Transforming Science in South Africa: Development, Collaboration and Productivity

282 Pages·2015·1.38 MB·English

by  R. Sooryamoorthy (auth.)

Transforming Science in South Africa
This page intentionally left blank
Transforming Science
in South Africa
Development, Collaboration
and Productivity
R. Sooryamoorthy
University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
© R. Sooryamoorthy 2015
© Arthur L. Stinchcombe for the foreword 2015
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2015 978-1-137-49306-4
All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be
made without written permission.
No portion of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with
written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued
by the Copyright Licensing Agency, Saffron House, 6-10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS.
Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable
to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
The author has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work in
accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
First published 2015 by
PALGRAVE MACMILLAN
Palgrave Macmillan in the UK is an imprint of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in
England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS.
Palgrave Macmillan in the US is a division of St Martin’s Press LLC,
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Palgrave is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies
and representatives throughout the world.
Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States, the United
Kingdom, Europe and other countries.
ISBN 978-1-349-50472-5 ISBN 978-1-137-49307-1 (eBook)
DOI 10.1057/9781137493071
This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and
sustained forest sources. Logging, pulping and manufacturing processes are expected
to conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Sooryamoorthy, R.
Transforming science in South Africa : development, collaboration and productivity /
R. Sooryamoorthy, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
pages cm
Summary: “Science is the cornerstone of development. As the connection between
scientific advancement and development becomes firmer, efforts are directed towards
strengthening the scientific system. This is increasingly relevant and indispensable for
countries on the path of scientific progress. Collaboration has been accepted as a key
factor in scientific advancement, and the effects of collaboration are often manifested
in the productivity of scientists. This book explores how science in South Africa has
grown due to collaboration over the course of its colonial, apartheid and democratic
regimes. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of collaboration in science
and its relation to communication, networks and the productivity of scientists. In
giving a detailed account of the concept of scientific collaboration, the South African
model presented in this book has great significance not only for other African countries
but also for developing nations generally. Transforming Science in South Africa:
Development, Collaboration and Productivity will be of interest to anyone who wants
to know how science works nationally and internationally in the contemporary
world”— Provided by publisher.
1. Science and state—South Africa. 2. Research—South Africa—Imprints.
3. Authorship—Collaboration. I. Title.
Q127.S6S66 2015
338.968’06—dc23 2015002144
To
the loving memory of
K. N. D. Kurup and K. Devakiamma
This page intentionally left blank
Contents
List of Tables and Map ix
Foreword by Arthur L. Stinchcombe xi
Preface xiii
About the Author xv
List of Abbreviations xvi
1 Introduction 1
2 Science in Africa and in South Africa: A Historical Review 11
Science and Africa 11
Science in South Africa 19
Under European colonialism: 1652–1948 20
During apartheid: 1948–94 34
In the new South Africa: 1994 and after 45
Conclusion 53
3 Scientific Collaboration: Towards Conceptual Clarity 57
Significance and relevance 57
Conceptual components 64
Motivations, determinants and origins 66
Forms 68
Disciplinary nature 71
Institutional structure and cultural antecedents 72
Benefits and rewards 73
Productivity 75
Trust 77
Communication 79
Collaboration effectiveness 80
Challenges within 80
4 Research Publications of South African Scientists,
1945–2010 85
Co-authorship 87
Data and method 89
viii Contents
South African publications, 1945–2010 91
Features 92
Appendices 95
5 Publications through Collaboration 101
Collaboration 104
Partnering countries 108
Sectoral combinations 113
Subjects and citations 116
Collaborative versus non-collaborative research 122
Conclusion 128
Appendix 130
6 Scientific Research in South Africa 135
Scientists and academics 135
Research activities 141
Research projects and facets of collaboration 144
Collaboration versus non-collaboration 149
Predicting collaboration 153
Conclusion 156
7 Communication, Professional Networks and Productivity 159
Productivity and collaboration 163
Communication and collaboration 173
Professional contacts and communication 186
Communication, collaboration and productivity 190
Conclusion 194
8 Collaboration Experience: Portrait of an Eminent Scientist 197
Collaboration and publication productivity 209
9 Science and a Model for Scientific Collaboration 215
Scientific collaboration 215
The South African model 221
The scientific system 224
Notes 231
References 239
Index 259
List of Tables and Map
Tables
2.1 R&D personnel in South Africa, 2009–2010 47
4A.1 Publications of South African scientists, 1945–2010 95
4A.2 Partnering countries of South African scientists, 1945–2010 96
5.1 Publication details of South African scientists, 1975–2010 105
5.2 Region-wise location of partners of South African
scientists, 1975–2010 109
5.3 Country-wise location of major partners of
South African scientists, 1975–2010 110
5.4 Sector of South African scientists and their
partners, 1975–2010 114
5.5 Major disciplines/subjects of South African
publications, 1975–2010 117
5.6 Citations of publications by disciplines/branches,
1975–2010 120
5.7 Highest count of citations of publications by
disciplines, 1975–2010 121
5.8 Collaborative and non-collaborative publications,
1975–2010 123
5.9 Domestic and international collaboration 126
5.10 Regression of citation on collaboration 128
5A.1 Size of collaboration and subjects, 1975–2010 130
6.1 Respondents of survey, 2007–2008 137
6.2 Professional activity 142
6.3 Research and collaboration 145
6.4 Collaboration versus non-collaboration 150
ix