Key Points:
- South Africa is strengthening the connection between scientific research and community needs, with research institutions transforming how they engage with and serve society. This represents a fundamental shift from purely academic pursuits to impact-focused research.
- Research organizations like NRF-SAASTA are moving beyond direct program delivery to empowering a broader network of stakeholders to promote science engagement, creating more sustainable and far-reaching impact across communities.
- Environmental research institutions are demonstrating effective community engagement by combining rigorous scientific monitoring with practical applications that address immediate community needs, particularly around water quality and resource management.
- The emphasis on science communication and youth engagement is helping build a more scientifically literate society, while ensuring research directly benefits communities and creates opportunities for the next generation of South African scientists.
South Africa faces mounting challenges on multiple fronts. The World Economic Forum’s latest Global Risk Report identifies extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and natural resource shortages among the top threats to society. These environmental pressures compound existing social and economic challenges, from water scarcity to food security.
Yet even within these challenges lies opportunity. South African research institutions are increasingly positioning science and research as practical tools for addressing societal needs, marking a fundamental shift from purely academic pursuits to engaged, impact-focused research that serves communities directly.
“Without the research and information we provide, we wouldn’t know what to protect,” explains Professor Albert Chakona, Acting Managing Director of the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF-SAIAB). “If you don’t have that baseline data on what biodiversity is out there, you can’t even begin to talk about effective conservation and management. This has profound impacts on the rural communities who directly depend on these aquatic resources for survival.”
Bridging the Science-Society Divide
“We need to get to a point where society can have conversations about science,” emphasizes Dr Mamoeletsi Mosia, Managing Director of the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (NRF-SAASTA). “This is the core of why science engagement is so important – not just for researchers to communicate their work, but for the public to understand the impact it has on their lives.”
NRF-SAASTA plays a vital role in coordinating and promoting science engagement initiatives across South Africa. The organization has moved away from directly delivering programs to empowering a wide range of stakeholders – from universities and science councils to professional bodies and community organizations – to bring science to the people.
One of their flagship initiatives is the annual National Science Week, which has been running for over 20 years. This nationwide platform showcases South African science, technology and innovation in engaging ways. NRF-SAASTA also maintains long-standing partnerships with organizations like the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists and the South African Mathematics Foundation to run science competitions and fairs for learners.
From Research to Real-World Impact
The South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON) demonstrates how research institutions can effectively engage with communities. “We’re very intentional about where we collect data,” explains Dr Mary-Jane Bopape, Managing Director of NRF-SAEON. “A site like Cathedral Peak, being in a nature reserve, allows us to see natural changes with minimal human impact. We’re now extending observations to see how water quality changes as you move from pristine environments into communities where there could be contamination.”
This approach helps communities understand how their actions affect the environment and how environmental changes impact their lives. “We need to communicate far better with communities, and not just top-down,” notes Dr Bopape. “We need to get more involved in co-creation of what communities really need.”
Measuring and Maximizing Impact
Dr Genevieve Simpson, Head of Research Analysis and Advice at the National Research Foundation, emphasizes the importance of planning for impact from the start. “Clearly, if the NRF is having societal impact, society is going to feel more connected to us. In many societies, including South Africa, we have what we’ve always called the ‘Ivory Tower’ where academics are disconnected from society. If we can better communicate the impact we’re having, we’ll get the social license to operate and connect with society to a much greater extent.”
This new approach is already showing results. For example, when Makhanda faced a severe water crisis, a Research Chair at Rhodes University shifted their focus from developing paper-based water quality tests to establishing a community water testing center. “This shows how working with communities can help us achieve more, more quickly,” explains Dr Simpson. “The community is now willing to work more closely with the center because they see tangible benefits.”
Building a Science-Engaged Society
The push for greater science engagement comes at a crucial time. As South Africa grapples with challenges from climate change to water scarcity, public understanding and support for science becomes increasingly vital.
“Science communication has evolved significantly,” reflects Dr Bopape. “The biggest change I’ve seen in the last 10 years is the deep recognition by the scientific community of the need to communicate. If society doesn’t understand what we’re doing, we’re not doing our job. We need to find ways to make science digestible and interesting, especially for the younger generation.”
This focus on youth engagement is particularly important given South Africa’s demographic profile. By inspiring young people through science engagement, institutions hope to cultivate the next generation of researchers and create a more scientifically literate society.
As South Africa works to address its environmental and social challenges, the growing emphasis on science engagement and community impact suggests a promising path forward. The key will be maintaining this momentum while continuing to strengthen the connections between research institutions and the communities they serve.
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