Academy of Science South Africa 2005/6 Annual Report

Programme 3ASSAfNo conflicts of interest were posed by the appointment of any or all of the proposed Study Panelmembers as they were required to submit written Conflict of Interest statements. This will also beapplied to the Reference Group members, once appointed, and all participants will be bound to reportany new potential sources of conflict of interest during the study.In the end, the list of Study Panelists (table below) departed from the draft guidelines in that a largerPanel was constituted (14 members) rather than the recommended 10 members or less. At the suggestionof the ASSAf Council, a Reference Group will be proposed to support and monitor the Study Panel’swork with a special focus on the social, cultural and economic aspects of the issues under study, as wellas of the recommendations to be made. The Study Panel will also use a set of international and nationalauthorities as advisors and consultants.The first meeting for the study was held on 28 October 2005. Professor Barry Mendelow (MASSAf)was unanimously supported by all Panel members present to be recommended for appointment as theChairperson of the Panel. This appointment was confirmed by the ASSAf Council. Initially Dr LieslGrobler acted as part-time study director and researcher for the study. Late in 2005, two AssistantProjects Officers were appointed – Ms Boitumelo Mabina now serves as the Study Director, while MsRudzani Ramaite serves as understudy for capacity-building purposes. Dr Xola Mati (Projects Director)manages the project as a whole.Approach to the Study: The Study Panel guided by the Chairperson, Prof Barry Mendelow (MASSAf),is using a range of methodologies that meet the brief provided by the ASSAf Council. These include thefollowing:Hiring of researchers to address sub-topics and help provide draft sections of the Report.Holding a public workshop with invited speakers and/or panel discussions.Holding Panel workshops to debate and resolve particular questions and issues.Delegating initial analysis of topics of the study to individual members or sub-groups of the Panel.Any other ways of working towards a proper understanding of the evidence and information that canMs Boitumelo MabinaASSAf Projects Officer and Consensus Study DirectorAnnual Report 2005/0639