Human and Social Dynamic Grand Challenge: Department of Science and Technology (DST) briefing

Meeting report

The Chairperson said despite the current protest involving but not limited to the Committee Secretaries, the Members must still continue with their work. Members might not be able to interrogate the presentation fully, because the equipment necessary to view the presentation was unavailable.

Dr Sagren Moodley, Director Social Sciences, briefed the Committee.

Dr Moodley, gave a summary of the philosophy of the Human and Social Dynamics in Development Grand Challenge (HSDDGC), which involved

• Opening up possibilities for imagining different futures, and deliberating alternative social technological pathways
• Promoting responsible research and innovation by better aligning research and innovation with the values, needs and expectations of society
• Analysing and assessing the increasingly powerful roles of science and technology as agents of change in society and the economy

Dr Moodley defined the differences between humanities and social sciences; and discussed that HSDD GC provided a platform for addressing the nature and possibilities for the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) and the role HSS can play in addressing social issues, government priorities, and deepening understanding of human condition.

On the Value Proposition and Objectives segment of the presentation, he delved into the impacts that HSDD GC has by approaching research and innovation in a way that fosters exciting research in the human and social dimensions of Science Technology and Innovation (STI). It is a truism to say that South Africa is a plural environment, comparing different value systems, histories and cultures. He emphasised that nurturing more diverse approaches and forms of innovation allowed the DST to better respond to societal uncertainty and complexity.

On objectives Dr Moodley, specifically highlighted that in a country like SA with a daunting set of societal challenges there was a need to create an intellectual space for pragmatic analysis and critical reflection, including

• Addressing societal challenges required understanding human aspirations, institutional constraints, social conflicts, value choices and power dynamics
• Provides a platform to broaden and enrich the conversation on what is meant by innovation, science, and technology.

Research and innovation focus areas included: Science, Technology, and Society; Dynamics of Human and Social Behaviour; Social Cohesion and Identity; and Societal Change and the Evolution of a Modern Society.

The themes were then divided into five, and presented as follows:

Understanding Society: Socio-cultural change; Demographic change; Urbanisation; Poverty, Inequality and social exclusion; Crime and violence; Economic and social development; and Children, youth and families

Social Diversity:  Cultural and identity; social cohesion; Religion, language, and ethnicity;  race, class, and gender;  migration; and values, beliefs, and worldviews.

Health and Well Being: Ageing, childcare, the social detriments of healthcare, quality of life, and welfare.

Understanding Behaviour:  Decision making, Influences on behaviour, relationships, responding to change, response to risk and the adoption of risky behaviours, and changing behaviour for positive educational and health outcomes

Science, Technology, and Society: The relationship between scientific knowledge, technological systems, and society; the ways in which advances in science and technology shape culture, values, and institutions, and how such contexts shape science and technology; and the risks that science and technology may pose to democracy, environmental sustainability and human values.

Dr Moodley summarised the achievements of the HSDD GC:

• Knowledge Generation
• Human Capital Development
• Policy Outputs
• Research Chairs
• Research Grants
• Government Cluster Policy Workshops
• Research and Policy Seminars
• Policy of Dialogues
• Policy Briefs
• Community Enterprises
• Innovation for Service Delivery
• Humanities and Social Sciences Flagships

On Evidence-based Policymaking, Dr Moodley said it was widely acknowledged that the best policy making needs to be informed by high quality evidenced based research, robustly evaluated and subjected to independent scrutiny. He emphasised that the HSDD GC strengthened the Research policy through joint forums and decision support tools. He discussed examples of Decision Support Tools, such as StepSA; Sanitation Evaluation Tools; Total Cost of Ownership; e-health; Risk and Vulnerability; and the Rural Innovation Assessment Toolkit (RIAT)

He added that there needed to be a sense, not just of whether there was rural innovation, but also whether this rural innovation was successful or not.

Dr Moodley highlighted that the DST needs to change the way people think and discuss innovation, and that this concept needs to have a broader context, something more than just technological innovation. The report stated how South Africa’s big development challenges could not be fixed by technology alone, because ultimately they all involved people’s attitudes, perceptions, behaviours and understandings. He warned against the risk of falling into a convenient fantasy in which technicist solutions alone were a sufficient condition for addressing intractable social problems.

Dr Moodley discussed interdisciplinary approach to STI, and how such research in the HSS could provide insights into the dynamic relationship between science technology and society. He discussed the directions for the future, and how HSDD GC would continue to promote and support high quality and applied research; invest in high quality postgraduate and post-doctoral research training; inform decision-making and wider society; and promote public engagement. Although a lot has been done, there is still a lot to do.

Ms Nonhlanhla Mkhize, DST, added that Members should note that any and all innovation supporting socio economic development, and science, technology, and innovations has been seen to help increase the efficiency of Government. DST worked with these rural based enterprises to share in the solution development.

Discussion
The Chairperson said the presentation was very interesting and the Department was able to make the topics understandable. The focus should be on bringing STI to the grass roots of South Africa. In a country this large, a one-size fits all approach would not work, because culturally South Africa is very different. It was important for people to understand that sciences went beyond just the technical aspects. In some rural areas, a lot if innovation was taking place to solve every day problems but were not categorised as innovation. The Department should be prepared to make this presentation again next year, when equipment necessary to view the presentation was would be available

Mr C Mathale (ANC) agreed with the Chairperson and requested the presentation be given again, so as to fully appreciate all the information the DST came prepared with.

Ms L Maseko (ANC) also agreed with the proposal to have a subsequent briefing at another date. She asked was how the DST classified policy makers, the ANC being the majority would essentially be the policy makers and how this aligned with political party interests. She also asked whether the Department engaged in policy outputs. She mentioned the importance of ICT connectivity across South Africa.

Mr Mathale included the DA and EFF political parties into Ms Maseko’s question.

Ms Maseko claimed that it was not the same because the policy of the ruling party was usually turned into legislation.

Mr Mathale continued to ask whether the dialogues mentioned in the report were held with the relevant parties.

Dr Moodley addressed the issue of policy dialogue and how it was usually Government requested, each sector would identify participants, and DST only had the task of selecting the researchers and the scientists. The Department tried to make sure there was a diverse dialogue, with differing views. He agreed with the need to look into who the policy makers are as they develop them, and he would have a better answer in the subsequent presentation.

On ICT integration, Dr Moodley responded that each Department could work with DST to ensure that it has the desired impact, but Science and Technology is its own concern. A lot of emphasis is placed on rural areas; the DST is trying to get involved even in the townships. In September and October the Science Council worked with communities and universities to address the real problems with integration.

The Chairperson asked what challenges the Department faced, and how they were able to work with other Departments since mainly DST must work with other Departments to connect with the community. STI was still regarded as for the elite in society, it was important to change people’s attitudes.

Essentially policy was impacted by the feedback of the leaders of particular departments, and as such may neglect the importance of STI.  People of technical know-how may manipulate this and affect policymaking. The challenge of understanding STI could lead to people making better more informed decisions and policy.

Dr Moodley responded by highlighting some challenges, as working with other departments that may not understand the importance of STI, as well as bilateral agreements that hindered discussions on how to approach ICT integration throughout South Africa.

The Chairperson was aware that the Minister of Human Settlements had recently mentioned the importance of STI and how an innovative and multidisciplinary approach should be takes, and it will lead to an increased appreciation for STI, so as to create a link between policy makers and the work that is done.

The Chairperson thanked Members for attending and DST for being very insightful. He said their work now is to take this information and utilise it. He emphasised that South Africa’s history continued to haunt us, and we fail to take advantage of the technical and innovative opportunities we have, so that a select few gain that knowledge. Let us not be in a position of a being at a standstill, when those with the knowledge are no longer there. He reminded the Department that another presentation would be scheduled.

The meeting adjourned.