Abstract
Scientific collaboration is growing in its importance; more so in Asian and African countries. This paper examines the scenario of science and scientific collaboration in South Africa which had passed through the colonial and apartheid regimes before it became a democracy in 1994. South African science under distinct political periods moved through some difficult periods but it did not badly affect the progress and direction of South African science. Science and scientific collaboration continued to grow under its major political phases amidst serious challenges. Despite internal conflict and boycott by the international scientific community, South Africa could move onto a stable and steady path of growth in science and collaboration under apartheid which is being carried on in the new South Africa. Collaborative research is encouraged at various levels of knowledge production and in science. The importance science and scientific development is gaining in today’s South Africa is remarkable.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A first for tuberculosis research in South Africa (2005). South African Journal of Science, 101, 393–394.
Ben-David, J. (1960). Scientific productivity and academic organization in nineteenth-century medicine. American Sociological Review, 25, 828–843.
Blankley, W., & Kahn, M. (2004). South African research and development: Preliminary results and indicators from the latest survey. South African Journal of Science, 100, 9–11.
Brown, K. (2005). Tropical medicine and animal diseases: Onderstepoort and the development of veterinary science in South Africa 1908–1950. Journal of South African Studies, 31, 513–529.
Burns, M., Audouin, M., & Weaver, A. (2006). Advancing sustainability science in South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 102, 379–384.
Department of Science and Technology. (2002). South Africa’s national research and development strategy. Department of Science and Technology: Pretoria. Accessed August 31, 2007 from http://www.dst.gov.za/publications/reports.php.
Department of Science and Technology. (2006). National survey of research and experimental development (R&D), 2004–05. Pretoria: Department of Science and Technology & HSRC.
Ellis, G. F. R. (1994). Science research policy in South Africa. Pretoria: Royal Society, University of Cape Town.
Evans, D. S., van Zinderen Bakker, E. M., Sr., & Greenwald, L. (1972). The question of South Africa. Science (New Series), 175, 705.
Gevers, W. (2001). The academy of science of South Africa is now a statutory organization. South African Journal of Science, 97(11 & 12), 447–448.
Gillette, R. (1975). Uranium enrichment: With help, South Africa is progressing. Science (New Series), 188, 1090–1092.
Gould, C., & Folb, P. (2002). The role of professionals in the South African chemical and biological warfare programme. Minerva, 40, 77–91.
Government of South Africa. (2006). Science and Technology. Accessed April 30, 2007 from http://www.info.gov.za/aboutsa/science.htm#mine_saf_res.
Greenberg, D. S. (1970a). South Africa: (I): Booming nations research and industry benefit from close ties with the United States. Science (New Series), 169, 157–163.
Greenberg, D. S. (1970b). South Africa: (II): University system follows apartheid pattern; government enforces limits on academic dissenters. Science (New Series), 169, 260–264, 266–267.
Gultig, J. (2000). The university in post-apartheid South Africa: New ethos and new divisions. South African Journal of Higher Education, 14, 37–52.
Habib, A., & Morrow, S. (2006). Research, research productivity and the state in South Africa. Transformation, 62, 9–29.
Harris, V., Hatang, S., & Liberman, P. (2004). Unveiling South Africa’s nuclear past. Journal of Southern African Studies, 30, 457–475.
Hoffman, J., & Cox, T. (1971). Relations with South Africa. Science (New Series), 173(4000), 868.
IDRC. (1993). Towards a science and technology policy for a democratic South Africa: Mission report. Johannesburg: The International Development Research Centre.
Ingwersen, P., & Jacobs, D. (2004). South African research in selected scientific areas: Status 1981–2000. Scientometrics, 59, 405–423.
Jacobs, D., & Ingwersen, P. (2000). A bibliometric study of the publication patterns in the sciences of South African scholars 1981–96. Scientometrics, 47, 75–93.
Joubert, D. M. (1977). Agricultural research in South Africa: An historical overview. In A. C. Brown (Ed.). A history of scientific endeavour in South Africa (pp. 265–282). Cape: Royal Society of South Africa.
Kahn, M. (2007). Internationalization of R&D: Where does South Africa stand? South African Journal of Science, 103, 7–12.
Kaplan, D. (2004). South Africa’s national research and development strategy: A review. Science, Technology and Society, 9, 273–294.
Kaplan, D. E. (1999). On the literature of the economics of technological change: Science and technology policy in South Africa. The South African Journal of Economics, 67, 473–490.
Keay, R. (1976). Scientific cooperation in Africa. African Affairs, 75, 86–97.
Khumalo, G. (2001). An investigation and identification of indigenous science understandings among Zulu community elders and the impact of these understandings on the Zulu secondary school learners, Masters Dissertation. University of Durban-Westville, Durban.
King, D. A. (2004). The scientific impact of nations. Nature, 430, 311–316.
Langer, E. (1967). Science in South Africa: The effects of apartheid. Science (New Series), 155, 1387–1389.
Marais, H. C. (2000). Perspectives on science policy in South Africa. Pretoria: Network Publishers.
May, R. M. (1997). The scientific wealth of nations. Science, 275, 793–796.
Merton, R. K. (1938 [1970]). Science, technology and society in seventeenth century England. New York: Howard Fertig Press.
Naudé, S. M., & Brown, A. C. (1977). The growth of scientific institutions in South Africa. In A. C. Brown (Ed.). A history of scientific endeavour in South Africa (pp. 60–85). Cape: Royal Society of South Africa.
Nordkvelle, Y. (1990). The academic boycott of South Africa debate: Science and social practice. Studies in Higher Education, 15, 253–275.
Omond, R. (1985). The apartheid handbook. A guide to South Africa’s everyday racial policies. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Plug, C. (2003). Southern African science in the year 1903–100n. South African Journal of Science, 99, 59–60.
Pouris, A. (1992). Economic sanctions and R&D. Scientometrics, 25, 415–424.
Pouris, A. (2003). South Africa’s research publication record: The last ten years. South African Journal of Science, 99, 425–428.
Pouris, A. (2006). Assessing scientific strengths of academic institutions: The example of the University of Pretoria. South African Journal of Science, 102, 23–28.
Pouris, A., & Pouris, A. (2009). The state of science and technology in Africa (2000–2004): A scientometric assessment. Scientometrics, 79, 297–309.
Price, D. J. D. (1963). Little science, big science. Columbia University Press, New York.
Reed, S., & Aston, A. (2006). What the U.S. can learn from SASOL. BusinessWeek, 27 February, p. 46.
Shepherd, N. (2003). State of the discipline: Science, culture and identity in South African Archaeology, 1870–2003. Journal of South African Studies, 29, 823–844.
Sooryamoorthy, R. (2009). Collaboration and publication: How collaborative are scientists in South Africa? Scientometrics, 80, 419–439.
Steyn, A. G. W. (2002). State funding of universities and technikons, 1993 to 2001. South African Journal of Education, 22, 253–269.
Steyn, A. G. W., & Vermeulen, P. J. (1997). Perspektiewe op die finansiering van Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite. Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe, 37, 248–263.
Tijssen, R. J. W. (2007). Africa’s contribution to the worldwide research literature: New analytical perspectives, trends, and performance indicators. Scientometrics, 71, 303–327.
Van Wyk, M. S. (2007). Ally or critic? The United States’ response to South African nuclear development, 1949–1980. Cold War History, 7, 195–225.
Vaughan, C. L., Reddy, B. D., Noakes, T. D., & Moran, V. C. (2007). A commentary on the intellectual health of the nation. South African Journal of Science, 103, 22–26.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sooryamoorthy, R. Science and scientific collaboration in South Africa: apartheid and after. Scientometrics 84, 373–390 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-009-0106-y
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-009-0106-y