Parliamentary Portfolio Committee 20 October 2016

ASSAF Mandate To honour distinguished scholars in all fields of scientific enquiry To generate evidence-based solutions to national and global challenges

ASSAf Goals Recognition and reward of excellence Promotion of innovation and scholarly activity Effective, evidence-based scientific advice Public interest in and awareness of science & science education National, regional and international linkages

Alignment with Government Goals DST Grand Challenges ASSAf Evidence-based Study Activities Government Priorities From Farmer to Pharma (Biotechnology) - GMOs in African Agriculture: Challenges & Opportunities - Regulation of Agricultural GM Technology - Clinical Research & Related Training in SA - Improved Nutritional Assessment - State of Biosafety & Biosecurity in SA - New Technologies and Policy Implications for SA - Legal, Ethical and Social Considerations of Human Genetics and Genomics - Improvement of rural development and food security - Improvement of health profile of society - Strengthening of the skills and resource base of SA Space Science and Technology -  -

Alignment with Government Goals DST Grand Challenges ASSAf Evidence-based Study Activities Government Priorities Energy - Improving Access to Energy in sub-Saharan Africa - Nuclear Energy Safety - State of Energy Research in SA - Technical Readiness of SA for Hydraulic Fracturing - State of Green Technologies in SA - Improvement of rural development and food security - Improvement of environmental assets and natural resources Global Change - Low Carbon Cities - Science, Water and Sanitation - Technological Innovations for a Low Carbon Society - Environment and Health

Alignment with Government Goals DST Grand Challenges ASSAf Evidence-based Study Activities Government Priorities Human and Social Dynamics - PhD Study - State of Humanities in SA - STEM Education - Scholarly Publishing Programme - Strengthening of the skills and resource base of SA

Direct Contributions to Triple Challenges Poverty In 2015 - Standing Committee on Science for Reduction of Poverty & Inequality reconstituted Inequality Transformation of ASSAf membership in terms of race & gender Ensuring membership of Standing Committees is representative Unemployment Employment & skills development of interns Direct

Direct Contributions to Triple Challenges Poverty Hosting Annual Meeting of African Science Academies (AMASA) in November 2016 – Poverty Reduction Inequality Values of ASSAf embrace Constitution of SA Unemployment Raising of science awareness & providing information on science careers through Quest Indirect

Significant Developments/Major Projects ASSAf celebrates 20th anniversary Membership of 470 Record – 3 consensus study & 3 proceedings reports SciELO SA – 62 South African journal titles Studies aligned to NDP’s triple challenges & government goals Collaboration with African & overseas academies strengthened Hosted IAP Conference on Science Advice – Feb 2016   Conducted 5-year Institutional Review

Programmes Secretariat Governance and Administration Programme Communication and Publications Liaison Programme Scholarly Publishing Programme Science Advisory Programme Programmes

Programme 1: Governance & Administration Promote good governance through Council Promote diversification of Academy Membership Recognise, reward and promote excellence in science

Good Governance COUNCIL 4 Council Meetings 1 Council Strategic Planning Meeting 3 Executive Committee Meetings 4 Audit & Risk Committee Meetings 4 Human Resources Committee Meetings 1 Annual General Meeting ATTENDANCE OF COUNCIL MEETINGS Office-bearers 90% Non-office-bearers 61%

New Members - 31 Total Membership - 470 25% - Women 28% - Black

Recognition of Excellence Science-for-Society Gold Medal Prof Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan, UCT African Union (AU)-TWAS Award  Prof Yahya Choonara - Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation, Wits Prof Marlien Pieters - Earth and Life Sciences, NWU   Sydney Brenner Fellowships  Dr Dorit Hockman, UCT Dr Justin Nono Komguep, UCT

Recognition of Excellence Distinguished Visiting Scholar March 2016 (4 lectures)-Prof Catherine Campbell, London School of Economics   3 Regional Lectures June 2015 - Dr Jane Lubchenco, Oregon State University & US Science Envoy for the Ocean Sept 2015 – Prof Richard Catlow, University College London Feb 2016 - Profs Christopher Mathew & Michèle Ramsay, Wits 1 Panel Discussion March 2016 - in collaboration SAYAS

Table 1

Programme 2: Communication Market the Academy among target audiences Promote public awareness of science

Marketing 8 Evidence-based Reports Diversity in Human Sexuality: Implications for Policy in Africa The State of Biosafety and Biosecurity in South Africa On Being Controversial: The Humanities Reach Out – PR Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Humanities Part 1: ‘Literature Group’ (Classics, Literature & Languages) Environment and Health Symposium – PR Women for Science: Inclusion and Participation in Academies of Science - A Survey of the Members of IAP: The Global Network of Science Academies Members Insights into South Africa’s Participation in the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development of the European Commission Measuring Deprivation in order to Promote Human Development in South Africa – PR

Public Awareness Science Events Science Forum South Africa S&T – Dec 2015 S&T Budget Vote – 21 May 2015 Exhibitions ASSAf 20-Year Celebrations – Feb 2016 IAP Conference Exhibition – Feb 2016 Quest 5 Science Festivals 5 Career Guidance 4 Conferences 10 Science Events 11 District Offices Visited

Table 2

Programme 3: Liaison Initiate & develop relations with global, African and SADC science academy networks, national science academies and other science organisations Promote participation for young scientists & women in science policy-related activities

International & Regional Collaboration IAP General Assembly & Conference on Science Advice - Hermanus, Feb/March 2016 Side events Science Advice for African Scientists Off-grid Energy for Rural Development Report Women for Science: Inclusion and Participation in Academies of Science G-Science Academies – Tokyo, 16 - 19 Feb 2016 InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) Prof Daya Reddy Executive Committee IAC Co-Chair  Prof Jimmy Volmink (now Prof William Pick) IAMP Executive Committee

International & Regional Collaboration TWAS - 13th General Conference & 26th General Meeting - Vienna, Austria 18 - 21 Nov 2015 Host ICSU ROA TWAS-ROSSA Biovision Forum - 2 Young Scientists - Lyon, France, 15 - 16 April 2015 Regional Young Scientist Award - Prof Alta Schutte (NWU), Oct 2015 TWAS Regional Prize – Prof Jan Smit (NWU), Nov 2015 TWAS Young Affiliates – 5 from sub-Saharan Africa

International & Regional Collaboration Science Academy Development in Africa ASADA - 5 Strategic Plan NASAC  Prof Barney Pityana, General Secretary Bilaterals Austrian Academy of Sciences, Nov 2015 Bilateral Benin National Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, March 2016

International & Regional Collaboration ESASTAP Plus Report - Insights into South Africa’s Participation in the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development of the European Commission, 7 Dec 2015, Pretoria ESASTAP 2020 Launched in Cape Town 25 & 26 Feb 2016 Workshop - ESASTAP 2020 Workshop on Science for Policy Advice

Young Scientists’ Activities ASSAf/TWAS-ROSSA Young Scientists’ Conference Inspiring Change post-2015: The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation in empowering Women in Africa, 16 – 18 Sept 2015 Lindau Nobel Laureate Foundation Agreement Academic partner Submitted names of 10 Physics young scientists – 5 selected

Gender & Science, Technology & Innovation Host OWSD National Chapter Oversee implementation of GenderInSITE Focal point for GenderInSITE in southern Africa Raise awareness of gender in SITE Demonstrate how gender analysis and application of gender lens can improve development

Table 3

Programme 5: Policy Advisory Programme Provide evidence-based scientific advice to support policy development Ensure effective dissemination and uptake of reports

Health Studies Diversity in Human Sexuality: Implications for Policy in Africa - 10 June 2015, Durban Diversity in Human Sexuality Dialogue - 6 Aug 2015, Johannesburg Reconceptualising Education & Training of Appropriate Health Workforce for Improved Health of Nation Ethical, Legal & Social Issues Related to Human Genetics & Genomics in SA Mental, Neurological, & Substance Use (MNS) Disorders Environment & Health Symposium - June 2015, Pretoria

Biosafety & Biosecurity Studies State of Biosafety and Biosecurity in South Africa - 23 July 2015, Pretoria Regulatory Implications of New Genetic Engineering Technologies - Commenced  Energy and Environment Studies State of Green Technologies in South Africa Continued to disseminate findings Report referenced & publicised South Africa’s Technical Readiness to Support Hydraulic Fracturing

Education Studies Humanities Studies Poverty Studies Revitalising Agricultural Education and Training – Nearing completion LAMAP Pilot Project - Completed Mathematics Symposium - 9 - 11 March 2016, Stellenbosch Humanities Studies On Being Controversial: The Humanities Reach Out – PR published, Oct 2015 Poverty Studies Measuring Human Deprivation to Promote Human Development Workshop - 9 - 10 June 2015 PR published – Jan 2016

Table 4

Programme 5: Publications Manage & produce South African Journal of Science Manage & produce Quest: Science for South Africa

44% South Africa 112th year of publication +20% annually over 5 years 471 submissions from 51 countries: 44% South Africa 15% Africa 12% China 7% India  Rejection rate - 89% Articles published - 135 (2015/16): 96 (2014/15) = +40% Publication delay - 9 months (2015): 5 months (2016)

Website visits 47 000 (2014/15): 52 000 (2015/16) = +12% Facebook 420 (2015): 940 (2016) Twitter 200(2015): 640 (2016) Electronic distribution 5 400 (2015): 12 000 (2016) Jan/Feb 2016 - Print copies discontinued February 2016 - Article-level metrics measure impact  - Altmetric measure impact via Facebook, Twitter, social book- marking, blogs, news)

Quest

Table 5

Programme 6: Scholarly Publishing Promote access to knowledge resources Undertake quality assurance of journals, books & collected works in SA Enhance scientific writing for research publishing

Access to Knowledge Resources SciELO-SA Collection (March 2015 –March 2016) Date Articles Issues Titles 31 March 2015 12 437 803 51 31 March 2016 17 603 1138 62 Percent increase over 12 months 29 %   SciELO-SA Usage (March 2015 –March 2016) Date Site Visits April 2014 - March 2015 1 000 921 April 2015 - March 2016 1 378 555 % increase over 12 months 38%  

Access to Knowledge Resources New Generation Technology - Journal audit of SA journals - Implemented Creative Commons - Pilot project Open Journal Systems (OJS) to publish 4 SciELO-SA journal titles - Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) introduced - Portico - digital archive in dark archive (failsafe disaster recovery) - Webinar services introduced - Applied for Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) - Scholarly Publishing Help Page established

Table 6

Statement of Financial position

Website: www.assaf.org.za Thank you Website: www.assaf.org.za