SACNASP Newsletter January 2020

SACNASP Newsletter 1/2020

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Dear Registered Scientist

The new updated website is up and running and can be accessed on www.sacnasp.org.za . Please use your registration number as your user name and ID number as your password. All application for registrations / upgrades should be made online as we no longer accept manual applications. Scientists can now access their portals to pay outstanding fees, update contact details and print certificates provided their accounts are up to date.

INVOICEs

Please note fees will be increased from 1st of April 2020 and invoices will be sent out during the last week of February 2020 and payment must be made online.

In this edition

  1. Introduction to Voluntary Associations: National Association for Clean Air
  2. General Information
  3. Top Student Awards
  4. Upcoming Events
  5. From the office of the Finance Manager

Introduction to Voluntary Associations

National Association for Clean Air

The National Association for Clean Air (NACA) is a non-profit organisation established on 21 April 1969 to promote the cause of clean air in South Africa, and is today the prime technical and scientific non-governmental body in the area of air quality management in South Africa.

The association acts as a channel through which public and industrial opinions concerning air pollution problems may be communicated to regulatory authorities. The Association provided comment on the Air Quality Act both during the public comment period and at the subsequent hearings held by the Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs. We are pleased to note that several of our proposals were included in the re-drafted Act.

NACA publishes The Clean Air Journal, a journal for those interested in air quality, air quality management, and the impacts of air pollution relevant to Africa. Information on the journal and journal archives are available online at www.cleanairjournal.org.za.

General Information

National Science Week

National Science Week (NSW), is an annual event aiming to exhibit and communicate awareness in science. It is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), a countrywide celebration of science involving various stakeholders and/or role players conducting science-based activities during the week.

Every year we part take in the initiative and always aim to reach more pupils in order to encourage and enhance their knowledge within STEM.

Above is a photo taken in one of the schools, pupils showing off the periodic tables that we handed them with.

Voluntary Association Biennial Meeting

SACNASP hosted the 1st Voluntary Association (VA) Biennial Meeting at Protea Hotel Fire & Ice, Pretoria Menlyn on Tuesday, 27 August 2019. The critical issues discussed at the meeting included the continuing professional development (CPD) and the Candidate Mentoring Phase (CMP) programme, Exit Level Outcomes (ELOs) and the future of SACNASP in terms of evaluating applications and the reciprocal role of the VAs and SACNASP in creating an enabling environment for professional natural scientists. It is important to strengthen the relationship between SACNASP and its constituent VAs.

Science Forum South Africa (SFSA)

The Innovation Bridge (IB) Technology Matchmaking and Showcasing Event and Science Forum South Africa (SFSA), previously separate events, have joined forces to serve the South African innovation ecosystem. For the first time ever the IB and the SFSA took place at the same time and at the same venue. The 2019 joint event under the theme: Igniting Conversations about Science for Innovation with Impact, took place at the CSIR International Convention Centre from the 4th to 6th December 2019. Both events are initiatives of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI).

SACNASP held their own session during the forum which was held at the NRF under the theme “Science and Technology opportunities in the private and publics sector: Implications of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) for Natural Scientists.

The panel included Prof Robin Crewe as the chairperson and included Prof. Igle Gledhill SACNASP council member, Prof. Chris Adendorff Futurist Professor, Nelson Mandela University Business School, Ms Kim Hulett Founder and CEO, Next Biosciences and Mr Neale Baartjes SACNASP Council member as panel members.

Awarding of top performing Natural Science student.

SACNASP intends to honour and award natural science graduates in order to improve critical scarce skills in South Africa. Through partnerships with higher education institutions, this initiative will contribute greatly to skills development and add value to natural science graduates. Furthermore, the initiative will assist in identifying talented individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds and provide them with the opportunity to become registered natural scientists. SACNASP awarded Ms Ntombizandile Matikinca, post-graduate student from the University of Western Cape. The recipient received the below:

  • SACNASP will cover the application and annual fees for FY2019/20
  • The recipient received a R3 000, 00 monetary value award, a SACNASP branded crystal trophy and a certificate.

Photo: Dr Matshidiso Matabane (Information Officer: SACNASP), Prof Mike Davies-Coleman (Dean: Faculty of Science), Ms Ntombizandile Matikinca (2019 award recipient) and Ms Lientjie Mogano (Project Leader: SACNASP)

Continuing Professional Development

All CPD related activities can be accessed on cpd@sacnasp.org.za

Visit our website www.sacnasp.org.za for job opportunities.

Upcoming Events

Scifest Africa 2020 will take place from 15-21 April 2020 in Grahamstown. The theme “Take root…nurture!” celebrates the International Year of Plant Health as proclaimed by the United Nations. Go to: info@scifest.org.za for further information.

Student Enrolment:

1. University of Limpopo - 11 March 2020

2. University of Venda - 10 March 2020

3. North West University (Potchefstroom Campus) - 13 February 2020

4. North West University (Mahikeng Campus) - 12 February 2020

5. University of Johannesburg - 25 February 2020

6. Sefako Makgatho University - 26 Feb 2020

7. UNISA - 27 February 2020

There will be networking sessions in the following provinces in March Limpopo and Northern Cape. Please check our website for further information.

From the Office of the Finance Manager

Registered Scientists must pay their outstanding fees online via pay fast, because if they pay directly to the bank account the payment will take 1 month to be updated.

For any information on finance queries please contact the SACNASP offices on: +27 (0) 12 748 6500 or www.sacnasp.org.za

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