Academy of Science South Africa 2005/6 Annual Report

ASSAfMessage from the presidentRobin M. Crewe PresidentThere are periods in the life of institutions such as the Academy during which much ofthe preparatory work of the past leads to a seismic shift in its role and impact. The past year has seensuch developments for our Academy based largely on the establishment and consolidation of a wellfunctioning secretariat that is admirably led by our chief executive officer, Prof. Wieland Gevers and theteam that has been assembled to support our burgeoning activities.In the preface to the previous year’s annual report, I noted the following:“The primary challenge for the new council is to establish the Academy as the preferred source forevidence based advice on issues of national concern. In this regard, the developing collaboration withNational Academies of Science in the USA should provide the means of achieving this goal in a shorterspace of time than would have been the case without their assistance.”The work that is discussed in this expanded annual report makes clear that this challenge has beenaccepted and addressed in ways that are having a significant impact in defining the role of the Academyand demonstrating its impact on public policy. The highlights in the realm of offering evidence basedadvice, have been the publication of the comprehensive report on “A Strategic Approach to ResearchPublishing in South Africa”, and the holding of a double symposium to consider ‘Evidence-basedpractice: problems, possibilities and politics.’ The report on research publishing received significantmedia attention both locally and internationally and is the subject of discussions with two governmentdepartments.The Academy has developed policies and guidelines for its activities as they have become necessary.The initiation of the African Science Academies Development Initiative (ASADI) partnership with theUS National Academies prompted the generation, proposal and adoption of guidelines for proposalsof science-based topics in terms of the ASSAf Act, of guidelines for proposals of science-based topics(project proposals), of guidelines for the appointment of Study Panels and Forum Steering Committees,a policy on support for Conferences, the formation of a “Committee on Science for the Alleviation ofPoverty,” and a brief for the Consensus Study on “Nutritional Influences on Human Immunity, withPromoting Excellence in Science for Society