African Science Research Articles

Science and Technology in a Democratic South Africa—New Challenges and New Policy Directions

The contribution that S&T could make to improving the quality of life of all of the people of South Africa is currently a subject for considerable debate. This is not an academic debate, for, as the ancien regime departs and South Africa restructures, the protagonists are influencing directly the reconfiguration of S& T policies and struc tures. The new government has inherited a highly fragmented system and one in which no organisation has effective overview of the entire science and technology system. Considerable challenges face the new government in devising and imple menting appropriate strategies and policies for science and technology. The government of National Unity created a new Ministry for Science and Tech nology coupled with Arts and Culture signalling the new orientation of S&T policy framework. At the same time, a major organisational grouping under the Science and Technology Initiative (STI)-involving actors and agencies from S&T, government, professional societies, business, labour unions and other representatives-has under taken work towards reorganisation of science and technology structures. The paper begins by outlining the major developments in science and technology in South Africa and its current capacities in a comparative mode. This serves as a backdrop for examining the restructuring of the governmental S&T management system towards new national social and economic objectives underlying South African science and technology system.

The role of East African soil science: When, where and how?

The role of East African soil science: When, where and how?

Development Policy and Science Education in South Africa: reflections on post-Fordism and praxis

South African science education is in a state of flux as the new government embarks on a process of renewal and redress in education policy. Existing curricula reflect priorities that are not relevant to new needs, patterns of participation testify to systematic neglect of the science education of the mass of the population under apartheid. The paper argues that the first step in developing new policy is to understand the links between science and technology based development strategies and investment in science education. It then offers an analysis of innovations in production technology associated with 'best practice'; post-Fordist production methods and flexible specialisation that seem likely to have direct implications for the education system. The influence of these on the reform of science education is discussed in some detail. Finally, some reflections on the problems that arise when implementing educational innovations in conditions of rapid change are identified and explored.

Tension at the top in South African science

Tension at the top in South African science

African Science, African and African‐American Scientists and the School Science Curriculum

The need for multicultural science education for all students is discussed in this paper. The nature of science in Africa is compared to traditional Western science and the pros and cons of each are examined, Contributions to scientific knowledge by Africans and African‐Americans are then considered. Finally, suggestions are given on integrating the contributions of Africans and African‐Americans into the science classroom and curriculum.

Women in political science: (an)other look at the discipline

ABSTRACT This article is an attempt to address the invisibility of women within political science by looking at similar investigations made of the discipline in the United States of America, and by analysing the situation of women in the discipline in South Africa. Several explanations for the facts that women practitioners in South African political science are few in number and concentrated in junior ranks are discussed, and the rival merits of gender studies and women's studies are considered.

Die verdonkerende spieël: Simbolistiese trekke in Wilma Stockenstrom se eerste drie bundels

This article is an attempt to relate the first three of Wilma Stockenstrom's collections of poetry to international Symbolism. First we discuss possible links between her work and Symbolism. The mam emphasis then falls on Stockenstrom’s method of Symbolism, the possible symbolist tone of her work and prominent symbolist motifs in her work. Finally we consider some manifestations of the symbolist oilier world in these collections. The conclusion arrived at is that Stockenstrom's earlier work shows many of the main characteristics of Symbolism so that her work can be regarded as a continuation of the symbolist tradition. This tradition undergoes three important transformations in her work: the European world of symbolist poetry is replaced by an archeologically rich but mute African world, modern science and technology replaces the medieval system of reference of Symbolism, and sound and musicality p la y a much smaller part in Stockenstrom's poetry. Stockenstrom's cynical, ironic tone, the use of opaque kafkaesque symbols, her emphasis on tentative visions, her distrust of language and her tendency to relativize frames of reference in the endings of her poems, show that Stockenstrom's poetry has already crossed the boundary to Modernism.

African Literature and Social Science in the Teaching of World Studies

African Literature and Social Science in the Teaching of World Studies

The University of Zambia's Institute for African Studies and Social Science Research in Central Africa, 1938-1988

G. K. Gwassa states that research institutes in Africa constitute one critical factor of development in that they have to undertake the twin problems of research which involve the search for and the discovery of the process of social development. They also undertake purposeful functional research by (especially) studying and analyzing internal economic and social conditions in order to determine the characteristics, variables, and criteria for rational economic and political actions within a given country. These have become the functions of many social science research institutions in sub-Saharan Africa. The pioneer in all this is the University of Zambia's Institute for African Studies, the oldest social science-oriented research center in black Africa.The Institute was founded in 1938 as the Rhodes-Livingstone Institute for Social Research (RLISR). In its fifty years of existence the Institute has made contributions which have earned it an international reputation for its research work. The aim of this paper is to assess the contribution of the Institute to social science research in its first fifty years of existence. In undertaking this task, I propose to discuss the topic under three broad areas: foundation, aims, and objectives; publication and research; and problems encountered and their solution.

African National Congress drafts blueprint for South African science

African National Congress drafts blueprint for South African science

African Science Symposium and Journals Project

African Science Symposium and Journals Project

African Science Symposium and Journals Project

African Science Symposium and Journals Project

African Science Symposium and Journals Project

African Science Symposium and Journals Project

The academic boycott of South Africa debate: Science and social practice

ABSTRACT The academic boycott against South Africa has had a limited success. The original idea was proposed by exiled South African students in the late 1950s and social science theorists supported the proposal. The central rationale for the boycott was the inequalities in access to higher education because of race. The paper examines the higher education system in South Africa today and relates it to the established dogma for imposing an academic boycott. It seeks further to establish an extended rationale based on modern sociology of science. The notion of science as a cultural and societal product opens new and radical ways of criticising South African science in general. The paper criticises the defending of a collaboration with South African science. It claims this bears the signs of a scientistic programme, a reminiscence of a technical rationality within the global scientific community. It reviews a number of sectors where science and the scientists are deeply involved in industry, business and go...

Innovation in South African science education (part 2): Factors influencing the introduction of instructional change

Innovation in South African science education (part 2): Factors influencing the introduction of instructional change

A response to “innovation in South African science education (part I): Science teaching observed”

Science EducationVolume 73, Issue 6 p. 647-648 Comments and Criticisms A response to “innovation in South African science education (part I): Science teaching observed” Jan Maarschalk, Jan Maarschalk Rand Afrikaans University, P.O. Box 524, Johannesburg 2000, South AfricaSearch for more papers by this author Jan Maarschalk, Jan Maarschalk Rand Afrikaans University, P.O. Box 524, Johannesburg 2000, South AfricaSearch for more papers by this author First published: November 1989 https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.3730730603Citations: 1AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume73, Issue6November 1989Pages 647-648 RelatedInformation

Academic sanction. Targeting South African science.

Academic sanction, the intentional denial of scholarly exchange for political reasons, presents grave practical and moral problems to the open pursuit of medical science. The focus of this article targets South African science. However, examples of academic sanction in Western Europe, the United States, the Soviet Union, China, Japan, and other areas are given to support the existence of discriminatory restrictions against scientists. Examples and reasons also are offered for and against academic sanction, with the recommendation that academic sanction be pursued only with judgment informed by factual knowledge as well as moral, ethical, and compassionate values.

Academic Sanction

Academic sanction, the intentional denial of scholarly exchange for political reasons, presents grave practical and moral problems to the open pursuit of medical science. The focus of this article targets South African science. However, examples of academic sanction in Western Europe, the United States, the Soviet Union, China, Japan, and other areas are given to support the existence of discriminatory restrictions against scientists. Examples and reasons also are offered for and against academic sanction, with the recommendation that academic sanction be pursued only with judgment informed by factual knowledge as well as moral, ethical, and compassionate values.An American physician outlines the pros and cons of imposing academic sanction, i.e., the restriction of scholarly exchange for the purpose of protesting the social and political policies of governments. Focusing on the South African situation, while also giving examples from other parts of the world, Crawshaw discusses the imposition of sanction by governments, by professional organizations, and by individual scientists. He argues that academic sanction threatens the open exchange of science and has little or no documented effectiveness on international politics.

Search for Directories on African Science and Technology

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Search for Directories on African Science and Technology

Search for Directories on African Science and Technology