About this Collection

In order for ASSAf to fulfil its science advisory role regarding key challenges facing the nation, a variety of consensus and assessment studies are undertaken. Activities are aligned closely with government’s strategic goals. The in-depth Consensus Study Reports are either commissioned by an external funder or generated by a Standing Committee on a specific topic. ASSAf has Standing Committees on Health; Scholarly Publishing in South Africa; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education; Biosafety and Biosecurity; Humanities; and Science for the Reduction of Poverty and Inequality.

Peer-Review Status: Peer-Reviewed

Enquiries: Susan Veldsman

Recent Submissions

  • Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Other Disciplines 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2023-06)
    The peer review report entitled Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Other Disciplines is the 14th in a series of discipline-grouped evaluations of South African scholarly journals. This is part of a ...

  • Science action plan for shale gas exploration in the Karoo Basin 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); South African Academy of Engineering (SAAE) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2022)
    This document presents the response of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and the South African Academy of Engineering (SAAE) to a request submitted by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) for a Science ...

  • Mental health and the role of traditional healers 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2022)
    The provision of treatment, care and rehabilitation services for people with Mental, Neurological and Substance use (MNS) disorders is a multisectoral responsibility and affects various communities in South Africa and other ...

  • Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Economics and Business Management 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2022)
    The peer review report titled 'Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Economics and Business Management' is the 13th in a series of discipline-grouped evaluations of South African scholarly journals. This ...

  • Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Mathematics and Science 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2021)
    The peer review report entitled Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Mathematics and Science is the 12th in a series of discipline-grouped evaluations of South African scholarly journals. This is part of ...

  • Evaluation of Alternative Telecommunication Technologies for the Karoo Central Astronomy Advantage Area 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); South African Academy of Engineering (SAAE) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2021)
    The National Research Foundation (NRF) requested the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), on behalf of South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), to undertake an independent ...

  • Second Biennial Report on the State of Climate Science and Technology in South Africa 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2019)
    This is the second biennial report on the State of Climate Science and Technology in South Africa, commissioned by the Departments of Science and Innovation (DSI) and Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, and compiled by ...

  • Root Causes of Low Vaccination Coverage and Under-Immunisation in Sub-Saharan Africa 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2021)
    Sub–Saharan Africa (SSA) alone accounts for 40% of all global deaths, a phenomenon attributed to lack of access to available lifesaving vaccines (Wiysonge, Uthman, Ndumbe, & Hussey, 2012). WHO estimates that in 2019 the ...

  • Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in History, Philosophy and Politics 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2021)
    The peer review report entitled Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in History, Philosophy and Politics is the eleventh in a series of discipline-grouped evaluations of South African scholarly journals. ...

  • Provider core competencies for improved Mental health care of the nation 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2021)
    This report is a comprehensive document reviewing current training programmes for various cadres of service providers who provide (or could provide) care for people with mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders ...

  • Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Communication and Information Sciences 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2019)
    The peer review report entitled Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Communication and Information Sciences is the ninth in a series of discipline-grouped evaluations of South African scholarly journals. ...

  • Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Education 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2020)
    The peer review report entitled Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Education is the tenth in a series of discipline-grouped evaluations of South African scholarly journals. This is part of a scholarly ...

  • Recognising individual contributions to collaborative research: limitations of proportional publication counts and proposals for alternatives 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2019)
    This report was undertaken to determine whether researchers in South Africa who publish within large consortia are appropriately recognised in the South African context, including the systems by which authors are evaluated ...

  • Twelve Years Later: Second ASSAf Report on Research Publishing In and From South Africa 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2019)
    The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) released its second major Consensus Report on a commissioned study of Research Publishing in South Africa in 2006, with detailed data analysis and a 360-degree view of the ...

  • Status of Postgraduate Research Training in Engineering in South Africa 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2018)
    The aim of this study is to document and assess the status of postgraduate research training in engineering in South Africa with respect to possible systemic challenges or shortcomings. The study was undertaken for the ...

  • Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Communication and Information Sciences 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2019)
    The peer review report entitled Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Communication and Information Sciences is the ninth in a series of discipline-grouped evaluations of South African scholarly journals. ...

  • Human Genetics and Genomics in South Africa: Ethical, Legal and Social Implications 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf); Department of Science and Technology (DST) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) & Department of Science and Technology (DST), 2018)
    This study aims to address the ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) of genetics and genomics work, as it relates to research, health service provision and forensic applications (medical and legal) in South Africa. ...

  • Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Humanities II: Visual and Performing Arts 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2018)
    The peer review report entitled Report on Grouped Peer Review of Scholarly Journals in Humanities II: Visual and Performing Arts is the eighth in a series of discipline-grouped evaluations of South African scholarly journals. ...

  • Revitalising Agricultural Education and Training in South Africa (Concise) 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2017)
    The consensus study was initiated by the ASSAf Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Standing Committee, deriving from a deep concern about the status of Agricultural Education and Training (AET) ...

  • Reconceptualising Health Professions Education in South Africa 

    Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2018)
    This consensus study was initiated by ASSAf as a response to the ongoing challenge of shortages of healthcare professionals. The study was conceptualised following an ASSAf workshop on the Lancet report titled Health ...

View more