ON THE NATURE OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN GEOGRAPHICAL PUBLICATIONS, 2000 TO 2004

Abstract

ABSTRACT Southern African geography is assessed with respect to publication-output type, sub-discipline placement and authorship attributes for the five year period 2000 to 2004. Human geography as a sub-discipline dominates over physical geography in the number of publications produced, with a greater emphasis on single-authorship in human geography. Journal articles comprise 72% of the total outputs with more orientation towards such publications in the physical than in the human sub-discipline. Approximately two thirds of journal articles in both sub-disciplines appear in international journals. Black authors were involved in at least 22% of the outputs of which two thirds had black geographers as first author. Output alignment at the 2004 change in State subsidy qualification criteria is also considered. The discipline is found to be well- positioned to take advantage of subsidy allocation although more attention can be given to subsidy-generating journal selection, particular by human geographers. Physical geography has a slight lead in terms of National Research Foundation scientific ratings of individuals while the geographical distribution of rated scientists and a relative scarcity of young and black rated researchers is a cause for concern. The total number of publications on record appears to be reasonably healthy towards the end of the assessment period. However, geographers are challenged to focus increasingly on journal article outputs, particularly in ISI-listed journals, in order to remain aligned with South Africa's international strength in the earth/environmental sciences and the improving international contribution from the social sciences.