The Centre for Science and Society leads research that advances our understanding of science in society, and that informs science and technology policies. Our work supports public engagement with science, strengthens science advice and policy, and looks closely at how science affects, and is affected by, inequality, power relations, and global change. Through collaborative research and partnerships across South Africa and beyond, we contribute to a more informed, inclusive, and future-ready society.
These questions are particularly significant because we live in a time of accelerating technological change, intertwined with changes in the nature of scientific progress, and with societal change. Scientific progress opens up a new knowledge frontiers and enhances our understanding of the world, and at the same time, it can create a foundation for technological change, which in turn shapes a wide range of societal impacts, including impacts on science itself. Moreover, we now face the prospect of unprecedented technological acceleration through AI, driving great scientific progress, as well as great social instability.
Our research attempts to understand these changes, to contribute to the international science and technology policy community, and to the South African policy landscape.
The CSIS's research focuses on two thematic areas: research into the human and social dimensions of the digital sciences, and science and innovation engagement. Key projects within these themes include research and engagement in the area of national artificial intelligence (AI) policy; public perceptions of AI; engaged research in the South African NSI; working with African science granting councils on building gender into science funding; and a suite of projects focussed on various dimensions of the South African public relationship with science.
The South African Public Relationship with Science (SAPRS) research programme is a three-year research initiative designed to support the national Science Engagement Strategy through robust monitoring and evaluation activities. Recognising the importance of a scientifically engaged society in achieving national development goals, the SAPRS research seeks to generate evidence to inform, strengthen and guide science communication and public engagement efforts. The programme will contribute to a deeper understanding of public attitudes and participation in science, as well as improve the design and delivery of science engagement in South Africa. Spanning ten interrelated studies, the programme includes the biennial SAPRS Survey (2027), process and impact evaluations of major science engagement initiatives (like National Science Month and the Youth Service Programme), and the development of strategic frameworks for media engagement and science communication skills development in South Africa. A related set of projects investigate the role of STEM professional associations, evaluates the value of science career publications, and profiles the diverse 'publics' targeted by the national Science Engagement Strategy—such as youth, scientists, and knowledge intermediaries.
The HSRC is a knowledge partner working in the G20 Research and Innovation Working, focused on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Science, Technology, and Innovation, providing research and engagement support in three areas:
The Engaged Research Initiative is a five-year commitment to embed inclusive, socially responsive research practices across South Africa’s science and innovation landscape. It brings together scholars, practitioners, and community partners to cultivate a shared vision for engaged research, one that is deeply rooted in collaboration, relevance, and public impact. The Centre for Science in Society contributes to this project through evidence mapping – a role that reviews, consolidates, and critiques the existing body of engaged research, ultimately contributing to a more robust, evidence-informed framework that links science to society in real and impactful ways.
The Gender Equality and Inclusivity (GEI) project addresses persistent gender inequality and interrelated forms of oppression in science, technology, and innovation. Recognising that gender-responsive and transformative grant-making can lead to more relevant, high-quality, and inclusive research, the project supports African Science Granting Councils (SGCs) to embed GEI and intersectionality considerations across their policies, practices, and funding cycles. Building on the momentum of past SGCI GEI activities and informed by global best practices, the project seeks to co-create an SGCI GEI Policy Roadmap Framework that promotes gender-transformative approaches—those that challenge and seek to change harmful gender norms and power dynamics, while incorporating intersectional perspectives that account for race, class, disability, geography, and more. Through these efforts, the project aims to provide regionally harmonised strategic direction and practical tools for SGCs to mainstream GEI in research grant-making, ultimately enhancing the social responsiveness and impact of STI systems across the continent.
The e-Participation and Policy Modelling Platform for South Africa (ePPMOSA) project aims to pilot e-participation and policy modelling technologies and methods in selected municipalities, with the goal of supporting and enhancing existing local government public participation initiatives. ePPMOSA is a project under the Viability and Validations of Innovations for Service Delivery Programme established by the Department of Science and Innovation, in partnership with the South African Local Government Association and the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, with funding from the European Union Sector Budget Support Programme and the National Treasury. The programme is designed to help municipalities to pilot technology and innovations that could assist in improving the delivery of basic services and their own functioning.
The African Observatory on Responsible Artificial Intelligence aims to promote African voices, experiences and value systems in global debate around responsible AI. CSIS collaboration with the Global Centre on AI Governance includes the facilitation of Africa-Asia AI Policymaker Network, the implementation of an online interactive AI Policy Map, the drafting of AI policy features and briefs, and collaborative research based on a national survey of attitudes to AI in South Africa.
The Policy Action Network aims to connect policy with research, data and people. This Includes training community media journalists on data storytelling, support to the Open Government Partnership South Africa interim steering committee, open data quests, hackathons, and developing evidence maps and syntheses for evidence-informed policymaking.
