message from nstf executive director · a-osh expo – africa's occupational safety &...
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MessagefromNSTFExecutiveDirectorClimateandotherchangesMsJansieNiehaus,NSTFExecutiveDirector,discussesclimatechangeandTrump’sattitudetothis.Shealsolooksatwhat’shappeninginSouthAfrica–frompausingoncleanenergytothenuclearbuildprogramme.Notethatin2018,theNSTFisfocusingon‘SustainableEnergyforAll’.Readmore.
NSTFNews
Notesfromthe‘Evidenceforclimatechange’DiscussionForumTheNSTFhostedaminidiscussionforumon17November2017.Seethereportback,YouTubevideo,andotherinformationfromthisevent.
ThankyoutoourmembersTheNSTFistakingashortbreakafteraverybusyyear.Weareclosingon15December2017andopeningon8January2018.Abigthankyoutoourmembersandstakeholdersforallyourparticipationthroughouttheyearaswedrivethescience,engineering,technologyandinnovationagendaforward.TheNSTFwishesyouawonderfulfestiveseason.
Callfornominations–2017/2018NSTF-South32AwardsThedeadlineforNSTF-South32Awardsregistrationsisuponus–December2017(#NSTFawards2018).Doensurethatyouregisternominees.
TheNSTFcallsfornominationsforthe20thprestigiousNSTF-South32Awardsinscience,engineeringandtechnology(SET)andinnovation.ThethemeistheInternationalDecadeofSustainableEnergyforAll(2014-2024)asdeclaredbytheUnitedNations.Registernominationsforindividuals,teamsandorganisationsforanoutstandingcontributiontoscience,engineeringandtechnology(SET)andinnovationinSouthAfrica.Thecontributionsthatarerecognisedunderninecatergoriesare:
Scientificresearch
Capacitybuildinginengineeringresearch
Innovation
Environmentalsustainabilityandbiodiversity
Watermanagementsolutions
ManagementofSETandinnovation
ScienceCommunication
Technologytransfer
Educationandtraining
SpecialAnnualThemeAwardforcontributionsthatpromoteSustainableEnergyforAll
NewmembersTheNSTFwouldliketowelcomeitsnewmembers:
TheUkuqondaInstitute–partoftheCivilSocietysector
TheYaziCentreforScienceandSocietyinAfrica–partoftheCivilSocietysector
Afri-SkyHoldings(Pty)Ltd–partoftheBusiness/SMMEssector
LuhlazaFoundation–partoftheCivilSocietysector
Gettingtoknowourawardwinners:DrRobynPickeringWhenafossilistoooldforonetechnique,andtherockaroundittooyoungforanother,datingafindcanbealmostimpossible.NowDrRobynPickering,isotopegeochemistfromtheUniversityofCapeTown,hassuccessfullyadapteduranium-leaddatingtechniquestoprovidethefirstsetofdirectagesforthecavesinwhichearlyhumanfossilswerefoundinSouthAfrica.Herworkhaschangedthewaythisrecordisviewedaroundtheworld.Readmoreaboutherwork.Sheisoneofthewinnersofthe2016/2017TWKambule-NSTFAwards:Emergingresearchers.
BursaryDirectory(sponsoredbytheFuchsFoundation)Findthelatestbursariesinscience,engineeringandtechnology(SET).Recently-addedbursariesincludethosefrom:
EphraimMogaleLocalMunicipality
SouthAfricanAssociationforFoodScienceandTechnologyUndergraduateBursary(fieldofFoodScienceandTechnology)
VisittheNSTFBursaryDirectorytofindinformationonavailablebursaries,thedifferentSETcareers,andinspiringstoriesofpeopleinSET.
NovemberShare‘nDareactivities(sponsoredbytheFuchsFoundation)Activities:NSTFExecutiveDirectorMsJansieNiehaus,wasinterviewedontrufm’sscienceandtechnologyfeatureon11November2017.ThefocuswasontheNSTFShare‘nDareProgramme.CollaboratewiththeNSTF:OrganisationsthatwouldliketocollaborateonoutreachwiththeSharenDareprogramme–andhaveanNSTFAwardwinnerspeaktotheirstaff/audience/community–[email protected]‘nDareProgrammeisyouthoutreachassociatedwiththeNSTF-South32Awards.Asrolemodels,thewinnerstypicallysharetheirpersonallifestoryofwhatsparkedtheirinterest,howtheyplannedtheirjourneytostudyandtheircareer.
Brilliantsprogramme(sponsoredbytheFuchsFoundation)LearnmoreaboutRomalNaidoofromKwaZulu-Natal.SheisstudyingforaBachelorofMedicineandBachelorofSurgery(MBChB)attheUniversityofKwaZulu-Natal.Sheisoneofthefirst-yearstudentswhowererecognisedinthe2016/2017NSTFBrilliantsProgrammefortopmarksinmathematicsandphysicalscienceintheNationalSeniorCertificateExaminations.“Seizeeveryopportunityanddonotletthesmallmomentspassyouby.”
FeaturedSETpolicy:NDPpart6–Developingastrongnetworkofeconomicinfrastructure–transport,energy,waterresources,andICTInaseriesofarticles,theNSTFisunpackingtheNationalDevelopmentPlan(NDP).Part6looksatthecriticalinfrastructureneededtodrivetheeconomy.Transport,energy,waterresources,andICTarealsomajorthemeswithinscience,engineeringandtechnology.Readmore.
Clickhereforthecompletedocumentofalltheprevioussummaries.
SET-relatedpoliciescurrentlyopenforpubliccommentTheNSTFurgesthescience,engineeringandtechnology(SET)communitytoactivelyparticipateinpolicydevelopment.CommentingonpoliciesplaysakeyroleindevelopingademocraticSETenvironmentanditistheprimarymandateoftheNSTF.
NationalEnergyRegulatorAct:NationalEnergyRegulatorofSouthAfrica:Nominationsinvited(CommentbyFriday,December22,2017)
ScienceandTechnologyLawsAmendmentBill:Draft(CommentbyWednesday,December27,2017)
NationalAdvisoryCouncilonInnovationAct:Council:Nominationsinvited(CommentbyFriday,January19,2018)
HealthProfessionsAct:Regulations:Qualificationsforregistrationofdentalassistants:Amendment(CommentbySaturday,January27,2018)
MedicinesandRelatedSubstancesAct:Regulations:General-bonusing:Commentsinvited(CommentbyWednesday,February28,2018)
SET-relatedpolicynewsMedicineandhealth
SouthAfricamovesonestepclosertoasugartax–andahealthierlifestyle(TheConversation)
NationalAssemblyapprovessugartax(BizCommunity)
Planstoaccommodateforeign-trainedmedicalgraduates(SAnews)
NHIcouldmeanuncomfortabletrade-offs,DavisTaxCommitteewarns(BizCommunity)
SouthernAfricaisslippingagainaftercomingclosetoeliminatingmalaria(TheConversation)
HowAfricaisburdenedbyviralhepatitis(SciDevNet)
SecuringaplaceforSouthAfrica'snextgenerationofdoctors(BizCommunity)
Energymix
SouthAfricatoscaledownnuclearexpansionplan(polity.org)
Lightingtheworld—electrificationstrategiesforSub-SaharanAfrica(phys.org)
Renewables-heavymixisSouthAfrica’scheapestoption,yetanotherstudyconfirms(polity.org)
Scientistsurgetheuseofgeothermalenergy(BusinessDay)
AcademyofengineerscallsfornuclearprocurementhaltuntilIRPconsensusisreached(polity.org)
NofurtherIRPconsultationsasCabinetapprovesplanand27renewablesprojects(EngineeringNews)
CSIRsignalsrenewables-ledelectricitymixby2050(polity.org)
Education
HaveyoursayonBasicEducationLawsBill(SAnews)
BilltoputendtofakeacademicqualificationsapprovedbyCabinet(polity.org)
Environment,waterandfood
SAcommittedtoreducingpollution(SAnews)
Foodsupplyproblemsmean1-billionpeoplegohungryeveryday(BusinessLive)
Privatesectorcalledtoinvestinwatersector(SAnews)
SAre-electedtoIMOCouncil(SAnews)
General
Goodnewsforjobseekinggraduates-CabinetapprovesthePublicServiceGraduateRecruitmentSchemeFramework.(SAnews)
SixbarriersthatmakeitdifficultforAfricanstatestouseresearchforpolicy(TheConversation)
2015/16NationalSurveyofResearchandExperimentalDevelopment(DST)
GovChatbringsgovernmentcloserthepeople(SAnews)
Areyouaninnovatorinthehumansettlementssector?(DST)
HSRCCentreforScience,TechnologyandInnovationIndicators’2018InnovationandDevelopmentWeek:22-26January2018.Theaimsaretoconnectactors,inSouthAfricaandfromabroad,workingattheinterfaceofinnovationanddevelopmentpolicyandpractice;andtozeroinonkeythemesandexperiences.IfyouoracolleaguewouldliketostayabreastoftheWeek'sprogramme,andyouarenotalreadyontheCeSTIImailinglist,pleasesignup.NotethatremotevideolinkvenuesinDurban,PretoriaandSweetwaterswillbesetuptowidenparticipation.OnlineparticipationwillalsobepossiblethroughtheVidYoplatform.Detailstofollow.
AfricaEnergyIndaba:Johannesburg,20-21February2018
2ndinternationalWomeninScienceWithoutBorders(WiSWB)-Indaba(conference):Johannesburg,21-23March2018
Power&ElectricityWorldAfrica2018:Johannesburg,27-28March2018
A-OSHExpo–Africa'soccupationalsafety&healthtradeexhibition:Johannesburg,22-24May2018
SAGeoTech2018:Ekurhuleni,28-30May2018
7thInternationalConferenceonEngineeringMathematicsandPhysics(annualresearchconference):Prague,CzechRepublic,June15-18,2018
ManufacturingIndaba:Johannesburg,19-20June2018
TheInstituteofMunicipalEngineeringofSouthernAfrica(IMESA)promotestheinterestsofmunicipalengineersandtheirprofession.It’saplatformfortheexchangeofideasandviewpointsonallaspectsofmunicipalengineeringwiththeaimofexpandingtheknowledgeandbestpracticesinallLocalGovernmentmunicipalities.Ithasgrowntorepresentover1000individualmembersandaplethoraofcompaniesinvolvedinthefieldofmunicipalengineeringandthebuiltenvironment,aswellasrepresentingseveralSouthernAfricancountries.Itofferstraining,conferences,bursariesandmore.
TheGeo-InformationSocietyofSouthAfrica(GISSA)representstheGeo-InformationcommunityinSouthAfricaasanational,unified,representativebodytopromoteandprotecttheinterestsofitsmembersonallforums.Itprovidesinformationoneventsandtraining,newsincludingreports,informationongovernmentandstandardsrelatedtopics,GISeducation,andmore.
Youthmustleadthesciencerevolution(SAnews)
Girlsstreaksaheadboysintheeducationstakes,saySAresearchers(TimesLive)
Foundationphasecrucialforimprovedliteracylevels(SAnews)
Universities
Avarice:Signsofthreatstocrediblehighereducation?(SAJS)
Q&A:Africaneedstoleadonthe‘quantumrevolution’(SciDevNet)
UniversitiesSAdecrieserosionofacademicresearchinSouthAfrica(BusinessDay)
Insectscience:theneedformoreattentioninAfrica(SciDevNet)
Industrydevelopment
MinisteropensnominationsfornewNACImembers(ITWeb)
SupportingtheSustainableDevelopmentGoals:AGuideforMerit-BasedAcademies(InterAcademyCouncil)
Promotinganenvironmentofinnovation:Auniversityscientist’sview(SAJS)
India-SouthAfricaJointGrassrootsInnovationCall2017“Acallfornovel,grassrootsinnovationswithpotentialforsocialdisseminationandcommercialization”(DST)
CSIRNanotechCentrecelebrates10yearsofground-breakingresearch(SAnews)
iThembaLABSandINSTNEstablishSAInstituteforNuclearTechnologyandSciences(NRF)
R32bninvestedinSA'sresearchanddevelopment(ITWeb)
BibliometricanalysisofthedevelopmentofnanoscienceresearchinSouthAfrica(SAJS)
EngineeringresearchinAfricaisgrowingbutit’sstillapatchypicture(TheConversation)
SAslidesdownWorldTalentRanking(BusinessDay)
SFSAScienceDiplomacyAwardforSGCI(NRF)
Science’scredibilitycrisis:whyitwillgetworsebeforeitcangetbetter(TheConversation)
Civilsociety
2017StateofCivilSocietyReport(CIVICUS)
Medicineandhealth
Score4LifemostsuccessfulinterventioninidentifyingHIVpositivemen(saNGOnet)
SouthAfrica’stwinmalnutritionchallenges:hungerandobesity(TheConversation)
Johnson&JohnsonandPartnersAnnounceFirstEfficacyStudyforInvestigationalMosaicHIV-1PreventiveVaccine(Johnson&Johnson)andPublic-privatepartnershipbeginsHIVvaccineclinicaltrialinSub-SaharanAfrica(MRC)
EssentialScience:Jellyfishinspiredelectronicskin(Digitaljournal)
WehavedesignedatooltotrackHIVinfectionratescheaplyandaccurately(TheConversation)
Diabetestreatmentgoalsstillsuboptimal(BizCommunity)
DiabetesisgrowingfastestinAfrica,andSAislargelyresponsible(BusinessDay)
SouthAfricastillhasfourcriticalgapstofillbeforeitseestheendofAIDS(TheConversation)
NewARVdrugs,earlydiagnosiskeytobeatingAIDSepidemic:UNAIDS(polity.org)
LatestaccreditationsofhospitalsandclinicsfromtheCouncilforHealthServiceAccreditationofSouthernAfrica(BizCommunity)
Oneyearin:lessonsonrollingoutanHIVpreventionpillinSouthAfrica(TheConversation)
HIVpreventionneedsofmale-malepartnershipsstudyconductedbytheHSRC(HSRC)
Engineering
Pureplatinumusedin3Dprinting(BizCommunity)
Decolonisingengineering:Theimportanceoftechnicalexpertswhoareembeddedinasociety(BusinessDay)
Report:GovernmentsownmostAfricaninfrastructureprojects(BizCommunity)
Spacescienceandastronomy
MeerKATreadytogolivebyMarch(ITWeb)
MeerKATconstructionrecognisedbyindustryat2017LogisticsAchieverAwards(SKAAfrica)
TelescopesinsouthernAfricawillpeelbacktheuniverse’ssecretsfrom2018(TheConversation)
WhySA'smonitoringwhattheweatherinspaceislike(TimesLive)
Ecology
Here’swhatthesciencesaysaboutanimalsentience(TheConversation)
Creativemanagementofgrazingthroughtheusesmallfires(phys.org)
Declineininsectsnottobetakenlightly(BusinessDay)
WhyaproperrecordofbirdsinAfricaissoimportant–forEurope(TheConversation)
ScientiststeamuponstudytosaveendangeredAfricanPenguins(phys.org)
Fynbos-monitoringtoolbeatsatrailforfire-proneareas(BusinessDay)
Fellingpines:Doingitsoonerratherthanlaterisbetterforfynbos(phys.org)
Palaeontologyandarchaeology
Oldesthominidfossil‘LittleFoot’unveiled–Wits(polity.org)
Ancientseareptileshavesimilarinnerearstowhalesandcrocs,Witsscientistsfind(BusinessDay)
Environment,climatechangeandenergy
DNAkitsettoboostfightagainstwildlifecrime(SAnews)
Therenewableenergy,newcoalandgas-to-powerIPPprogrammesinSA–quovadis?(eepublishers)
HowbarcodingishelpingSouthAfricatrackitspreciouspollinators(TheConversation)
Satelliteimagesshowextentofairpollutionworldwide(phys.org)
Waterresourcemonitoringviasatellite(eepublishers)
SAAgulhasIIsetssailforthe57thAntarcticaexpedition(SAnews)
Howtheworldneedstochangeasregionsgetdrier(TheConversation)
Researchprogressineffectiveandaffordabletreatmentofminewastewater(CSIR)
Citizenscience:howordinarypeoplecanguardCapeTown’sbiodiversity(TheConversation)
CapeTownmakestreatedwastewateravailabletobusinesses(infrastructurene.ws)
Scientistssoundwarningoverpollutantsintreatedseawater(TimesLive)
CollectiveimpactofsolarandwindpowerbeingstudiedinSA(BusinessDay)
Plasticrecyclingfigurescontinuetoclimb(infrastructurene.ws)
SA’sKaXuSolarOnewinsprestigiousUNclimatechangeawardatCOP23(BusinessDay)
Ethekwinitorolloutsolarwaterheaterproject(infrastructurene.ws)
SEFAbacksdevelopmentoflocalbiomass-to-powerplant(infrastructurene.ws)
AfricanUnionCommissionAwardsThirteenConsortiaofInstitutionstoImplementtheGMESandAfricaSupportProgramme(AfricanUnion)
Knowwhereyourwastegoes:Highlightingthewastehierarchy(infrastructurene.ws)
Agriculture
Newdatabasetohelpcountriesmanagetheiranimalgeneticresources(BizCommunity)
ASSAfStudyonRevitalisingAgriculturalEducationandTraininginSouthAfrica(AASAf)
GlobalSoilOrganicCarbonMapapowerfultoolforsustainableagriculture,climatechangemitigation(BizCommunity)
Whoknewpeewasvaluable?(BizCommunity)
Opendata
Improvingagricultureandnutritionwithopendata(eldis.org)
Whentherewasnolistoffreeabortionclinics,wemadeourown.Here'show(Bhekisisa)
Africamustkeepitsrich,valuabledatasafefromexploitation(TheConversation)
Technology
CapeTownresidentstotrackwateruseonline(ITWeb)
HowaruralcommunitybuiltSouthAfrica’sfirstISPownedandrunbyacooperative(TheConversation)
Newapptodiagnosecropdiseases,alertsmallholders(SciDevNet)
Lancetpilotspaperlesspatientintakeapp(BizCommunity)
Sciencecommunicationandteaching
InthefootstepsofEinstein,SaganandBarnard:IdentifyingSouthAfrica’smostvisiblescientists(SAJS)
ScientistswinU.N.dataprizeformonitoringthreatstoSouthAfricanbiodiversityhotspot(UniversityatBuffalo)
CelebratingBlackExcellenceinSTIhostedbytheBlackScienceTechnologyEngineeringProfessionals(BSTEP)(DST)
ASSAfInauguratesNewMembers(ASSAf)
Farminginnovationwinstopcleantechaward(DST)
YoungtrailblazerteachesphysicsinCarnarvon(SAnews)
HortgroScienceAwardsResearchers(Hartgro)
8thL’oréal-UnescoforwomeninscienceregionalprogrammehonoursyoungscientistsfromacrossAfrica(DST)
ASSAfRecognisesSKALeaderwithGoldMedal(ASSAf)
MintekwinsTopPerformingPublicSectorAward(Mintek)
Thisfarmer'sprize-winningfeedisnotforthebirds(TimesLive)
DevMamabolo,whowasintheNSTF’sfirstgroupofvolunteersfrom2007to2008,haswonaSouthAfricanMenoftheYearAwardforScienceandTechnology.
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AbouttheNSTFTheNationalScienceandTechnologyForum(NSTF),establishedin1995,isabroadly-representative
stakeholderbodyforallSETandinnovationorganisationsinSouthAfrica,whichseekstoinfluence
policyformulationanddelivery.
TheNSTF-South32AwardsareuniqueinSA,recognisingtheoutstandingcontributionsofindividuals
andgroupstoSETandinnovation.
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engineeringandrelatedstudies.
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