Science in Africa: Africa's First On-line Science Magazine

Science in Africa On-line magazine has been available since 2001. Have a look at the latest issue and explore the available links from this web page.

* No. 64, May 2008 issue you can read about:

- Research identifies best drug combination for patients starting HIV therapy for the first time

- Preparing SA's farmers with a range of options to help them prepare for a water-scarce future

- With the food crunch Kenya launches massive programme to aid small scale farmers

- Undergraduate students develop 'dirt-powered' microbial fuel cells to light Africa

* This Month's (May) features are:

- An evolutionary spin on invasions

- Climate change witness

- Arctic climate change evidence

- Google climate change

* For more on Indaba Biotech go to: http://www.inqababiotec.co.za/new/

* Science Books on Africa & South Africa on: http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/books/books.htm

* Events: To view upcoming science events go to: http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/events.htm

- Essential Astronomy Workshop: 19-20 June in Cape Town; 26-27 June in Johannesburg

- GLOBE Student Learning Expedition and 12th Annual Conference, 22-28 June in Cape Town

- Extremophiles 2008, 7-11 September 2008 (Extremophiles, organisms thriving in extreme environments, offer a challenge to understanding the fundamentals of molecular and cellular function, and opportunities for sustainable exploitation)

- Bio2Biz and INSITE, 15-17 September 2008. It aims to expose business and industry to international biotechnology trends and developments, while ensuring the country is in line with the international world in terms of the developments in biotechnology.

* Jobs: Looking for a science post, go to: http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/Jobs/jobs.htm

* Under Funding you will find information on: http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/Funding.htm

- Call for research proposals

- Grants

- Postgraduate Bursaries

- Research Funding Organisations

- Funding News

* Under Organisations you will find 'Who's who' of Science Organisations and Institutes in Africa: http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/Organisations.htm

* You have an option to Register to keep up with the latest information from this web page. http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/registerSIA.htm

NRF: 2007 Facts & Figures

In 2007 the National Research Foundation published its evaluation and rating research figures. It says "Universities should aspire to have at least 25% of their academic staff rated by the NRF to be regarded as a research-intensive university".

* In 2005 the top 10 Universities in SA in terms of percentage of their research/instruction staff with a valid NRF rating are: UCT, Stellenbosh, WITS, Rhodes, UWC, UFS, UP, NWU, UKZN, Nelson Mandela.

* According to the report in 2006 the number of rated researchers in Natural Sciences & Engineering were: UCT - 196; UP- 154; Stellenbosh - 151; WITS - 135; UKZN - 102; NWU - 56; UJ- 41, etc.

* The rated researchers in various rating categories per subject area in Natural Sciences & Engineering for 2006 are: Animal & Veterinary Sciences - 183; Health Sciences - 180; Engineering - 156; Mathematical Sciences - 139; Physics - 109; Earth Sciences - 98; Chemistry - 92; Plant Sciences - 89; Macrobiology and Plant Pathology - 68; Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology - 63; Forestry & Agricultural Sciences - 26.

* Percentage per rated researchers at institutions (2005), UJ- with 64 rated researchers and 917 professional/research professionals take the 11th place with 7.0%, compared to UCT - 31,6; Stellenbosh - 26.9; WITS - 16.9; UP - 11,2, etc.

Clich on the TITLE to access the full report. Find more information on: Nuts and Bolts of NRF Evaluation and Rating; The vital role of Expert reviewers; rationale for obtaining an NRF rating, How to apply for evaluation and rating, etc.

The World Resources 2005 - The Wealth of the Poor: Managing ecosystems to fight poverty

The latest 2005 edition of World Resources book is available online (Click on the TITLE for access). The book can be useful as reference source for UJ students and academics. See below a short Table of Content:

Part 1: The Wealth of the Poor

* Chapter 1: Nature, Power and Poverty

* Chapter 2: Ecosystems and the Livelihoods of the poor

* Chapter 3: The role of governance

* Chapter 4: Four steps to greater environmental income

* Chapter 5: Turning natural assets into wealth: Case Studies ( NATURE IN LOCAL HANDS: The Case for Namibia’s Conservancies; Regenerating Woodlands: Tanzania's HASHI Project)

* Special section - Global development policies: Making MDGs and PRSPs work for the poor and the environment

Part 2: Data Tables (The World Resources 2005 data tables present information for 155 countries). The following statistics are available: Population & Education; Human Health; Gender & Development; Income & Poverty; Economics & Financial Flows; Institutions & Governance; Energy; Climate & Atmosphere; Water Resources & Fisheries; Biodiversity; Land Use & Human Settlements; Food & Agriculture.

References

Other direct link is available under "E-books" on the left side of this blog.

ISI Journal Citation Reports: South African Journals Impact Factors

According to the 2006 ISI Journal Citation Reports, only 17 South African Journals are accredited internationally. Look at the Sciences Journals Impact Factors:

* African Journal of Marine Science (1.086)

* South African Journal of Geology (1.000)

* South African Journal of Botany (0.648)

* African entomology (0.613)

* South African Journal of Science (0.602)

* Water SA (0.494)

* South African Journal of Wildlife Research (0.488)

* South African Journal of Chemistry (0.459)

* African Zoology (0.408)

* Bothalia (0.407)

* Ostrich (0.256)

* South African Journal of Animal Science (0.215)
* J S AFR I MIN METAL (0.124)

Click on the Table to enlarge image. You will also find out what are the: Total Cites, Immediacy Index, Articles and Cited half-life indicators.

P.S. ISI Journal Citation Report is available through the Library Databases list. Direct link is also available on this website.

Climate: SA 'not bothered'

Some of the research findings on how South Africans feel about the Climate Change & Global Warming were published in News24 on 9/11/07.

Cape Town - Only a third of adults living in South Africa's metro areas feel that climate change or global warming will affect them. This is one of the findings of a study conducted in September by South Africa's leading marketing and social insights company, TNS Research Surveys. The company interviewed 2 000 adults in all seven of South Africa's major metropolitan areas in a study that looked at how people feel about climate change, their use of key resources and what their carbon footprint is.
Most people put issues such as crime, HIV/Aids, corruption, poverty and unemployment, and poor service and housing delivery higher in importance than climate change.

Read the full article from News24: http://www.news24.com/News24/Technology/News/0,,2-13-1443_2217656,00.html OR click on the TITLE above.