Science Journalist, Scribbler, Question-asker, Audio-wrangler, Note-taker, Tea-drinker, and (Occasional) Author
One man made thousands — possibly hundreds of thousands — of children sick. Many of them died and many will continue to die, because one man passed bad science off as legitimate. In 1998 Andrew Wakefield published an article in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet, which found a link between the combined mumps, measles and rubella…
Sarah Wild South Africa would dedicate R128,7-million to international co-operation and relations to secure partnerships in the international domain and create research opportunities for its researchers, Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor told a media briefing in Cape Town on 16 May 2017. A major reason for this was to make up for government funding…
By Sarah Wild, first published by GroundUp.org.za South Africa’s National Biodiversity Institute is calling on nature lovers to help it save the Karoo — with science “Scientists know very little about the plants and animals in the Karoo, and there is an urgent need to document the indigenous species found in this important part of…
The National Survey of Research and Experimental Development is a delicious smorgasbord of numbers, a snapshot of South Africa’s National System of Innovation. For those who don’t have the time to read the report (or have an aversion to deciphering the numbers), here are the highlights: 1. In 2014-15, South Africa spent R29.345-billion on research…
Analysis On paper, South Africa’s science and technology budget continues to edge up. On Wednesday, finance minister Pravin Gordhan delivered his national budget to Parliament, sharing out the country’s R1.56-trillion. The department of science and technology’s budget’s looks set to continue to increase: From R7,44-billion in 2015-16, and R7,43-billion in 2016-17, it will be hitting…
Science and technology minister Naledi Pandor was this weekend awarded one of science’s most prestigious global diplomacy prizes. The award, presented by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to furthering science diplomacy. Pandor, speaking after the awards ceremony in Boston in the United…
.@dstgovza unveils SA research infrastructure roadmap, first of its kind on the continent 1/20 — Sarah Wild (@sarahemilywild) October 4, 2016 “World-class research infrastructure is the basis for building competitive knowledge-based activities,” @dstgovza minister Pandor said 2/20 — Sarah Wild (@sarahemilywild) October 4, 2016 Total budget for 1st five years = R1.97bn, but only years…
The first image from South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope shows that the telescope “will be a remarkable discovery machine”, MeerKAT chief scientist Dr Fernando Camilo said on Saturday. “The images tell us all that MeerKAT is the best telescope of its kind in the southern hemisphere, with only 16 dishes,” he told an assembled audience of…
It could have been a conflict that killed an entire village; a building collapse that suffocated hundreds of lives in falling concrete; or a multi-car pile up. Authorities rush to help the living and save those who can be saved, but the dead are often forgotten. Each of these events requires a standard procedure or…