Dear ASSAf Member
The annual process of nominating and electing new Members to ASSAf has commenced for 2023 in accordance with attached Regulation 1 of the Academy. The Call for nomination and Call are also attached.
The Membership of South Africa’s nationally and internationally recognised science academy, ultimately determines the quality and scope of the role that ASSAf can play in the developmental trajectory of the country, the region and the world. With its emphasis on evidence-based studies on
topics of national importance, ASSAf Members have significant opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills to influence national and global policy and practice. The Academy aspires to be an organisation that has the confidence and trust of all South Africans, and the capacity to undertake studies of national, regional and global relevance that are increasingly required of it.
The Academy is committed to enhancing the representivity of its Membership in terms of race, gender and diversity of disciplines and thus seeks to increase its membership in presently under-represented disciplines such as agriculture, mathematics, earth sciences, education and economics together with increasing its female and black Membership more generally.
The main criteria for election as an ASSAf Member is scientific excellence and significant, demonstrable contribution to the advancement/application of science in the service of society. The requirement of ‘service to society’ is not an alternative criterion, but equal to the criterion of scholarly excellence. The academic standing of the nominee is assessed from their CV and publication record (and by using scientometrics such as the h-index, i-10 index and citation counts as well as NRF rating as appropriate). Section 8 in the accompanying nomination form requires the nominee to describe how their science profile aligns with the objectives of the Academy, specifically the service to society aspect.
You are hereby requested to nominate outstanding scientists and scholars who have made significant contributions to the advancement and application of science, nationally, regionally or globally. Nominees must be currently contributing to scientific/scholarly activities in South Africa to a significant extent.
Nomination Process
1. Please request the nominee to complete Section A and please ensure that the nomination form is signed by the nominee (electronic signatures are accepted).
2. You, as the primary nominator, are requested to verify Section A and add to it as appropriate.
3. Please complete Section B of the form as the nominator, noting that the citation in Section B should be used to strengthen the nominee’s application.
4. Please add the names of three other ASSAf Members who endorse your nomination in Section C and obtain their signatures either individually or collectively (electronic signatures are accepted as are separately emailed scanned copies of the relevant page of the nomination form with
signatures.)
5. Please send the completed nomination form comprising of Sections A, B and C together with the candidate’s full CV to Mrs Renate Venier at renate@assaf.org.za, no later than 28 April 2023.
You are welcome to email any enquiries regarding the nomination process to Renate Venier at renate@assaf.org.za.
The Academy is grateful to its Members for taking the time to participate in the nomination process of
new Academy Members.
Yours sincerely
Prof Sabiha Essack
General Secretary: Academy of Science of South Africa