Abstract:
The National Research Foundation (NRF) acknowledges
the role of science engagement in the achievement of
its strategic goals.
To fully realise the social, economic and environmental
benefits of the significant investment in science,
research and innovation, the NRF endeavours to
engage the wider community more fully in science and
in an understanding of the knowledge economy.
One of its business units, the South African Agency
for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA)
is tasked with facilitating the communication and
advancement of science. SAASTA and the NRF’s
national research facilities interact closely with a network
of science centres, higher education institutions,
science councils, professional science associations
and a host of other science-based entities at national
and international levels to engage the public in science,
engineering and technology.
All science promotion or awareness programmes within
the NRF reside under three key strategic areas that
combine to form an integrated and seamless approach.
The three areas are interdependent, each enhancing
the effectiveness of the other – often an educational
event will also enhance science awareness or a science
communication intervention in the media will add to
readers’ education.
