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18/04/2013
Germany and South Africa look to more advanced partnerships in science and technology
South Africa and Germany have further intensified their cooperation in science and technology, providing opportunities for more sustainable and strengthened relations. This comes as the two countries culminate the celebration of the year-long German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013 themed “Enhancing Science Partnerships for Innovation and Sustainable Development” on 16 April 2013 in Berlin. A joint initiative between the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and South Africa’s Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Year of Science celebrated the two countries’ intense relations in science and research, and sought more innovative ways to strengthen the relations further.
17/04/2013
Interview with the special ambassador of the Year of Science, Motsi Mabuse
Motshegetsi "Motsi" Mabuse was born in 1981 in Mankwe, which is today part of South Africa. At the early age of 17, she was the runner-up in the South African championship for Latin American dance and gave up her law studies to pursue an international career in dance. One year later, the successful dancer moved with her dance partner and husband-to-be to Germany. Together, they won the German championship in 2009 and 2010. A few days ago she won the German championship 2013 with her current dance partner Evgenij Voznyuk in the category Latin American dance. In Germany, Motsi Mabuse is mainly known for her appearances on TV shows such as "Let’s Dance" and "Das Supertalent" and as an expert on South Africa for the ARD television channel during the 2010 football world cup.
As a special ambassador for the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013, Motsi Mabuse also supports the scientific cooperation of the two countries. You can read about where she thinks the partner countries can learn from one another and which challenges the two countries will have to overcome in the future in our interview here.
17/04/2013
Brochure for the conclusion of the Year of Science
Institutions from both countries have now been working together in a variety of scientific fields for more than 17 years. A brochure produced for the conclusion of the Year of Science documents this successful collaboration between universities, science and intermediary organisations, companies and participating scientists, whose dedication and knowledge have contributed to German-South African cooperation and a successful “German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013”. Based around the seven thematic topics of the Year of Science, the brochure illustrates selected examples of the successful, long-standing joint research as well as activities within the context of the Year of Science. Interviews and profiles complete the picture. The brochure provides a summary of the diverse links between the two countries and impressively demonstrates this diversity.
17/04/2013
“Women in Science” conference to promote equal opportunities
The percentage of women who hold top positions in science is relatively low in Germany and South Africa, particularly in the so-called MINT specialist areas (mathematics, information technology, natural sciences and technology). In order to identify the reasons for this and to work out how the situation could be improved, scientists from both countries exchanged ideas at the conference “Women in Science – Promoting Excellence and Innovation for Future Development”, held at Kiel University of Applied Sciences from 21 to 23 March.
17/04/2013
SANO: Workshop on the disposal of waste and wastewater
In order to meet the challenges faced, particularly by South Africa in relation to the handling of waste and wastewater, a Young Scientist Workshop for the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and the North-West University took place in South Africa at the beginning of March. In the context of the SANO project, “Sustainable Resource Based Sanitation and Organic Waste Utilisation”, the young scientists held their discussions in Potchefstroom in South Africa. The objectives of the bilateral cooperation are to exchange knowledge and experiences on the subject, to strengthen networking between the participating universities and to promote international mobility among young scientists.
16/04/2013
Series of reports about the German-South African Year of Science started
Health, human rights and the advancement of children - these and other topics are reflected in the different events and projects of the German-South African Science Year. The website of the German newspaper "Süddeutsche Zeitung" highlights the cooperation in detail in a separate series of articles.
16/04/2013
Concluding film on the Year of Science
To conclude the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013, a documentary film has been produced. Camera crews in Germany and South Africa were present at numerous activities to record the highlights. The campaign film features various different voices from the worlds of science, research and politics offering insights into the wide variety of projects from the joint year. The six-minute film was first shown to guests of the closing event for the Year of Science on 16 April 2013 at the Museum of Technology in Berlin. It is now available for download from the website.
12/04/2013
Interview with the winners of the ACCTA "Year of Science Awards"
As part of a special session at the ACCTA 2013 conference "Advances in Cement and Concrete Technologies in Africa", the "Year of Science Award" was awarded for outstanding achievements by young scientists in the field of cement and concrete technology. The winners were Yared Assefa Abebe of the Leibniz Universität Hannover and Suvash Chandra Paul of Stellenbosch University, both of whom can now look forward to a scholarship for a research placement in their respective partner country.
10/04/2013
Celebratory closing event for the Year of Science on 16 April 2013
After twelve months of productive collaboration during the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013, the key players from both countries have a lot to celebrate. The official closing event of the Year, taking place on 16 April 2013 at the Museum of Technology in Berlin, provides a great opportunity for this. Guests will be welcomed by Johanna Wanka, German Federal Minister for Education and Research, and her colleague Derek Hanekom, South African Minister of Science and Technology.
09/04/2013
EnerKey – Innovative solutions for urban energy supply
More than 11 million people currently live in the urban region of Gauteng which is mainly comprised of the three large cities of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane (formally Pretoria). Its high rate of population growth will make it one of the 30 largest regions in the world within several years.
02/04/2013
Year of Science dedicates itself to the cities of the future
The trend towards urbanisation is increasing around the world. Small cities are turning into large cities and large cities are becoming megacities due to an influx of millions of people. By 2030, two out of every three people will live in a city. But where do the challenges lie for a functioning city? How can effective infrastructures, energy and water supplies and a good quality of life be ensured and maintained?
20/03/2013
Joint German-South African inspection in Antarctica
Germany and South Africa conducted inspections of four stations in Dronning Maud Land from January 09 - 29th 2013, under the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty and Madrid Protocol. This was the first inspection by South Africa, while Germany designated observers to joint inspections with France in 1989 and the United Kingdom in 1999.
20/03/2013
Human Rights Day – Remembering the victims of apartheid
March 21 is Human Rights Day in South Africa. It commemorates the victims of the Sharpeville massacre in 1960 during which the police of the apartheid regime shot 69 protestors.
18/03/2013
Essay competition: The winners have been chosen!
The winners of the HISTORY. WRITE. FUTURE. essay competition have now been decided. The competition, which was held by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and UNICUM as part of the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013, was a complete success. A jury made up of representatives from research and education as well as the BMBF and the UNICUM editorial staff chose three winning essays.
12/03/2013
First South-Africa-German Summer School on comparative psychology
From the 18th to 22nd of February, the "First South-Africa-German Summer School on comparative psychology" took place in Johannesburg, South Africa. During this week students, young academics and senior scientist from the biopsychology lab of the Ruhr-University Bochum and the department of anatomical science of the University of Witwatersrand had the opportunity to discuss one of major constraints of modern comparative psychology.
27/02/2013
Interview: Minister Derek Hanekom
Since October 2012, Derek Hanekom has been the South African Minister of Science and Technology. Before then, he held the position of Deputy Minister of Science and Technology. The funding of the partnership in the fields of science, technology and innovation between South Africa and the European Union has long been one of Minister Hanekom’s projects. The German-South Africa Year of Science 2012/2013 is particularly important to him. Read in our interview what Minister Hanekom thinks of the co-operation between the partner countries and what he thinks the future challenges will be.
26/02/2013
Common approach to important issues: Lecture series comes to an end
The question of the importance of religion and religions in various socio-cultural contexts is one of the themes addressed by the scientific network made up of the South African Universities of KwaZulu-Natal and Stellenbosch with the Humboldt University in Berlin. The public lecture series "Religion and Human Rights" at the Humboldt University in Berlin that ended 11 February 2013 with a talk by Dr Hans Joas from the Albrecht Ludwigs University Freiburg.
26/02/2013
Between the past and the future – humanities and social sciences as current key subject for the Year of Science
Where did we come from and where are we now? It is rare for humanities and social sciences to offer just one correct answer. Rather, this field of research helps us to understand the past, to orientate ourselves in the present and to ask the right questions for the future. From January, the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013 will be dedicated to humanities and social sciences research as a key subject.
26/02/2013
2012 SBBE symposium: Structural Biology in the BioEconomy
At the conference held in Cape Town at the start of December, biologists from Germany and South Africa presented current research findings from the field of structural determination of proteins and macromolecular compositions. Effects on the mechanism of infection by pathogens and the structure-guided design of medical intervention options in the form of drugs and preventative measures were explained.
25/02/2013
Bilateral and multilateral co-operation in marine research
The primary aims of the four-day workshop on the topic of marine research were to present previous areas of research and foster co-operation projects with the partner country. South African marine researchers firstly presented their key research focuses, and the specifications for new joint research with German colleagues were defined in the subsequent discussions.
25/02/2013
SPACES scientific collaboration
German and South African scientists are also working closely together in the field of geoscience and climate research. The inaugural event of the "Science Partnerships for the Assessment of Complex Earth System Processes in Southern Africa – SPACES" programme was a further highlight of the key subject, climate change. The programme aims to develop recommendations to politicians through cooperative projects in the region of southern Africa, in order to safeguard the sustainable use and preservation of the various ecosystem services in the region.
22/02/2013
2013 ACCTA conference
As part of the international conference on advances in the field of cement and concrete technology in Africa, a special session was held for the Year of Science. This gave young scientists from Germany and South Africa the opportunity to present papers on current research topics and to interact with their colleagues.
22/02/2013
MOBIMED – IT-based technologies for healthcare
The key objectives of the MOBIMED research project are scientific exchange and bilateral collaboration in the field of IT-based health research. The innovation workshop is building on an event that was held last year, where a truck developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering (IBMT) generated quite some interest.
19/02/2013
Johanna Wanka new German Federal Minister of Education and Research
The German Federal President Joachim Gauck has appointed Johanna Wanka to Federal Minister of Education and Research.
12/02/2013
Slipping into the role of diplomats
Eight researchers and students from Stellenbosch University visited Chemnitz from 16-23 January 2013. Together with students from Chemnitz University of Technology, they successfully participated in the UN simulation "Chemnitz Model United Nations" – ChemMUN 2013.
04/02/2013
Enhancing cooperation with South Africa
German-South African Year of Science: Schavan meets partners from research, politics and business in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town.
01/02/2013
New international Master's programme for students from Germany, Kenya and South Africa
In cooperation with partner universities in Africa, the Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences (HNU) is introducing the Master of Health Information Management degree course within the framework of a programme run by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). For this purpose, the DAAD is placing over €280,000 at HNU's disposal – financed by funds from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
21/01/2013
Trailer for the Year of Science is online
The animated trailer for the German-South African Year of Science 2012/13 is available online for you to download.
18/01/2013
Germany’s Leuphana launches Online-University in 91 countrys
Students from all over the world design models for life in the city. Not only South African and German students can participate in this course.
11/01/2013
Participate in the essay competition!
Does the universe contain answers to important questions for the world in front of our doorstep? What will the town or city of the future look like? How can modern agriculture be used to feed more people? These and other complex questions are keeping researchers and scientists busy all over the world.
07/01/2013
Improving water systems in South Africa
The IWRM (Integrated Water Resources Management) South Africa project was now also entering its second phase on site: the German partners travelled to the project re-gion from 12 to 16 November for the joint kick-off workshop with South African part-ners and stakeholders in Pretoria.
18/12/2012
Researching the ocean and the polar regions brings scientists closer together
The Year of Science’s key subject "climate change" was the focus of several events held at the end of November and start of December in South Africa: Representatives from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) had the opportunity to visit two research vessels during their trip to South Africa.
18/12/2012
Programme Inkaba yeAfrica faces climate change
Meeting global challenges of climate change, ecosystem diversity and sustainable natural resources depends on understanding the Earth System. This has been the central goal of the Inkaba yeAfrica programme. Since 2003, about 200 postgraduate students and young scientists in the two countries have engaged in collaborative, cutting-edge research and training.
11/12/2012
International study – UNESCO indicates a growing number of students abroad
According to the latest data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the number of higher-education students spending part of their studies abroad has increased by more than two thirds in the last ten years and has now reached 3.6 million. An interactive map of the world illustrates where students – including those from Germany and South Africa – are being drawn to.
07/12/2012
Neville Alexander memorial initiative
On the occasion of the German-SouthAfrican Year of Science, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation has launched the‘Neville Alexander memorial initiative’ with support from the German FederalMinistry of Education and Research (BMBF). Theselection of winnerswas recently completed: Three of the sixprizesgotoSouth Africans.
05/12/2012
Celebrity ambassador for the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013
The professional dancer, judge and television presenter Motshegetsi "Motsi" Mabuse is the ambassador for the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013. The South African grew up in Pretoria and has lived in Germany for more than twelve years. She is now supporting the bilateral activities of the Year of Science.
03/12/2012
SA and German physicists host a workshop on nuclear spectroscopy
South African and German physicists hosted a workshop from 19 to 22 November as part of the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013.
23/11/2012
Interview with Cay Etzold from the German Academic Exchange Service
Cay Etzold is the Head of Department for Eastern and Southern Africa at the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst – DAAD). Previously, he worked there as the Head of the Alumni and Partnership programmes.
22/11/2012
Max Planck Society strengthens research in infectious diseases
The German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013 focuses on the theme of innovation in the healthcare sector. One of the goals is to drive the development and evaluation of new vaccinations and drugs to prevent and treat AIDS and tuberculosis.The Max Planck Society, which is setting up two new research groups in South Africa, will play a key role in this effort.
22/11/2012
Conference on Photodynamic Therapy presents opportunities for South Africa
German and South African researchers identify mutually beneficial opportunities in Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) for South Africa. This innovative technology offers great potential particularly in the early detection and treatment of cancer.
20/11/2012
Storms, flooding, desertification: climate change in focus during the Year of Science
In November and December 2012, climate change is the key subject of the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013. What are the causes of climate change? How can people deal with the negative effects of climate change, such as increasingly extreme weather conditions, flooding and progressive desertification? In the following weeks these and other pressing questions relating to the key subjects will be discussed as part of the Year of Science.
15/11/2012
Embassy reception on 3 October under the banner of the German-South African Year of Science
At the German Embassy in Pretoria, the Day of German Unity was celebrated in the spirit of the German-South African Year of Science. In front of an invited gathering of 650 people, Ambassador Horst Freitag welcomed his guests, who included many representatives of the South African government. He extended particular thanks to Naledi Pandor , Minister of Science and Technology, for attending the event and for her tireless support for the scientific collaboration and reiterated his wish that this outstanding and fruitful cooperation would continue in the future.
15/11/2012
South African and German students and professors jointly develop new e-learning concept
Infectious diseases in particular continue to pose a major challenge in South Africa. The key topic of innovation in the healthcare industry is tackling the question of which technical innovations can be used to help patients and medical staff. One example that can offer practical assistance is an e-learning concept developed by South African and German students together with their professors. The programme enables healthcare workers in the townships (who make a crucial contribution in the fight against HIV and tuberculosis) to keep themselves constantly abreast of the latest developments and methods.
13/11/2012
“Biowaste to Energy” – how waste can help improve the environmental balance
The South African province of Gauteng has set itself the goal of puttingthe region firmly on the sustainable energy map. A range of measures wereagreed to this end, including an overall energy strategy and a strategy torespond to climate change. Against this backdrop, a workshop on the topic of“Biowaste to Energy” was held at the University of Johannesburg on 11 October.The conference offered the specialist audience a platform for discussing thepotential ways of using landfill gases for the production of fuels forpassenger vehicles.
12/11/2012
School competition "The South African Sky over Germany" – the winners are announced
Around 100 German and South African guests took part in the closing event of the school competition “The South African Sky over Germany” funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) at the Center for Astronomy Education and Outreach on 19 October. After exploring the digital planetarium, the winners, Einstein Gymnasium Neuenhagen, CJD Christophorusschule Königswinter and Carl-Bosch Gymnasium Ludwigshafen, were ceremonially honoured. Representatives of the three German schools selected and delegations from their South African partner schools were invited to the event.
09/11/2012
2012 Winner: Distinguished Women in Science Award
The South African Women in Science Awards (WISA) was presented in Centurion on 24 August 2012. These awards reward special achievements by women in science and research. The former South African Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor acknowledged in her speech the achievements of selected researchers. In connection with the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013, there was a German participation in the award ceremony this year. Dr. Horst Freitag, the German Ambassador to South Africa, handed over some of the prices. The German researcher Dr. Britta Thege from Kiel University participated with a speech about the importance of the Women in Science Award.
31/10/2012
Further education and research network for VET professionals in South Africa to be further expanded
As part of theGerman-South African Year of Science 2012/2013, the working area of technicaltraining and education at the University of Rostock held a kick-off event toexpand a further training and research network for VET professionals (VET: Vocational Education andTraining) in South Africa, Western Cape region, from8 to 12 October 2012.
30/10/2012
African-European Tuberculosis Consortium: Interview with Prof. Dr. Gerhard Walzl
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Walzl of the Department for Biomedical Sciences at Stellenbosch University/South Africa is coordinator of the consortium AE-TBC (African-European Tuberculosis Consortium). As part of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) the consortium receives funding by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. There are seven African and five European institutions involved in the project entitled „The evaluation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis specific host cytokine signatures in whole blood culture supernatants as diagnostic biomarkers for active TB infection“, which runs since June 2010. The objective of the project is to develop innovative methods for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB).
30/10/2012
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation: Interview with Dr. Thomas Scheidtweiler
Dr. Thomas Scheidtweiler heads the Africa and Middle East department at the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH). Having previously headed an agricultural centre in East Africa for a number of years, he has devoted himself for almost two decades to international scientific cooperation with the main emphasis on Africa.
He also works as a lecturer for the international cooperation organisation "Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)" in programmes relating to regional studies, and as an international election observer.
29/10/2012
Recommendations for a greener future – the German-South African symposium “Technological Innovations for a Low Carbon Society”
To pool knowledge and expertise, discuss new technologies and work out recommendations for further steps: these were the objectives of the German-South African symposium “Technological Innovations for a Low Carbon Society” that was held in South Africa on 8 and 9 October.
25/10/2012
In the Name of Sustainability
On 23 October, as part of this year’s FONA-Forum for Sustainability in Berlin, the 25 winners of the 2012 Green Talents competition were given their awards. Hosted by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for the fourth time, the "Green Talents – International Forum for High Potentials in Sustainable Development" attracted over 400 applications from 69 countries this year. In the end, the distinguished jury of experts selected 25 winners from 20 different countries, from Brazil to Zimbabwe, for their outstanding achievements in the area of sustainability.
24/10/2012
“Green Talents Award 2012” – the winners have been announced: an interview with Raymond Siebrits
The winners of the 4th "Green Talents"-competition of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, held since 2009 under the auspices of Federal Minister Annette Schavan, have been announced. The annual competition is addressed to young scientists who work in the field of sustainability research. Raymond Siebrits is one of the awardees.
15/10/2012
"Joining forces for health" – exchange of experiences between German and South African food chemists
In September, a six-strong delegation from Stellenbosch University and other South African research institutes visited the Institute of Food Chemistry at the University of Münster (WWU) in Germany. This exchange of experiences focused primarily on strategies for containing the risks represented by mycotoxins. The bilateral project was selected for promotion and funding within the framework of the ideas competition held as part of the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013.
05/10/2012
Hanekom is new South African Minister of Science and Technology
This week President Jacob Zuma confirmed Minister Naledi Pandor's appointment as Minister of Home Affairs.
05/10/2012
The people's most precious commodity
In October, the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013 focuses on “Health Innovation”. This Year of Science is a collaboration between the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and South Africa's partner ministry, the Department for Science and Technology (DST).
11/09/2012
Seminar series "Research in Germany" launched with great success
Pretoria – On 28 August 2012, the information seminar "Research in Germany" was held for the first time in Pretoria, South Africa. The organisers, the DAAD information office in Johannesburg and the German Embassy in Pretoria, described the event as a resounding success.
04/09/2012
"Green Economy – a new economic miracle?"
Two members of the German Cabinet opened the Green Economy Conference on 4 September: Annette Schavan, the Federal Minister of Education and Research, and Peter Altmaier, head of the Environmental Ministry, welcomed around 400 attendees to the eWerk in Berlin.
29/08/2012
South African revolutionary and linguist Dr. Neville Edward Alexander has departed this world
Cape Town - Former South African revolutionary, Dr Neville Edward Alexander is died at the age of 75 years - according to reports from Monday. He worked as a teacher, lecturer and author. He was a strong supporter of socialist ideals, proponent of multilingualism in South Africa and opponent of the of the apartheid regime.
17/08/2012
Fostering interchange between school pupils through the heavens
How could a school partnership be structured between a German and a South African school? The possibilities are manifold, both in terms of astronomy and culture: Photographing the sky at night together? Making astronomical observations which supplement one another – coordinated via Skype for example? Or organise an exchange visit? A school competition organised by Haus der Astronomie raises precisely these questions.
17/08/2012
South African cities characterised by strong economic growth and a high degree of competitive ability
The research report by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) published in January 2012 evaluates the competitive ability of towns and cities worldwide on the basis of their attraction to investors, companies, employees and tourists. It was noted that the competitive ability of South African cities such as Cape Town and Johannesburg is constantly increasing. The German-South African Year of Science 2012/ 2013 is fostering this trend by endeavouring to ensure that innovations lead to the advancement of sustainable developments in particular.
17/08/2012
Schavan: "Well educated and trained citizens are the key to the future."
"Human capital development" is the topic of the month for August in the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013
06/08/2012
Solar order for Singulus in South Africa
The research institution in Stellenbosch of Photovolatic Technology Intellectual Property (Pty) Limited (PTIP) is planned to be expanded. Recent technological developments have been presented during the opening of the "German-South African Year of Science" presented in Cape Town.
03/08/2012
South Africa presents awards to women in science
The South African government's Women in Science Awards (WISA) are going to be presented in Pretoria on 24 August 2012. These awards have been presented in National Women’s Month each year since 2003. They reward special achievements by women in science and research.
01/08/2012
Seminar in Regensburg examines consequences of climate change in Germany and South Africa
As part of the ideas competition held within the framework of the joint Science Year 2012/2013, Germany and South Africa are sponsoring selected research projects in both countries. Among the projects being sponsored is a collaboration between Stellenbosch University in South Africa and Regensburg University of Applied Sciences. A joint seminar held by the two institutions in Regensburg on 19 June had around 50 participants and generated a positive response.
23/07/2012
University and college cooperation programme "Welcome to Africa"
What are the programme's objectives? With this programme, which was sponsored by the BMBF over a period of three years, the DAAD is making it possible for German universities and colleges to make new contacts at African higher education institutions and to strengthen existing contacts and academic/scientific exchange in both directions.
18/07/2012
New places for 2013: the DAAD scholarship programme "SPACES" is sponsoring Ph.D. students from South Africa and Namibia.
Thirteen young students from South Africa and Namibia, all of them scholarship students from the research programme SPACES (Sciences Partnership for the Assessment of Complex Earth System Processes), are currently studying in special Masters degree programmes in Bremen, Cottbus, Greifswald and Kiel. Now the DAAD has announced the closing date for applications to receive a Ph.D. student scholarship.
13/07/2012
Project Earth: Our Future. Climate change is the central topic in the national Science Year 2012 – Project Earth: Our future
The German-South African Science Year 2012/2013 is focusing on highly topical subjects – global challenges that affect and concern people all over the world. Climate change is the best example of this. Consequently, as Dr. Annette Schavan, Germany's Federal Minister of Education and Research, emphasises, "the investigation of climate change is one of the most important tasks of German-South African research collaboration."
26/06/2012
Members of Global Young Academy test science game "Expedition Moondus" at South African township school
With his strong call to scientists to get more actively involved in science education, Editor-in-Chief of Science magazine Prof. Bruce Alberts met open ears and minds at the International Conference of the Global Young Academy (GYA) in South Africa. Among many other activities, GYA members and their guests used their General Assembly to take global an inquiry-based science game developed by the Dutch Young Academy.
15/06/2012
German-South African exchange between young scientists
German-South African exchange between young scientists embedded in Global Young Academy’s International Conference and General Assembly Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa – With a program headlined by the South African Minister for Science and Technology, the Editor-in-Chief of Science magazine and other luminaries, the Global Young Academy (GYA) completed a very successful International Conference and General Assembly meeting.
06/06/2012
"Rally to read!" takes books to South Africa's schools
The aid initiative "Rally to read!" distributes books to schools in distant parts of South Africa which can no longer be reached by the state system. The initiative collaborates with non-governmental organisations and companies and, with its book deliveries, promotes reading competence among South Africa's schoolchildren – thereby also enhancing their self-confidence.
04/06/2012
June 4th is the German Day of Action for Sustainability!
The German Day of Action for Sustainability will take place on June 4th 2012. On this day, public and private organisations which are committed to the cause of sustainability will present their products all over Germany. Lots of interesting events – encompassing mobile phone collection drives, clothes swap fetes, coaching seminars and online debates, to name but a few – will entice and encourage you to take part in this campaigning day. The German Day of Action for Sustainability is being held for the first time this year. The organisers' intention is to hold the Day of Action regularly on June 4th in future years as well.
10/05/2012
DAAD project "SPACES" launches scholarship programme for education and training in Namibia and South Africa
Thirteen young students from South Africa and Namibia exchanged views on current climate and environmental themes with representatives of the political and scientific spheres at Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU) in Cottbus from 10 to 12 May.
09/05/2012
South African National Holiday: Freedom Day celebrated in Cape Town and Berlin
The South African National Holiday was celebrated on 27 April 2012 under the motto “Working Together to Build Unity and Prosperity for All”. This holiday commemorates the end of apartheid and the first free elections for all South Africans 18 years ago.
09/05/2012
Start of "Green Talents 2012"
With the "Green Talents 2012" competition, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is seeking 25 outstanding young scientists (up to 35 years old) from around the world from the fields of sustainable development and green growth. Applications can be submitted until 10 June 2012 on the website www.greentalents.de.
20/04/2012
Alumni conference held by DAAD and Humboldt-Stiftung in Cape Town was a success
Around 150 participants from Germany and South Africa gathered in Cape Town from 13 to 15 April on the occasion of an alumni conference held by the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung foundation and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). One of the conference's highlights was the visit by Prof. Dr. Annette Schavan, the German Federal Minister of Education and Research, and her South African counterpart Naledi Pandor.
19/04/2012
Astronomy symposium celebrates German-South African research cooperation
On 16 and 17 April, an astronomy symposium entitled "Innovating the future; reaching for the stars" was held in Cape Town. The symposium, which took place in the city's International Convention Centre as part of the German-South African Science Year 2012/2013, devoted itself to trend-setting research themes in eight conferences.
16/04/2012
Germany and South Africa strengthen cooperation in science and technology
South Africa and Germany have undertaken initiatives to strengthen their cooperation in science and technology, providing the momentum for trend-setting projects. The two countries opened the German-South African Year of Science 2012/2013 in Cape Town, South Africa.
13/04/2012
German-South African Science Year to be given a ceremonial launch
Prof. Dr. Annette Schavan, the German Federal Minister of Education and Research, and Naledi Pandor, South Africa's Minister of Science and Technology, are going to jointly open the German-South African Science Year 2012/2013 in Cape Town on monday, April 16th.