows - Identify & facilitate lectures by the Distinguished Visiting Scholar(s)- Coordinate Regional Scholarly Lectures with science academies

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Liaison Programme2013/2014

Key Achievements of Comms. & Publications in 2011/2012

• 4 issues of Quest published – print run of 25 000

• Quest was marketed at 14 science events

• Advertising in Quest increased by > 50% compared with previous year

• 26 media statements released

• South African Journal of Science– 6 issues published– Completed report on SAJS Business Strategy →

greater emphasis on News & Views (analysis of S&T policy)

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• Initiate a campaign to raise Academy’s Profile

• Production & dissemination of ASSAf Policy Advisory Reports

• Monitoring the impact & uptake of evidence-based reports

• Production & dissemination of SAJS

• Production & dissemination of Quest magazine

• Promote usage of Quest Interactive Website

• Monitor usage & impact of Quest magazine in schools and other learning institutions

• Raising science awareness & engagement through cooperation with government, learning institutions, science advancement entities & business

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Communication and Publications

2013/2014

Quest• Quest: Science for South Africa - full-colour,

quarterly, popular science magazine, supported by DST, endorsed by DoE.

• Print-run 25 000 per issue• Aimed at learners, educators, scientific community,

academics, decision-makers and public• Distributed to Dinaledi & public high schools with science

departments & at national science events

Improve Quest Impact• Targeted distribution strategy• Formalise cooperation DoE, University Education

Departments, SAASTA, science centres

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PROJECTED BUDGET SUMMARY

MTEF PERIOD: 2013/14 TO 2015/16

Income

Details 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16

R R R

Department of Science and Technology funding:      

Baseline (parliamentary grant) 20,744,000 21,577,000 22,991,000

Income from publications 250,000 250,000 250,000

Interest receivable 400,000 400,000 400,000

Membership fees receivable 78,000 82,000 86,000

Oppenheimer Memorial Trust 220,000 220,000 240,000

Other income - Cohort secretariat 17,500 17,500 17,500

Total projected income     21,709,500 22,546,500 23,984,500

Expenditures

Details 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16

R R R

Administration and governance 4,544,540 4,771,767 5,010,356

Communication 1,443,782 1,567,496 1,669,871

Liaison - national and international 3,634,684 3,816,418 4,007,239

Policy advisory programme 2,593,085 2,722,739 2,858,876

Publications 3,493,409 3,668,079 3,838,158

Scholarly publishing programme 6,000,000 6,000,000 6,600,000

Sustainability fund - - -

Total projected expenditures   21,709,500 22,546,500 23,984,500

                 

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Thank you

www.assaf.org.za

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