1. Parliamentary Portfolio Committee
20 October 2016

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

3. 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

4. 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 -  -

5. 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

6. 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

7. Direct Contributions to Triple Challenges
Poverty
In 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

8. 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

9. 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

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

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

12. 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 % Non-office-bearers %

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

14. 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

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

16. Table 1

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

18. 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

19. 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

20. Table 2

21. 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

22. 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, Feb 2016
InterAcademy Partnership (IAP)
Prof Daya Reddy
Executive Committee
IAC Co-Chair 
Prof Jimmy Volmink (now Prof William Pick)
IAMP Executive Committee

23. International & Regional Collaboration
TWAS - 13th General Conference & 26th General Meeting - Vienna, Austria Nov 2015
Host
ICSU ROA
TWAS-ROSSA
Biovision Forum - 2 Young Scientists - Lyon, France, 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. Table 3

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

30. 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

31. 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

32. Education Studies Humanities Studies Poverty Studies
Revitalising Agricultural Education and Training – Nearing completion
LAMAP Pilot Project - Completed
Mathematics Symposium 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 June 2015
PR published – Jan 2016

33. Table 4

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

35. 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 (2015/16): 96 (2014/15) = +40%
Publication delay - 9 months (2015): 5 months (2016)

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

37. Quest

38. Table 5

39. 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

40. 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 March 2015 1 
April March 2016 1 
% increase over 12 months
38%

41. Access to Knowledge Resources
New Generation Technology
- Journal audit of SA journals
- Implemented Creative Commons
- Pilot project Open Journal Systems (OJS) to publish 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

42. Table 6

44. Statement of Financial position

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