The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) meets twice a year in Midrand, Gauteng, to discuss science and technology (S&T) issues of relevance to South Africa. SANCOR is a member of the NSTF. Coleen Moloney attended the last plenary meeting on 4 May 2001, and provides some snippets of information from that meeting. Full minutes are available from
www.nstf.org,za.What can
we do
about moral decay in
South Africa?
|
| An ethics sub-committee has been formed by the National Science and Technology Forum, and it is putting together an ethics policy document for South African science. This follows a number of high profile reports in the national media about dubious activities of a few high-profile South African scientists. Their misdemeanours included plagiarism, forging results of experiments and lying about qualifications. By focussing on ethics in science, the NSTF hopes to foster a moral high ground. |
| How do we combat the brain drain? |
The NSTF had extensive discussions about the loss of skills from the country - a big problem that is poorly quantified. It’s not only emigration that contributes to the brain drain. Some other factors can and should be counteracted; it’s a challenge for the current generation.
In some very specialised fields, irretrievable skills loss occurs through the deaths of key individuals (e.g. taxonomists), because so little scientific support is given to museums. There is a large loss of skills when qualified women leave S&T during their most productive working years, because of inflexible working arrangements and the consequent conflict with family commitments. An untapped and often forgotten source of skills lies with retired persons, many of whom are willing to contribute but have limited platforms to do so.
|
| How has S&T helped South Africans? |
The positive aspects of S&T include broader access to clean water, electricity and telecommunications. We would hope to add improved quality of life through a clean environment and wise use of natural resources, but there is still some way to go in achieving that.
Short-term perspectives still dominate over long-term considerations at the NSTF. This was highlighted by one of the discussions about investment in research and development; in general, South African industries are not interested in investing in anything that will not give returns within a few years.
|
| Who is funding Science and Technology in South Africa? |
Go to the National Science and Technology Forum web site ( www.nstf.org.za) and look under " |
Did you
know?
|
A country’s economic development is strongly related to the number of degrees awarded in maths and science, and not to the total number of degrees?
Facilitating economic development is not only a question of putting more money into education, but also in ensuring it goes to the right disciplines. A study commissioned by the NSTF and NACI (National Advisory Council on Innovation), and carried out by Prof. J W Fedderke of Wits University, has some interesting statistics about the interactions between economic growth, science, technology and human capital. An informative executive summary with graphs showing trends is available from nstf@csir.co.zaor wb28@dacst5.pwv.gov.za. |
 |
Indigenous Knowledge Systems |
What are Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS)?
The South African chapter of the African Renaissance movement has a Commission on Science and Technology. They encourage the development and use of IKS, loosely defined as knowledge systems that are developed in Africa. A good example is of university text books that are developed in Africa, as opposed to the widespread use of those from Europe and North America.
In this way African students can be taught within a framework of what is relevant to Africa, using examples from the southern hemisphere. Oceanographers won’t have to remember to reverse the Coriolis force, and biologists won’t have to translate "during the winter" into "during the summer"!
Indigenous Knowledge Systems as a Focus Area of the NRF
In the case of this focus area, indigenous knowledge refers to knowledge developed by the people of South Africa. An understanding is required of indigenous knowledge and its role in community life from an integrated perspective that includes both spiritual and material aspects of a society as well as the complex relation between them. At the same time, it is necessary to understand and to explore the potential contribution of indigenous knowledge to local development. The protection of indigenous knowledge and its utilisation for the benefit of its owners and the communities where it is practised requires research.
Indigenous knowledge should be brought into the mainstream of knowledge. The socio-economic potential of indigenous knowledge should be considered, as well as the non-economic values, such as the impact of indigenous knowledge on lifestyles and the ways in which societies are run. Research into indigenous knowledge systems, however, should ideally be carried out with the participation of the communities in which it originates and is held.
The primary aims of this focus area are to:
Develop theoretical and methodological paradigms within which to understand the specific characteristics of indigenous knowledge systems
Shed light on the role of indigenous knowledge in nation-building
Develop research capacity in the field of indigenous knowledge in South Africa.
For more information contact:
Clifford Nxomani
National Research Foundation
Tel: +27 12 481 4066
