It’s the largest and most prestigious science event on the African continent. From 2 until 6 December 2024, scores of people gathered at the CSIR’s International Convention Centre in Pretoria for a spectacular showcase of research, technology and innovation at the 9th 2024 Science Forum South Africa. The weeklong gathering, hosted annually by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), focused on finding solutions to everyday problems under the theme, “Igniting Conversations about Science – Innovation and Science for Humanity”.

The CSIR seized the opportunity to showcase its work alongside more than 80 exhibitors, participate in several side events and engage in parallel sessions throughout week. The exhibition hall was brimming with activity as delegates interacted with various technologies and initiatives on display. Showcasing its technologies, the CSIR exhibitors captivated visitors and onlookers to their stand, fostering valuable research and collaboration connections with delegates. Team CSIR showcased the following technological plans and products:

• The Ngiyaqonda! literacy app has been developed to help South African children read for meaning in their home language. It is a speech and text technology offering that is currently available in English, Afrikaans, Sepedi and isiZulu for children to develop their literacy skills. In the coming years, more South African official languages will be added. The project is still in the research phase, with pilots having been conducted in Mamelodi and Soweto. Feedback from teachers has been positive and the research team are committed to investigating how the app can assist learners in the classroom.
• In a first for Africa, the CSIR is screening cancer tissue samples to find existing drugs that could be repurposed as effective chemotherapy for people of African descent. Tumour samples are collected from the Steve Biko Academic Hospital through a collaboration with the University of Pretoria. A sample of a patient’s cells is isolated, cultured and plated. The available drugs are selected and administered to the cells. Following an incubation period, the survival rates of cells are established. The cells which have not survived are prioritised to identify the responsible drug or combination of drugs. In this way the most effective drugs are determined for further clinicians’ decision making process.
• The CSIR is setting up a network of learning factories at higher education institutions and in industries to teach hands-on fourth industrial revolution skills, including artificial intelligence, augmented reality, robotics and digital twinning.

More than 5000 delegates from different parts of Africa and other continents attended. Vibrant discussions arose between local and international members of the scientific community, government departments, industry and civil society on the role of science in society.

Ministerial messages

During the opening session, in his keynote address, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Blade Nzimande emphasised the importance of placing science at the centre of governance and highlighted that science must be used to find solutions for African problems, whilst outlining some of the pertinent issues that communities and the African continent are facing. “I want to be an active participant in the establishment of a sovereign African research fund that can shape an African agenda for science,” he shared. Minister Nzimande also launched the first South African Public Relationship with Science 2022 Survey Results, a study that measured and monitored public science knowledge, attitudes and engagements in 2022.

To celebrate 30 years of science, technology and innovation, Dr Naledi Pandor reflected on South Africa’s scientific journey at the forum and the need for sustainable industrial policies, strong partnerships, and addressing climate change as key priorities.

Although it was her first attendance at the forum, during her address at the closing session, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Nomalungelo Gina said, “You have outdone my expectations and thank you to the exhibitors who enabled the dynamic network of the forum in promoting the awareness of science.”

Check out DSTI’s e-newsletter that captures all the highlights of Science Forum South Africa 2024 https://fliphtml5.com/oefme/jgkz/