Ass Af Conference Presentation 02 July 2008.Doc

Ass Af Conference Presentation 02 July 2008.Doc

• 1.
  Research Dissemination andResearch Broker Conference Presentation to: HSRC conference with the Institute for Development Studies, UK Delivered by: Dr. Xola Mati, Chief Operations Officer, ASSAf Date: 02 July 2008
• 2.
  Contents About ASSAf ASSAf Activities ASSAf’s response to the paradigm shifts within Scholarly Communication: SAJS: Flagship National Journal QUEST: Science for South Africa Magazine Scholarly Publishing Programme
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  ASSAf aspires tobe the apex organisation for science scholarship in South Africa Internationally respected and connected Its Membership , the aspiration of the country’s most active scholars in all fields of scientific enquiry Collective resource, making possible the professionally managed generation of evidence-based solutions to national problems ASSAf aspires to be an engine of excellence in scholarship and intellectual cooperation About ASSAf
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  ASSAf Activities areStructured into Four Programmes PROGRAMME 4 National and Regional Activities PROGRAMME 3 International Academy Relations PROGRAMME 2 Strategic Aspects of Publishing in S&T in SA PROGRAMME 1 Administration and Governance ASSAf
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  Programme 4: SelectedASSAf Studies Generation of Evidence-Based Advice (Panels and Committees/ Fora): * Report on HIV/AIDS, TB and Nutrition : follow-up phase Chair: Prof Barry Mendelow * Standing Committee on Science for Poverty Alleviation ongoing Chair: Prof Eugene Cloete * Consensus Study on Clinical Research in SA: ongoing Chair: Prof Bongani Mayosi * National capacity in the Humanities/Social Sciences: just started Interim Chair: Prof Peter Vale * Biosecurity: to be started soon * Science Education enhancement: just started Joint Chairs: Profs Diane Grayson & Jonathan Jansen * Postgraduate Studies in SA, and the development of human capital in S&T: just started commissioned by NRF, CHE, DoE and DST Chair: Prof Jonathan Jansen
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  PROGRAMME 2: Strategic Aspects of Publishing in S&T in SA ASSAf’s response to the paradigm shifts within Scholarly Communication: To publish science-focused periodicals to promote a national interest in the sciences: 1. South African Journal of Science – multidisciplinary journal of the highest quality and international standing 2. Quest: Science for South Africa – science magazine that showcases the best of South African research to a wide national and international audience 3. Strategic Reports – policy advisory reports that seek to influence national decision- and policy-making
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  ASSAf’s response tothe paradigm shifts within Scholarly Communication: South African Journal of Science Ranked 23 rd in world rankings ISI-indexed multidisciplinary journals New editorial model of Editor-in-Chief and Associate Editors Available electronically on Open Access System introduced Vision – to be the flagship national journal in scholarly publishing programme
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  ASSAf’s response tothe paradigm shifts within Scholarly Communication: Quest: Science for South Africa Magazine Quarterly, youth-oriented science magazine, well-established on editing and production side Partnerships with DST, DoE, SAASTA, science centres, etc. being set up Use and impact research in teacher training programmes initiated Open Access System under investigation Growing subscription and retail bases
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  Scholarly (Journals) Publishing: Implementation of 10 Recommendations in 2006 ASSAf’s Scholarly Publishing Report Follow-up study of scholarly publishing (books) nearly completed National Scholarly Editors’ Forum established Adoption of a national code of best practice for editorial discretion and peer review (in progress) Mandate given for grouped peer review of SA scholarly journals by ASSAf Panels Investigation of an online course system for scientific writing Task team set up to examine possible national platform for open access publishing in SA Partnerships in place to cover data curation and open access issues ASSAf’s response to the paradigm shifts within Scholarly Communication:
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  Access ASSAf’s websiteat: www.assaf.org.za THANK YOU! © Academy of Science of South Africa – information may be freely quoted, provided full acknowledgement to ASSAf is given.