Date: 12-14 December 2018
Venue: CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa

The key objectives of the Science Forum South Africa are to create a platform for a vibrant debate on the role of science, technology and innovation in society; to promote international science, technology and innovation partnerships; and to create a network platform for key science, technology and innovation actors, including senior government leaders, academics, scientists, industry, civil society, and students.

The fourth Forum of its kind, SFSA2018 will again provide Africa with an “open science” event, similar to forums convened with great success elsewhere in the world.

The two-and-a-half-day programme will bring more than 2 500 participants together for discussion and debate in plenary sessions, panel discussions and interactive talks. Exhibitions create further space for future-shaping conversations. It is through conversations about science that society benefits, especially on the African continent.

Who Should Attend?

The Organising Committee, in support of the SFSA objectives and aligned to open science, would encourage anybody with an interest in science to join us at SFSA2018 to ignite conversations about science. The forum especially extends a warm welcome to: Academics Civil Society Industry Scientists and Researchers Senior Government leaders Students and other yout.

To conclude, everybody with an interest in science, who is willing to engage in serious discussions about science in an interactive and celebrative environment, is welcome to attend. Attendance is free, including lunch, but SFSA does not provide travel and accommodation support. Online registration, opening from 23 July 2018, is required for planning purposes.

What Is Open Science?

The Science Forum South Africa (SFSA) fully subscribes to the notion of open science. SFSA is dedicated to igniting conversations about science that will promote open scientific research and innovation. Open science is the movement to make scientific research accessible to all levels of society. This approach first came to the fore in the 17th century when groups of scientists started to share their resources to enhance their work. SFSA wants to contribute to the conversations around the desire of scientists to have access to shared resources versus the desire of individual entities to profit from their resources.

Name of Exhibition: Human Sciences Research Council

Exhibition Summary: The human sciences are often overlooked when it comes to scientific engagement. The HSRC’s exhibition will focus on creating an accessible way to engage with delegates on the relevance of human sciences and what it entails. We will showcase the work that we do, in print and video format, inviting visitors to engage with our existing and upcoming research. We see the Forum as an opportunity to present scientific research in various formats. Last year we reproduced our institutional info in a ‘did-you-know’ fact sheet format. In addition, we created an origami fortune teller with institutional facts. We push the boundaries in communicating the science that we do in order to create opportunities for igniting conversations about science. The images below are part of a collection of images from the Mini Science Forum that we hosted last year, along with our participation in SFSA in 2017.