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Minister of Science and Technology Mosibudi Mangena to deliver keynote address at an international symposium on “Evidence-based advice “.

28 February 2006

The Minister of Science and Technology Mosibudi Mangena will deliver a keynote address at an international symposium on “Evidence-based advice “. This will be hosted by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), on Friday 3 March at the CSIR Conference Centre.

In his address Minister Mangena will consider some of the following issues:

• What is evidence?;
• Is evidence overrated?; and
• How can government and the nation at large best draw on the knowledge and skills of the science community?

The symposium aims to bring together South African scientists and policy makers to a dialogue on the potential role of science academies in supporting government decision making through the use of evidence-based advice. The symposium will also provide opportunities for relationship building, networking and shared learning on the potential for evidence-based advice to inform South Africa’s national public policy making process.

The turn to evidence-based action is especially vital in developing countries requires closer co-operation between governments, research based organisations, and science academies, so that policy making and planning increasingly draws on the best wisdom available.

It is common practice for developed countries to rely on national science academies for examining pressing issues that require the gathering, analysis and weighing of evidence. Science academies are based on high merit, are multidisciplinary and are well connected internationally. They are also independent and elect their own leadership and members. As a result, their findings and recommendations are deemed objective.

His project approach led to a number of institutions from abroad inviting the core team members to share their knowledge at conferences in Japan, Austria and Hungary. Dr Mjwara was recently asked to participate in the development of scenarios for SA for the years 2004 to 2014. This was run from the office of the President.

Dr Mjwara’s experience in academia includes serving as professor of S&T policy at the University of Pretoria and as a physics lecturer at Wits, Unisa and Fort Hare universities. He has published and presented numerous papers on physics, technology analysis and technology foresight processes.

Dr Mjwara completed his MSc part-time at the University of Fort Hare in 1987, followed by his PhD at Wits in 1995.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, said; "I am delighted to have appointed a DG that has been an active and key role player in the National System of Innovation."

For media enquiries please contact:

Ms Nthabi Maoela
Cell: +27 (0) 73 648 2876
Email: Nthabiseng.maoela@dst.gov.za

or

The Ministry of Science and Technology
Mr Nelvis Qekema
Cell: +27 (0) 82 571 2571
Email: Nelvis.qekema@dst.gov.za

or

Academy of Science South Africa (ASSAf)
Dr Xola Mati
Cell: +27 (0) 83 502 5009
Email: xola@assaf.nrf.ac.za

or

Academy of Science South African (ASSAf)
Professor Wieland Gevers
Cell: +27 (0) 82 491 0379
Email: wieland@telkomsa.net