Pretoria, Tuesday 22 May 2018 – The humanities and social sciences are increasingly important as societies around the world confront the realities of poverty, inequality, and many other phenomena which impact on social cohesion and the development of nations.
The Call for Nominations is available for download below:
It has long been acknowledged that the humanities mirror and reflect society and culture. This role has been articulated by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAF), in a 2011 report saying, the “Humanities are indispensable, producing an essential set of analytical skills, along with bodies of knowledge without which our society, and the wider world, would be inscrutable. It is the Humanities that nurture the intellectual lifeblood of a democratic project through powers of informed analysis, judgement and creative critique.”
In light of the vital role played by the discipline, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) introduced its annual Medal for the Social Sciences and Humanities in 2016. The Medal is awarded annually to a scholar who has made an outstanding contribution through his or her research and publications in any discipline and fi¬eld in the social sciences and humanities.
The Medal was awarded to eminent scholars Professors Njabulo Simakahle Ndebele and Charles van Onselen in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Nominations are now open for the 2018 HSRC Medal in Social Sciences and Humanities and are invited to be submitted by 15 July 2018.
Overarching criteria
For consideration, a nominee must have the following:
1. a record of sustained academic excellence in the social sciences and humanities
2. an international reputation for his or her scholarship
3. a strong record of contribution to the public’s understanding of social sciences and/or humanities
4. evidence of meaningful, impactful work over a period of time, e.g. impact on, amongst others, public policy, community interventions
Qualifying criteria
Nominees must live and work in South Africa
Nomination process
Nominations must be submitted in writing and can be e-mailed to the Director Stakeholder Relations and Communications, Ms Manusha Pillai at MPillai@hsrc.ac.za
Nominations will be accepted until the 15th of July 2018.
Notes to the Editor
About the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
The HSRC was established in 1968 as South Africa’s statutory research agency and has grown to become the largest dedicated research institute in the social sciences and humanities on the African continent, doing cutting-edge public research in areas that are crucial to development.
Our mandate is to inform the effective formulation and monitoring of government policy; to evaluate policy implementation; to stimulate public debate through the effective dissemination of research-based data and fact-based research results; to foster research collaboration; and to help build research capacity and infrastructure for the human sciences.
The Council conducts large-scale, policy-relevant, social-scientific research for public sector users, non-governmental organisations and international development agencies. Research activities and structures are closely aligned with South Africa’s national development priorities.
Join the conversation at:
www.hsrc.ac.za
https://twitter.com/HSRCza
http://www.facebook.com/HumanSciencesResearchCouncil
For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:
Manusha Pillai
Mobile: 082 389 3587
Email: MPillai@hsrc.ac.za