The combined effort of both public and private endorsement of scientific study has served to spur many new technological advances from South Africa of world significance in a variety of scientific sectors. Significant achievements have been made in the areas of mining, combating AIDS, the empowerment of women in science, engineering and astronomy. Continued efforts to support education in order to promote scientific advancement are imperative. Scholarships are vital to continued success.

Perhaps one of the most well known innovations is the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT). Due to be completed in 2005 after 5 years of construction, it will be the single largest telescope in the southern hemisphere with a hexagonal mirror array of 11 meters across. SALT is an example of the worldwide collaboration that South Africa is vigorously pursuing. Germany, Poland, The United States of America, New Zealand and the United Kingdom are all partners in this endeavor. It will provide opportunities for emerging scientists and engineers in a stimulating high technology and will serve to strengthen ties with researchers around the world. SALT will be used to answer many questions such as what the Universe was like when first stars were forming and how our galaxy compares to others, and what kinds of worlds circle other suns.

The South African region has become a focal point for globally significant, cutting-edge astronomy projects. In neighboring Namibia there is the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) gamma ray observatory which, when completed, will be the largest of its kind in the world. Southern African governments are promoting high technology investments in order to ensure that local scientists are able to participate in world-class science.

Most recently, South Africa presented a proposal to provide an excellent site for the revolutionary Square Kilometer Array (SKA) radio telescope. The SKA is the most important and most exciting project proposed for radio astronomy in the past 50 years. Projects such as SALT, HESS and SKA stimulate the interest of the public, especially South Africa's youth, in science.

South African youth in particular must have access to imaginative and enjoyable hands-on exhibits, displays and science programs so that they can appreciate the relevance of science and technology in their daily lives.

Amazing breakthroughs have also been advancing in the world of medicine. South Africa’s specialists are working on AIDS vaccine trials and because of this have become the AIDS vaccine center of the world. South Africa has also begun to manufacture drugs to combat Tuberculosis. On the African continent, the AIDS epidemic has hit the hardest in southern Africa. UNAIDS reports that 4.2 million people are infected in South Africa alone. Life expectancy is expected to drop from 70 to 30 years old.

Children are forced to become heads of households at an early age, and relatives and others discriminate against them.
Many analysts believe that the rampant spread of AIDS on the African continent is due to poverty and lack of education.

The 13th International AIDS Conference held in Durban from 9 – 14 July 2000 set a precedent, as South Africa was the first developing country to host the Conference. This was the first opportunity to focus on HIV/AIDS in the developing world. It also clearly spoke to South Africa’s capability for hosting major international events.

In 2002, seventy percent of people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide resided in Africa, home to only ten percent of the world’s population. African countries are experiencing negative population growth directly attributable to HIV/AIDS.

The Durban conference was the first to focus on the needs of the undeveloped countries of the world and was considered an unqualified success. There were more than 4000 African delegates out of 12,300.

Promoting agriculture and related sectors through research, technology development and technology transfer.

Geological, geophysical and palaeontological research supplying geological information to the Government and the public.

Enabling the minerals industry to operate more effectively, by developing and making available the most appropriate and cost-effective technology.

Africa's largest scientific and technological research organization - delivering creative solutions and information to support sustainable development and economic growth.

Facilitating problem solving and enhancing decision making through research excellence in the human sciences.

Improves the nation's health status and quality of life through relevant and excellent health research aimed at promoting equity and development.

South Africa's premier agent for investing in knowledge and innovation across all disciplines of the natural sciences and engineering, as well as social sciences and humanities.

Responsible for the development and publication of standards for products and services.

For more information about South African science and technology research, visit the following links:

SAWISE The Association of South African Women in Science and Engineering. The Association of South African Women in Science and Engineering (SA WISE) is a dynamic association for all those who support the idea of strengthening

The HSRC is the largest social science research organization in Africa and plays a leading role in the fourteen South African Development Community countries. The HSRC supports development in South Africa, and in Africa, by conducting applied social-scientific research projects and co-coordinating research programs

Advancement (SAASTA) actively promotes the public understanding of science and technology in South Africa.

To contribute to the improvement of life of Southern African nations by improving scientific knowledge and skills through the utilization of interactive living science and technology discovery centers (S&T centers)

The Journal was established in 1903 as the proceedings of the annual meetings of the SA Association for the Advancement of Science. The annual volume became a monthly publication in August 1947.

One of the groups involved in South Africa’s landmark CODESA Convention, was the Science and Technology Working Group. As a result of the findings and recommendations of this group, Government founded the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) in 1995 to oversee implementation.

Sasol SciFest, or the National Festival of Science, Engineering and Technology, was launched in 1997 as a high-profile, national event. The first of its kind in Southern Africa, Sasol SciFest is held annually in late March in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape,South Africa. The Festival offers a spectrum of no less than 645 events in just seven days with attendance now exceeding 35 000 visitors annually.

New developments in all fields of astronomy have brought the current generation of astronomers to the brink of probing the origin and evolution of the Universe as a whole.

Necsa was established as a public company in terms of the Nuclear Energy Act, 1999 and is wholly-owned by the State. Apart from several ancillary functions, the main functions of Necsa are to undertake and promote research and development in the field of nuclear energy and radiation sciences and technology

Improved education for all the country’s people is undoubtedly one of the most crucial challenges facing South African society. This is underscored by the fact that education currently constitutes the largest allocation of the South African government’s annual national budget and is also the sector in which businesses make their largest contributions in terms of corporate social investment