We congratulate Prof Oonsie Biggs on her selection as a member of the Global Change Science Committee. Prof Biggs will be part of the committee for an initial three years, and together they will conduct research that will provide the scientific basis for improving national, regional and broader international efforts to address global change. The benefits of the research generated by this plan will include improved mitigation and adaptation strategies, opportunities for human capacity development in key areas, information to assist government in formulating and implementing policy, and innovations and technologies towards a sustainable future for all.
The aim of the Global Change Grand Challenge is to encourage investigation and improved understanding of global change and its diverse effects, and the development of practical ways forward. The South African Committee on Global Change Science has two primary roles, one on the national level and one at the international level. At national level its role is to oversee the implementation of the scientific components of the Global Change Grand Challenge and in particular the Research Plan. At the international level, the Global Change Committee has a role in providing an interface between South African global change science and ICSU structures.
The Department of Science and Technology’s Ten-year Innovation Plan for South Africa, Innovation Towards a Knowledge-based Economy 2008 -2018, identifies five key Grand Challenges for the National System of Innovation over the next decade. One of these Grand Challenges is science, technology and policy development in response to global change. Known as the Global Change Grand Challenge, it has three main aspects: enhancing scientific understanding of global change, developing innovations and technologies to respond to global change, and understanding the social context within which solutions will have to be implemented. Core to the implementation of the Grand Challenge is the 10-Year Global Change Research Plan for South Africa which has four key focus areas or “knowledge challenges”. These address our understanding of ecosystems, and ways to reduce our footprint, change the way we live, and promote innovation. Each of these has several themes and key research focus areas.