Early-career scientists' academy launched
An early-career scientists' academy, the latest offshoot of the rapidly growing Global Young Academy, has been launched in South Africa. The South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS), with 20 founding members, was inaugurated recently by the Department of Science and Technology and the Academy of Science of South Africa. SAYAS strives to nurture the development of top young academics and to unlock their collective potential, in order to tackle national and global issues.
Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor said there was worldwide recognition of the importance of engaging young scientists on issues of science development and the impact of science in society. Unfortunately, she said, there had been few mechanisms in place to engage young scientists in a focused manner and, as a result, their voices were often absent from policy discussions.
The Global Young Academy ('young' refers to people who are 35 years old, in average,) was established in Germany in February 2010 as an initiative aimed at bringing together young scientists in order to solve global problems requiring interdisciplinary expertise. It also aims to encourage young people to follow scientific careers, promote a culture in which research excellence is highly valued, and support researchers, especially in developing countries.
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