SAfm in partnership with the NRF

The National Research Foundation (NRF) is a key public entity responsible for supporting the development of human resources for research and innovation in all fields of science and technology.  The NRF is one of the major players in educating and training a new generation of scientists to be able to deal with South African and African needs and encourages public awareness and appreciation of science, engineering, technology and facilitates dialogue between science and society.  Its vision is to contribute to a prosperous South Africa based on a knowledge economy.

In order to promote the NRF mandate, it is imperative that part of the NRF effort goes towards promoting science in the communities through dialogue so as to shift society’s perception of science as abstract and esoteric but rather view and embrace it as a tool to understand nature and derive solutions from that understanding.

Concept:

The NRF hosts a series of lectures called the NRF Science for Society Lecture Series.  The purpose of these lectures is to demystify science.  

The main purpose of this concept is to bridge the divide that is somehow prevalent between Science and community issues.  These ‘science talks’ aim to make the subject of science exciting and relevant to everyday life through the delivery of topical science issues by passionate, enthusiastic, inspired scientific minds that are at the fore front of Science and Research in the country.  The focus will be primarily on natural sciences but will also include topics that are in the humanities.  The dialogues will be regional and will focus and highlight dominant issues around that particular region and which are in the media whilst showcasing the solutions that science offers to societal challenges.

For more info go to: www.nrf.ac.za