Skip to main content
Log in

Scientific publications of engineers in South Africa, 1975–2005

  • Published:
Scientometrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the production of scientific knowledge, as revealed by publication output, South Africa is at the forefront of many other countries in the developing world and in the African continent. This study examines for the first time the publication trends of South African engineering researchers for a period of 30 years since 1975. Drawing data from the ISI Web of Knowledge, this paper specifically looks at the publication patterns of engineering researchers in South Africa.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abramo, G., D’Angelo, C. A., & Costa, F. D. (2009). Research collaboration and productivity: Is there correlation? Higher Education, 57, 155–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arvanitis, R., Waast, R., & Gaillard, J. (2000). Science in Africa: A bibliometric panorama using PASCAL database. Scientometrics, 47, 457–473.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bengisu, M. (2003). Critical and emerging technologies in materials, manufacturing, and industrial engineering: A study of priority setting. Scientometrics, 58, 473–487.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blankley, W., & Moses, C. (2009). How innovative is South Africa? South African Journal of Science, 105, 15–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boshoff, N. (2009a). South–South research collaboration of countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Scientometrics. doi:10.1007/s11192-009-0120-0.

  • Boshoff, N. (2009b). Neo-colonialism and research collaboration in Central Africa. Scientometrics, 81, 413–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bunt, E. A. (1977). Some highlights of engineering research in South Africa. In A. C. Brown (Ed.), A history of scientific endeavour in South Africa (pp. 427–453). Cape: Royal Society of South Africa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dastidar, P. G., & Ramachandran, S. (2005). Engineering research in ocean sector: An international profile. Scientometrics, 65, 199–213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta, B. M., & Dhawan, S. M. (2003). India’s collaboration with People’s Republic of China and science and technology: A scientometric analysis of coauthored papers during 1994–1999. Scientometrics, 57, 59–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inglesi, R., & Pouris, A. (2008). Where are our universities going? A review, twenty years later. South African Journal of Science, 104, 345–348.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahn, M. (2007). Internationalization of R&D: Where does South Africa stand? South African Journal of Science, 103, 7–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lister, G., & Donaldson, K. (2003). New roles for industrial engineers in developing countries. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 15, 43–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mouton, J. (2000). Patterns of research collaboration in South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 96, 458–462.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okubo, Y., & Sjoberg, C. (2000). The changing pattern of industrial scientific research collaboration in Sweden. Research Policy, 29, 81–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Philander, S. G. (2009). How many scientists does South Africa need? South African Journal of Science, 105, 172–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pouris, A. (2003). South Africa’s research publication record: The last ten years. South African Journal of Science, 99, 425–428.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pouris, A. (2009). Quantitative assessment of South Africa’s inventive outputs: International patent analysis. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 20, 13–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao, I. K. R., & Suma, P. (1999). A quantitative study of Indian engineering literature. Scientometrics, 46, 605–619.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rooks, G., Oerlemans, L., Buys, A., & Pretorius, T. (2005). Industrial innovation in South Africa: A comparative study. South African Journal of Science, 101, 149–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • SAJS. (2006). Engineering the future. South African Journal of Science, 102, 506.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmoch, U., & Schubert, T. (2008). Are international co-publications an indicator for quality of scientific research? Scientometrics, 74, 361–377.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sooryamoorthy, R. (2009a). Collaboration and publication: How collaborative are scientists in South Africa? Scientometrics, 80, 419–439.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sooryamoorthy, R. (2009b). Do types of collaboration change citation? Collaboration and citation patterns of South African science publications. Scientometrics, 81, 171–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sooryamoorthy, R. (2010). Medical research in South Africa: A scientometric analysis of trends, patterns, productivity and partnership. Scientometrics, 84, 863–885.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tijssen, R. J. W. (2007). Africa’s contribution to the worldwide research literature: New analytical perspectives, trends, and performance indicators. Scientometrics, 71, 303–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsay, M.-Y. (2009). An analysis and comparison of scientometric data between journals of physics, chemistry and engineering. Scientometrics, 78, 279–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Radhamany Sooryamoorthy.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOC 565 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sooryamoorthy, R. Scientific publications of engineers in South Africa, 1975–2005. Scientometrics 86, 211–226 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-010-0288-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-010-0288-3

Keywords

Navigation