A lot of firsts for the World Science Forum (WSF)– the first time it’s been back since the pandemic, and the first time that it’s taking place on African soil.
A lot of firsts for the World Science Forum (WSF)– the first time it’s been back since the pandemic, and the first time that it’s taking place on African soil. By hosting this forum in South Africa, it promotes global debate that’s needed to create positive change, provide support for African leadership within global science discussions and to promote South Africa as a partner for global science collaborations with other countries and world leaders to work towards a greater future.
According to their website, “The WSF is a platform for the scientific community, public policy makers and communities to exchange ideas on the growing interdependence of science and society, and how science can help to address global challenges facing humanity.”
On Tuesday 6 December 2022, 118 scientists and science policy makers joined President as he opened up the forum at The Cape Town International Convention Centre, ironically, at the heart of the load shedding pandemic that the country is currently facing.
President arrived at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 6 December 2022 to attend the opening ceremony of the World Science Forum(WSF) aimed at tackling social justice.
South Africa is a host, which also is a huge vote of confidence in our scientific abilities.Despite the fact that compared to developed countries, our science system is smaller, but it’s got real pockets of excellence, for instance we were the first to identify the variants of Covid-19. said Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.
The theme of ‘Social Justice‘ was proposed by the South African team in this first African World science forum , to make use of science to advance social justice on the issues that the world is facing, such as climate change, poverty, war and inequality.
This year’s sub-categories are: Science for human dignity, Science for climate justice, Science for Africa and the world, Science for diplomacy and Justice in science.
Minister states that his hope is for a younger audience to gain an interest in science and use science as a way to make the much-needed change that the country needs.
With partnerships through media, this also helps us to get our young people to actually develop an interest in science, the world at their feet, said Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.
Originally published at CapeTalk