Email:enquiries@nstf.co.za|Tel:+27128413987

Thinkinginnovativelyaboutthe‘triplehelix’MessagefromtheNSTFExecutiveDirector,MsJansieNiehaus.ManyprojectsinSouthAfricaareimplementedwithstakeholdersfromthetriplepartnersthatareentangledinthe‘triplehelix’model.Thepartnershipsareseldomreferredtoas‘triplehelix’butmanyareexactlythat.Thereneedstobegreaterawarenessoftheamazingworkthatisbeingdonecollaboratively.Readthemessage.

NSTFNewsNSTFtoparticipateattheDepartmentofScienceandInnovation’s2019InnovationBridgeandScienceForumSouthAfrica(IBSFSA)TheNSTFwillparticipateintheIBSFSAattheCSIRInternationalConventionCentrefrom4-6December.AnNSTFdiscussionforuminpartnershipwiththeNSTFScienceCouncilsandStatutoryBodiesSector,called‘Hurdlesandopportunitiesalongtheway-careerpathsofresearchers’isbeingorganisedfor2-3Decemberasapre-conference(orside-)event.TheNSTFisalsohostingaparallelsessionattheIBSFSA:underthetheme:Responsibletechnologytransfer:TheNorth-Southdivide,entitled‘Manufacturing&mineralsprocessing-4IRtechnologiesSAneedstoacquire'.TheprogrammeoftheIBSFAshouldbeavailableonthewebsitesoon.

Callfornominations:NSTF-South32AwardsThe‘Callfornominations’forthe2019/2020NSTF-South32AwardswillbeannouncedontheNSTFwebsiteanddistributedatthebeginningofNovember.TheAwardsGalaDinnerisexpectedtotakeplaceatthebeginningofJuly2020.TherearenochangestotheAwardscategories,apartfromthenewtheme,whichwillbeannouncedinthecallfornominations.SopleasestartthinkingofsuitablecandidatesfortheseprestigiousAwards.

NewNSTFmemberTheNSTFwelcomesanewmember:

RapidProductDevelopmentAssociationofSouthAfrica(RAPDASA)–CivilSocietySector

PresentationsandproceedingsfrompreviousDiscussionForumsavailable2019SAInnovationSummitVideosandpresentationsofthethree-dayNSTFDiscussionForumtitled“Advancedmanufacturingandautomation:potentialandchallenges”arenowavailableontheNSTFwebsite.Alsoavailableisthemediarelease,titled‘SA’sadvancedmanufacturingindustrytakescharge’.TheDiscussionForumtookplaceatthe2019SAInnovationSummit.2018SAInnovationSummitTheNSTFpresentedaDiscussionForumontheimplicationsofthefourthindustrialrevolutionforSET,industry,societyandeducationatthe2018SAInnovationSummit.Theproceedingshavenowbeenupdatedtoincorporateafullsetofminutesofthethree-dayevent.

2019NSTFAnnualGeneralMeetingNSTFmembersareinvitedtojoinuson15Novemberforthe2019NSTFAnnualGeneralMeeting(AGM).Aformalinvitationandfurtherdetailswillfollow.AnopenSeminarwillfollowtheAGMasusual.Thetopicwillbeannouncedandaninvitationwillbesentoutsoon.VisittheAGMpageontheNSTFwebsiteformoredetailsclosertotheevent.

BursariesavailableThefollowingbursariesinscience,engineeringandtechnology(SET)arecurrentlyavailableintheNSTFBursaryDirectory:

AgribusinessCentenaryBursary(Closes6December)

IndustrialDevelopmentCorporationBursaries(Open)

ShopriteGroupPharmacyBursary(Closes31October)

PSGBursaryProgramme(Closes30November)

FMCSAFordBursary(Open)

PowerGroupBursaries(Open)

GASTBursaryProgramme(Open)

ThisserviceissponsoredbytheFuchsFoundation.

DepartmentrenamedTheDepartmentofScienceandTechnologywasrenamedtotheDepartmentofScienceandInnovation(DSI)inmid-2019.AccordingtotheNationalGovernmentwebsite,theDSIseekstoboostsocio-economicdevelopmentinSouthAfricathroughresearchandinnovation.Throughitsprogrammesandseveralentitiesthatworkalongsideit,theDSIisaccomplishinggroundbreakingscienceandenhancingthewell-beingofallSouthAfricans.

TheDSIisafoundingmemberoftheNSTFsince1995.

Share‘nDareactivitiesProfessorLesliePetrik,wholeadstheUniversityoftheWesternCape'sEnvironmentalandNanoScienceResearchGroup,addressedagroupof61girllearnersatiThembaLABSon13September.Sheisthe2017/2018winneroftheNSTF-WaterResearchCommissionAwardoftheNSTF-South32Awards.ThistimethetalkwassponsoredbytheDepartmentofScienceandInnovation(DSI)aspartoftheInternationalYearofthePeriodicTable(IYPT)activities.Readmoreaboutthetalk.ThetalkalsoformspartoftheNSTF’sShare‘nDareactivitieswithAwardWinners.ThisprogrammeissponsoredbytheFuchsFoundation.ProfessorFosso-KankeuAssociateProfessor:SchoolofChemicalandMineralsEngineering,North-WestUniversity,inspiredlearnersfromthreeschoolsintheMafikengareatobesuccessfulandencouragedthemtoconsidercareersinengineering.HeisawinneroftheEngineeringResearchCapacityDevelopmentAwardofthe2018/2019NSTF-South32Awardsformonitoringenvironmentalwatertoraiseawarenessamongpoorcommunitiesandnationally.Readmore.

MzansiBrightSparksLearnmoreaboutTiisetsoMolatafromGautengwhoisstudyingtowardsaBScElectricalEngineeringdegreeattheUniversityofPretoria.Heisoneofthefirst-yearstudentswhowererecognisedinthe2018/2019BrilliantsProgrammefortopmarksinmathematicsandphysicalsciencesintheNationalSeniorCertificateExamination.“Setclearandloftygoals,andensurethateverythingyoudoeachdayisasteptowardsthem.”TheBrilliantsProgrammeissponsoredbytheCarl&EmilyFuchsFoundation.

DrHappySitholeGettingtoknowourwinners:FromassistingtheSouthAfricanWeatherServicestomakemoreaccurateweatherforecasts,tomakingcomplexcalculationsrequiredinoilreserveestimationsmoremanageable,highperformancecomputinginfrastructureremainsoneofSouthAfrica’sbestinvestments.DrHappySitholewontheprestigiousNSTF-South32ManagementAwardforspearheadingthedevelopmentoftheCentreforHighPerformanceComputing(CHPC)andleadingittothelevelofaworld-classentity.ReadmoreabouthisworkinanarticlebroughttoyoubytheMail&Guardian,mediapartneroftheNSTFAwards.

proSET(Professionalsinscience,engineeringandtechnology)isasectoroftheNSTFrepresentingabout40professionalbodiesandlearnedsocieties.ThissectionsharesnewsaboutmembersoftheproSETsector.

ZoologicalSocietyofSouthernAfricaHyaenasattheKrugerNationalParkvisithumanoccupiedareasforreasonsotherthanjustfoodscrapsandwaste,arecentstudyhasfound.Readmore.

SouthAfricanNationalBiodiversityInstitute(SANBI)Saturday21SeptemberisInternationalCoastalClean-upDay,whichdrawsattentiontotheproblemofwasteonbeaches.Thesoon-to-be-releasedNationalBiodiversityAssessmentrevealsthatSouthAfrica’scoastalbiodiversityisunderincreasingpressure.Wecanallbeactivecitizenstoconservethisnaturalheritage.Readmore.

SouthAfricanInstituteofChemicalEngineers(SAIChE)AssessmentandremediationtechniquesforgroundwaterandcontaminatedsoilroadshowswillbeheldinCapeTown,NamibiaandBotswanainOctober.CourseDirector:DrKymLMorton.Readmore.

SouthAfricanSugarCaneResearchInstitute(SASRI)OverthelasttwoorthreeseasonsthetopicofeldanacontrolintheMidlandshasbeenlargelydominatedbychemicalcontrol.Recently,therehasbeenarenewedinterestinanaspectofIPMthathasbeenoverlooked—theimportanceofbats.Readmore.

FeaturedSETpolicy:Transformingsocietyandunitingthecountry(Chapter15,NDP)Inaseriesofarticles,theNSTFhasbeenunpackingtheNationalDevelopmentPlan(NDP)2030,whichaimstoeliminatepovertyandreduceinequalityby2030.Chapter15,thelastchapter,focusesontransformingsocietyandunitingthecountry.ThischapterspeakstothecurrenteventsandcircumstancesweareexperiencinginSouthAfrica.ItcouldbethemostimportantchapteroftheNDP.Readmore.

ClickhereforthecompletedocumentofallthepreviousNSTFsummariesoftheNDP(Chapters1-15).

SET-relatedpoliciescurrentlyopenforpubliccommentPoliciesopenforcommentallowthescience,engineeringandtechnology(SET)communitytokeeptrackofthechangingregulationenvironment.

ProjectandConstructionManagementProfessionsAct:ProgrammeAccreditationPolicy:Amendment(Commentby11October2019)

NationalWaterAct:ProposedFoxwoodDamandenvironmentalimpactassessment(Commentby31October2019)

MarketingofAgriculturalProductsAct:RequestforcontinuationofSAGISstatutorymeasures(Commentby30April2020)

NationalHealthInsuranceBillCallforcommentontheNationalHealthInsuranceBill.Haveyoursayandinfluencethispolicy.Thisisalegallyprotectedpublicpolicy-shapingprocessmandatedintheSAConstitution.PublicconsultationworkshopsonFeedsandPetFoodBill,FertilizerBillTheDepartmentofAgriculture,LandReformandRuralDevelopmentinvitesmembersofthepublic,industrystakeholders,farmers,academicsandallotherrelevantstakeholderstoparticipateinthePublicConsultationWorkshopsontheFeedsandPetFoodBillaswellastheFertilizerBill.Pleaseclickonthemediareleasefortheproposeddatesandvenues.

SET-relatedpolicynewsSomearticlesincludedinthesectionbelowareopinionpieces.TheopinionsexpressedinthesearticlesdonotnecessarilyreflecttheviewsoftheNSTFExecutiveCommittee,Directors,SecretariatorMembers.Internationalpartnerships

UKagreedtradecontinuitywithsixAfricannations(gov.uk)

MomentumfortheAfricanOpenSciencePlatform(nrf.ac.za)

EnergyInternationalpartnersshakehandsonfindingcleanenergysolutions(wits.ac.za)

MedicineandhealthDrones,drugs,hackers&thefutureofhealthcare?(bhekisisa.org)

WhyalcoholremainsabigthreattounbornbabiesinSouthAfrica(theconversation.com)

Thepower,thepursestringsandtheNationalHealthInsurance(bhekisisa.org)

SouthAfricacertifiedpolio-free(sanews.gov.za)

AgriculturePlantbreeders'rightskeyforclimatechangeadaptation(agbiz.co.za)

Hidinginplainsight:high-valueagriculture’slarge-scalepotentialtogrowjobsandexports(econ3x3.org)

Poorwatermanagementisrisktolandreform,agricultureforumhears(fin24.com)

GrowingoptimismaboutSouthAfrica’s2019/20maizeharvest(wandilesihlobo.com)

DroughtandanimaldiseasehavetakenatollonSAagriculturesector(agbiz.co.za)

AParyscompanyissellinga'cure'forthepestthatiskillingJoburg’surbanforest–whilegovernmentinvestigatesits‘false’claims(businessinsider.co.za)

ClimatechangeandenvironmentSouthAfricacommittedtoclimatechangeinterventions(infrastructurenews.co.za)

Geomaticians’roleinclimatechangeandpopulationdevelopment(ee.co.za)

Newroadmapforhowconstructionsectorcanreachnetzerocarbonemissionsby2050(infrastructurenews.co.za)

EngineeringandconstructionDronescouldhelpovercomepoortransportinfrastructureinAfrica(infrastructurenews.co.za)

DamagetoroadscausedbyprotestscostingWesternCapemillions(infrastructurenews.co.za)

ICTInfrastructure2019:overviewandreportback(ee.co.za)

GovernmentowesconstructionandbuildingcontractorsR5.5bn(infrastructurenews.co.za)

4thIndustrialRevolutionandtechnologySouthAfricansinEuropetotalkpolicyfor4IR(dst.gov.za)

DigitaltechnologiesaretransformingAfricanbusinesses(iafrican.com)

Embracingworkforcetransformationinadigitalworld(itweb.co.za)

HelpingAfricapreparefor5G(uct.ac.za)

ResearchcommunityBiggerpushforatransformedresearchcommunity(dst.gov.za)

InterrogatingtheFourthIndustrialRevolutionDiscourse:ATheoreticalCritique:Pretoria,Durban,CapeTown,17October2019

University-IndustryCollaborationIndaba:Pretoria,17-18October2019

VehicleTelematicsandIntelligentMobilityConference,KemptonPark,17-18October2019

Flexiblepowergeneration–anewparadigm:Sandton,22October2019

TWAS-SAREPAnnualRegionalYoungScientists’Conference:Kenya,23-25October2019

AnnualYoungScientists’Conference–Theme:Migration,DisplacementandMobilityinAfrica:ComplexIssuesinCurrentTimes’TheDepartmentofScienceandTechnology(DST),theAcademyofScienceofSouthAfrica(ASSAf)andtheSouthAfricanYoungAcademyofScience(SAYAS)willbehostingtheconferenceinJohannesburg,28–29October2019.

SAAEPublicLecture:Sustainabledevelopmentofagriculturalandforestrysystems:Bloemfontein,29October2019

LeanHealthcareSummit2019Johannesburg,31October2019

MeerKATSitePublicOpenDays:Losberg,Carnarvondistrict.Nextdate:6November2019

RAPDASA2019ConferenceandExhibition:Bloemfontein,6-8November2019

Pan-AfricanHealthInformaticsConference(HELINA):Gaborone,Botswana,20-22November2019.-ThiswillrunbacktobackwithVizAfrica2019-aconferenceandsymposiumonDataVisualisationincollaborationwithInternationalScienceCouncil'sCODATA

EstablishingeffectiveICTinfrastructure:Sandton,26November2019

WorldPulsesDay:TheFoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNationshasestablished10FebruaryasWorldPulsesDaytorecognisetheimportanceofpulsesasaglobalfood.Youcanpreparetocelebratethisdayin2020andfindmanyinspiringideasbyvisitingthewebsiteofWorldPulsesDay2019.

AfricaEnergyIndaba:FromTransformationtoTransition:CapeTown,3-4March2020

AnimalFeedManufacturersAssociation(AFMA)Forum2020,SunCity,3-5March2020

AgbizCongress2020:Buildingresilientandsustainableagri-foodecosystems:SunCity,15-17July2020.Registrationnowopen

The7thWorldConferenceofResearchIntegrityistobehostedbyUCTin2021

Somearticlesincludedinthesectionbelowareopinionpieces.TheopinionsexpressedinthesearticlesdonotnecessarilyreflecttheviewsoftheNSTFExecutiveCommittee,Directors,SecretariatorMembers.

UniversitiesandhighereducationReproducibilityandReplicabilityinResearch(nationalacademies.org)

ThequestionsSouthAfricansshouldbeasking:Howdoweencouragemorewomentostickwithscience?(up.ac.za)

Pharmacenmakesstridesinthirddimensionresearchforabetterlifeforall(mg.co.za)

UCTentrepreneurstopsinSA(uct.ac.za)

Signalingthetrustworthinessofscience(pnas.org)

ScienceCouncilsandStatutoryOrganisationsNationalResearchFoundationCelebratesSouthAfricanResearchExcellence(nrf.ac.za)

MedicineandhealthGlobalAllianceforChronicDiseasesagenciescommitUSD50milliontoscalingupresearchinthefightagainstchronicdiseases(mrc.ac.za)

UPandFrenchresearchersintensifymalariaresearchprogrammeinLimpopo(up.ac.za)

HopeforHIVvaccinebeingtestedinSouthAfrica(groundup.org.za)

UPpaediatriciancallsforuseofsimplemeasurestoreduceneonataldeaths(up.ac.za)

ThaiHIVvaccineshowspromisingresultsforSouthAfricans(mrc.ac.za)

PalaeontologyandArchaeologyInwatersheddiscovery,skullofancienthumanancestorunearthed(reuters.com)

AncienthumansmayhavemadepatternsandsculpturesonSouthAfrica’sbeaches(theconversation.com)

AstronomyandspacescienceMeerKATspotsmassivebubblesinMilkyWay(dailymaverick.co.za)

DistantasteroidcalamityshapedlifeonEarth466millionyearsago(sabcnews.com)

WanttogotoAntarctica?SouthAfrica'sspaceagencyislookingforvolunteers–here’showtoapply(businessinsider.co.za)

HowAfrica’sspacerocksaredrivingplanetaryscience(sciafmag.com)

Environment,climatechangeandenergyEnvironment

Yourcottontoteisprettymuchtheworstreplacementforaplasticbag(qz.com)

Ships’riskyfueltransfersarethreateningAfricanPenguins(theconversation.com)

ClimatechangeBobandMaryScholes:fromclimatechangetotransformativechange(scibraai.co.za)

Explainer:whyphenologyiskeyintrackingclimatechange(theconversation.com)

Climateexplained:howmuchofclimatechangeisnatural?Howmuchisman-made?(theconversation.com)

Geomaticians’roleinclimatechangeandpopulationdevelopment(ee.co.za)

EnergySouthAfricancoalfacesbleakoutlook(ee.co.za)

AgricultureThesearechallengingtimesfortheglobalwoolindustry(wandilesihlobo.com)

Lookingintothechemistryandsensoryeffectsofbushfiresmokeonredwines(sun.ac.za)

Engineering,constructionanddesignICTInfrastructure2019ConferenceandExhibition:Clickheretodownloadallthepresentations(ee.co.za)

SA’sfuturedevelopmentdependsonitsengineers(ee.co.za)

Tonsof“plasticroad”tobelaidonN3highwayinKZN,totestdurability(infrastructurenews.co.za)

Increasingautomationintheconstructionindustry(infrastructurenews.co.za)

Thisgorgeousstainlesssteelbikemulti-toolisaCapeTowndesign(bunisessinsider.co.za)

Technologyandthe4thIndustrialRevolutionICTInfrastructure2019:overviewandreportback(ee.co.za)

Zero-dayvulnerabilityinvBulletinisexploited(itweb.co.za)

Whatdoes‘fourthindustrialrevolution’evenmean?(mg.co.za)

VodacomlaunchesSA'sfirstsmartphone-onlytown(itweb.co.za)

SAeconomyin‘deeptrouble’amidwideningICTskillsgap(itweb.co.za)

MicrosoftpartnersexperiencecloudrushinSA(itweb.co.za)

SciencecommunicationScience,Sensationalism,andtheLessonsof‘Insectageddon’(undark.org)

ScienceawarenessSchweizer-Renekepupilshineswith'mind-controlled3D-printedprosthetichand'(news24.com)

mGenAfrica:IntroducinglearnerstocareersinSTEM(uct.ac.za)

OpportunitiesInternationalTrainingCourseonScience,TechnologyandInnovation(STI)Diplomacy:Pretoria,28Novemberto03December2019.Thecourseisopentocandidatesworkingintheinternationalpolicy-makingarena;scienceandtechnologyprofessionalsandofficialsengagedinmanagementofscienceandtechnology;researchers(youngresearchersareencouragedtoapply);diplomats;internationalrelationsexperts;representativesfromnon-governmentalorganisations;privatesectorandothersectorsworkingatthescience-diplomacyinterface.Allthecompletedapplicationsmustbesubmittedusingthefollowingonlinesystem:STIDiplomacyTrainingCourse2019Deadline:10October2019.

Invitingapplicationsforparticipationinthe4thBRICSYoungScientistConclave:Brazil,6-8November,2019.Themes:CybersecurityandBioeconomy.Thiscallisopentoearlycareerresearchers/scientists/engineers/technologists/innovators/sciencejournalists-educators-science,scienceliteracyandpopularisingprofessionals/specialistsintranslationalaspectsofresearchandtechnologyintegrationinsocietytomarket,uptotheageof40yearswhoarebasedinSouthAfrica.Applicationdeadline:11October2019.Accesstheonlineapplicationat:https://forms.gle/EAq46BCn1wxdmwRM8.Forfurtherinformationcontact:MsEdithShikumoTel:+27(0)123496614Email:Edith@assaf.org.za

ThroughtheSwissFederalCommissionforScholarshipsforForeignStudents(FCSakaESKAS,CFBE),theSwissgovernmentgrantsforeignresearcherspostgraduatescholarshipsatSwisshighereducationinstitutions.ThreedifferenttypesofscholarshipsareofferedorSouthAfricancitizens,startinginSeptember2020:PhD,PostdoctoralandResearchScholarships.Queriescanbedirectedbyemailto:pretoria@eda.admin.ch.Forapplicationformsandmoreinformation,visittheFCSwebsite.ApplicationshavetobesubmittedattheSwissEmbassyinPretoriaby5December2019.

ContinentalresearchawardforMandelaUniresearchmanager(mandela.ac.za)

PrestigiousAmericanGeophysicalUnionAwardforUKZNResearcher(ukzn.ac.za)

Pleaseforwardthise-maitoyourcolleagues,businesscontactsandallinterestedpersons!

SendusyournewsTheNSTFinvitesallourmembers,aswellasallSETandinnovationroleplayers,tosenusinformatioonmeetings,conferencesandactivitiesofinteresttothebroaderS&Tcommunity.Pleasesendusyournewsbythe20thofthemonth,fordistributionatthebeginningofthefollowingmonth,toenquiries@nstf.org.za

FeedbackIfyouhaveanycommentsorsuggestionsonhowwecanimprovethisnewsletter,pleasee-mailtheNSTFSecretariatatenquiries@nstf.org.za

AbouttheNSTFTheNationalScienceandTechnologyForum(NSTF),establishedin1995,isabroadly-representativestakeholderbodyforallSETandinnovationorganisationsinSouthAfrica,whichseekstoinfluencepolicyformulationanddelivery.

TheNSTFAwardsareuniqueinSA,recognisingtheoutstandingcontributionsofindividualsandgroupstoSETandinnovation.

Thesciencebursariespagehttp://www.nstf.org.za/bursary/providesinformationonbursariesandbursaryprovidersforscience,engineeringandrelatedstudies.

DisclaimerTheNSTFhastakenallpracticalmeasurestoensurethatthematerialcontainedinthisnewsletteriscorrect.TheNSTFreservestherighttomakechangeasitdeemsnecessary.PrivacyRegistrationdetailssubmittedtotheNSTFwillbetreateconfidentiallyandwillonlybeusedbyNSTFtocommunicatewithitsmembersandsubscribers.

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