The Academy of Science of South Africa and science diplomacy

The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) recently released its second report on the state of Scholarly Publishing in South Africa. Titled Twelve Years Later: Second ASSAf Report on Research Publishing in and from South Africa, the report outlines ASSAf’s important role in promoting innovation and scholarly activity. However, ASSAf has a substantial range of other strategic goals; here I highlight those that relate to providing scientific advice to national government; playing a critical role in international science diplomacy (including transborder issues in and beyond Africa); and sharing best practice for other academies to engage in bilateral joint committees and action planning. ASSAf was established in 1994/1995 and became the only national science academy formally recognised by the South African government in 2002, determined by the ASSAf Statute (Act 67 of 2001) – one of the earlier, beneficial results of the advent of democracy in South Africa. In order to fulfill its national and international roles, ASSAf adopted in its name the term ‘science’ in the singular, referring to ‘knowledge’ and reflecting a common way of enquiring rather than an aggregation of different disciplines. In terms of the Act, the Academy’s mission is to: