Academy of Science South Africa 2005/6 Annual Report

ASSAfProgramme 3The application of scientificthinking for the benefit of societyThe ASSAf Council is mindful thatthe focus of the Academy’s workshould be on the scientific analysisof already available, enquirygeneratedevidence that can helppolicy development in South Africa,rather than on prospective research.Year Two: Consensus Study: The science behind effective science education for South Africa’s youngpeople (Proposers, in various formulations, Dr P Whitelock (MASSAf); Prof B Wingfield(MASSAf); Dr A Paterson (MASSAf); Dr J Sharpey-Schafer (MASSAf)Other topics proposed (if further developed and approved): Food and nutrient security, including therole of genetically modified crops; environmentally sustainable cities; climate change in South Africa;appropriate genetic testing; mental health in a diverse society ; impact of donor intervention in the HIV-AIDS pandemic; preparation for possible influenza pandemics; a comprehensive approach to theHIV-AIDS pandemic; language of instruction and effective learning in schools; literacy promotion; etc.The ASSAf Council is mindful that the focus of the Academy’s work should be on the scientificanalysis of already available, enquiry-generated evidence that can help policy development in SouthAfrica, rather than on prospective research. This distinguishes its niche from that of the science councilssuch as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Human Sciences ResearchCouncil (HSRC).Consensus Study: Nutritional influences on human immunity,with special reference to tuberculosis and HIV infectionThe issues concerning nutritional influences on human immunity and response to major pandemicinfections, such as M.tuberculosis (Mtb) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, havebeen amongst the most controversial in South Africa in the last half-decade. These issues have given riseto serious differences in the approach to public policy in addressing the ravages of these diseases. Therehas been a belief in some quarters that poverty and under/malnutrition may themselves be the mainaetiologic agents of Acquired Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), with HIV infection beinga non-contributory or trivial supervening circumstance. Others consider nutritional deficiencies to bean, or even the, appropriate target of primary therapy of “HIV infection and AIDS”. The majority view,however, is that nutritional support of persons infected with either Mtb or HIV, or both, is a necessary36 Promoting Excellence in Science for Society