Academy of Science South Africa 2005/6 Annual Report

Multi-year Strategic PlanASSAfshould be evaluated and monitored in association with the appointed external specialists from aconsortium of two firms. Both depend on an annual narrative report linked to financial and other formsof reporting. Both are also sensitive to internal and external operating environments.(F) A greatly enhanced public communication mechanism for ASSAfThe ASSAf website should be professionally re-designed to present a dignified and informativeintroduction to the activities and products of the Academy. It must inter alia provide free online access toall ASSAf Reports and Public Statements;details of all ASSAf members and their scholarly interests and contact details (the ASSAf GeneralRegister);information about governance of the academy, including its Statute, Constitution, Regulations andStanding Orders, as well as Policies and Guidelines;notices for public inputs on Academy proposals for Study Panels and Steering Committees, on draftPublic Statements and other forms of public participation;notices of available awards and contracts;the ASSAf Member’s Newsletter, and a more general Newsletter (see below);access to the South African Journal of Science and to Quest – Science for South Africa; andother items of interest to members, the community of stakeholders, and the broad public.The ASSAf website must also have a secure access mechanism for confidential communication betweenthe President, the Council and the membership of the Academy. Such mechanism could also be used forthe annual election of new ASSAf Members.The present ASSAf Member’s Newsletter should continue as (at least) a quarterly publication, butcan readily be adapted to become a general Newsletter to be distributed to all stakeholders, preferablyalso not less than quarterly, with an interactive letters/correspondence section.All ASSAf events need to be covered by a press release and related communication programme,Annual Report 2005/0683