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Date : 30/05/2003
Source: Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology
Title: Sonjica: National Science & Technology Awards Gala Dinner


KEY NOTE ADDRESS BY THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ARTS, CULTURE, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, BUYELWA PATIENCE SONJICA, AT THE 5TH NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AWARDS GALA DINNER, Sandton Hilton Hotel, 30 May 2003

Master of Ceremonies
Chairperson of NSTF, Dr Steve Lenon
CEO of NSTF, Dr James Hlongwane
Heads of Science Councils
The Academic and the Research Community
Representatives of various government departments and business organisations Members and Stakeholders of Science and Technology community
Diplomats from various embassies
Educators and Learners
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

I feel honoured and privileged to be invited to address this prestigious occasion that celebrates the fruits of our hard work.

I salute those ordinary men and women of our country who have made strides in pursuit of excellence in various areas of specialisation in science and technology.

Tonight's occasion, the fifth in a series of award ceremonies since the inception of the NSTF Award in 1998, marks another important milestone in our science and technology calendar.

We feel especially proud to have achieved these, and many others as we celebrate our ten years of democracy.

This occasion does not only recognise significant contribution to Science and Technology in South Africa but also provides an opportunity for young and up-coming scientists to be motivated and to be supported. It is occasions like these that could be used to support government's multi-pronged Research and Development Strategy for cultivating the culture of science in our society.

This occasion also brings together people from different backgrounds to share knowledge and experience hence our pride with our longstanding collaboration with the National Science and Technology Forum.

Our society has always been characterised by a weak link with the scientific community. There were gaps between the activities of scientific communities and the overall development aspirations of our communities. Often the general public did not have the ownership of and direct influence on the scientific and technological developments.

Since its establishment, the National Science and Technology Forum has become a resounding success. Being the largest and most representative custodian and watchdog of Science and Technology activities nationally, the NSTF, plays an active and meaningful role within the National System of Innovation through the initiation of projects that promote, encourage and advance Science and Technology in our country. Tonight's award ceremony is one amongst many initiatives by NSTF in advancing this course. However, the challenge still remains for NSTF to turn the tide and create space for the participation of people in Science and Technology.

Last year's award ceremony came at a time when Mark Shuttleworth conquered the frontiers of space. The experience of this young scientist brought a meaningful and a practical understanding of science to ordinary South Africans, young and old.

Our undertaking towards the resolutions of the World Summit on Sustainable Development demands that we make science and technology more "policy relevant" and accessible to ordinary citizens. This is an era where the science and technology community has to demonstrate its readiness and ability to "change course" and redefine its role and commitment to society. An era where science has to be recognised as a tool for development and not an outcome or reward for development.

This means that our developmental goals cannot be achieved without the participation and support of our ordinary people both in townships and rural areas. They determine the nature and levels of resources that go into public scientific enterprise and overall governance of science and innovation.

In this way, what then becomes critical are the challenges posed the WSSD resolutions and those of our R&D Strategy, and these include:

* Ensuring that our scientific system is driven on the basis of sound National policy framework,
* Ensuring the development of, not new science but new "science-in-service" to society,
* Ensuring that science is inclusive rather than exclusive, seeking partnerships and involvement of other stakeholders. The notion that science is a preserve for the elite in the society should be a thing of the past
* Developing and refining the beneficial use of indigenous knowledge possessed by traditional societies.

These challenges imply that members of the scientific community must take a broader view of what it means to be a scientist and to do science. Our scientists and engineers need to be prepared to explore the implications of their research and weigh it on the public debate whenever necessary. Unless we do this, science policy decision-making will remain a preserve of few experts, which in our view would undermine the very principle of public participation, which is at the cornerstone of our democracy. It is for this reason that the necessity to explicitly engage the public in the policy-making process has been identified as a priority by our government.

Is short, the over-arching challenge in this era is to ensure that science is humane in its spirit, wise in its use and moral in its purpose. True science should be at the service of humanity as a whole and contributes directly to the quality of life of present and future generations.

In this regard our government has rolled out nation-wide programs, which are intended to take S&T debates to the public platform through vigorous media campaigns, exhibitions, workshops, theatres and various forms of art.

One example of such initiatives is the Public Understanding of Biotechnology (PUB) Program launched early this year, which is a joint effort by the Department of Science and Technology and the National Department of Agriculture involving an investment of R15 million on the promotion of public understanding of biotechnology. This program is aimed at bringing the level of our society's awareness on this important aspect to par with other countries around the world.

The government has entered into partnership with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) aimed at using the existing nine SABC radio stations to feature science programs in indigenous languages. This partnership will see five SABC radio journalists undergo a month-long training on science radio journalism in Washington DC under the DST-AAAS partnership programme in July this year.

Furthermore, our government is bidding to build what is known as the Square Kilometre Array telescope. Three sites in the Northern Cape are being considered for construction of this array of telescopes; so named because it will be made up of numerous separate antennae or dishes, with a total "collecting area" of one square kilometre. I am informed that the bid documents for this initiative have already been finalised and are ready for submission.

The country that will host this facility is expected to derive enormous direct economic benefits. If South Africa wins the bid, we will see R4-billion worth of foreign investment benefits flow into the country over the next decade. This would be a major development, which would be completed by 2015 and would operate at least until 2050.

One of the challenges highlighted by our Research and Development strategy is the need to renew the current corps of skilled science professionals, which is ageing at an alarming rate. Currently, about fifty percent of our scientific output is due to scientists over the age of fifty as opposed to a mere eighteen percent in 1990. Whilst the government will continue to create policy environment conducive for renewal of our ageing scientific population, encouraging learners to pursue careers in science remains one of our greatest challenges.

Ladies and Gentlemen, in the State of the Nation Address early this year, the President was categorically clear when he said that " Our task is to take this tide at flood, further to progress towards the achievements of the goal for which so many of our people have sacrificed"

Our Department has established a unit on "Science and Youth" whose mandate is, amongst others, to focus on programmes that encourage young South Africans to follow careers in the fields of science, engineering and technology.

The Department of Science and Technology in partnership with the HSRC is undertaking a nation wide survey to compile a database of intervention programmes aimed at providing assistance to science and mathematics learners outside the formal school system. Once this survey has been completed, a decision will be taken to channel financial support to deserving service providers on a national scale. It is envisaged that this support program will go a long way in supporting already existing Science and Maths initiatives by the National Department of Education.

I note with appreciation the inclusion of young female science learners and science educators in these Awards. By involving these sectors, the organisers of this event have risen to the challenge of providing incentive where it is needed most and promoting equity in the science and technology field.

Lastly, I want to point out that our government will ensure that science and technology are at the core of our efforts to reconstruct and develop our country. This is necessary to ensure that the benefits of science and technology are part of our response to the challenge of poverty eradication and underdevelopment. It is for this reason that Science and Technology issues are part and parcel in the agenda of the Growth and Development Summit that will be held in a week's time.

May I take this opportunity to congratulate all the recipients of awards this evening and wish them well in their pursuit of excellence in science and technology, thus continuing to add value to the image of our country.

Thank you.

Issued by Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology
30 May 2003

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