Date: 24/10/2010
Source: The Department of Science and Technology
Title: SA: Pandor: Address by the Minister of Science and Technology, at the 22nd international Codata conference, Cape Town

Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen:

Thank you for inviting me to talk to you this evening. A warm South
African welcome to you all.

South Africa's association with the International Council for Science
(ICSU) - the mother body of CODATA - goes back a long way. South
Africa is a founder member of the ICSU. Our membership is currently
managed by the National Research Foundation, which I must say has
represented our country very well.

An African Regional Office of the ICSU was launched in Pretoria in
September 2005. It established a Secretariat for Africa, managed by
scientists from various parts of the African continent, and several
research projects and events have been undertaken in partnership with
the UNESCO, the Academy of Sciences of the Developing World, and the
New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).

The theme of this conference is "scientific data and sustainable
development". I'm sure that there are some difficult questions that
you are going to ask and struggle to answer.

There are four critical issues I would like to raise in regard to your
theme.

First, a number of studies have revealed that, in many parts of the
developing world, poverty is exacerbated by information poverty. In
poor or deprived communities access to information is limited or
non-existent.

This clearly impairs the ability of those living in poor communities
to make informed decisions.

The South African government is pioneering targeted initiatives in response.

For example, the Innovation for Poverty Alleviation programme will
pilot and establish rural broadband connectivity using wireless mesh
network technology.

The wireless mesh network project is in part a response to one of the
government's key strategic priorities - rural development.

It will focus on health research, including programmes for
tuberculosis, malaria and microbicides, as well as telemedicine
initiatives.

The tough question we must respond to is: how can we utilize our
intellectual resources to ‘teach' those most vulnerable and
marginalised the rules of access to science and technology.

What must be done is to move beyond good science to concrete action to
improve lives.

Second, access to scientific data and knowledge is closely related to
the issue of intellectual property rights. For example, exciting
advances in the field of biotechnology have exposed some communities
to intellectual exploitation. This is particularly true for rural
communities with low literacy levels and limited access to legal
assistance.

For example - and this is a good news story - for hundreds of years,
indigenous South Africans (San people) have chewed a plant which
reduces stress, relieves hunger, and elevates mood (makes you high).
Earlier this month South African researchers obtained the first
license to study and market the plant. No it's not weed. Something
similar and more medicinal. It has no side effects and is not
addictive. It's called kanna (sceletium tortuosum).

The San community will benefit from their indigenous knowledge about
this plant. And the pharmaceutical company that produces and markets
the product will as well. Both will benefit.

That is as it should be.

So, as we promote the global exchange of knowledge and information, we
take seriously traditional and indigenous forms of knowledge.

Third, the setting up of international knowledge networks along
interdisciplinary lines is crucial, both to enhance the quality of
research and its applications, and also to address relevant
socio-economic issues. This approach has informed many of my
department's strategic initiatives. In fact, as you will know from
your own countries it is the remit of science councils to conduct
interdisciplinary work that is often difficult to manage at
universities.

Our science and technology missions are interdisciplinary. I think of
one immediate challenge in particular - winning the bid to host the
SKA radio telescope.

All of our current grand challenges are interdisciplinary: bioeconomy;
space science; energy security; global change; human and social
science for development.

Fourth and last, governments and various scientific bodies have to
make a timely investment in cutting-edge information and
communications infrastructure required for the storage, management and
dissemination of scientific data.

To address the challenges that face humanity today effectively,
governments and scientific bodies have to challenge the way they think
about knowledge production, acquisition and application. Their role is
not only limited to making the scientific knowledge and information
accessible.

In addition, bodies like the ICSU play a critical role in expanding
the effective use of science in policy making.

Scientists and policy makers should use scientific data to make better
policy - in what is beginning to be called the ‘science of science
policy'.

Recently, the National Science Foundation started a programme called
the "science of science and innovation policy" (SciSIP). Last month
this programme came under the eagle eye of the US Congress' Research
and Science Education Subcommittee where the Chair began proceedings
with these words:

"As someone who was trained as an engineer and a social scientist, I
believe we need data and proper analysis of this data to be able to
determine - as best we can - the optimal policy to implement. ...

While many of us would agree that science has had a positive impact on
our lives, I think we actually know very little about how the process
of innovation works.

What kinds of research programs or institutional structures are most
effective? How do investments in R&D translate to more jobs, improved
health, and overall societal wellbeing? How should we balance
investments in basic and applied research? With millions of Americans
out of work, it becomes more critical than ever that we find answers
to these questions.

Hear hear. With millions of South Africans out of work, we also need
to find answers to these questions.

In conclusion, I pledge South Africa's continued support and
commitment to the programmes, objectives and vision of the
International Council for Science and CODATA.

I now declare this 22nd General Assembly of CODATA open.

I thank you.