mathematical sciences 2
M A T H E M A T I C A L S C I E N C E S
the ascribed status of researchers and the The number of NRF grant holders is linked
international competitiveness of their re- with, but not identical to, the number of
search. NRF-rated scientists, the former being sig-
nificantly larger. In the mathematical sci-
NRF-rated and NRF grant-holder numbers ences, the number of NRF grant holders has
In 2006, there were 150 NRF-rated research- grown by nearly 21.9 per cent between 2005
ers in pure and applied mathematics, sta- and 2008, an extremely positive trend, and
tistics and mathematics education, almost mathematical scientists now account for
all of whom hold an academic position at
27.4 per cent of all NRF grant holders. In ad-
a university. This number has shown mod-
dition, the total amount of funding awarded
est but steady growth since the inception
to researchers in mathematical sciences has
of the rating system. Of the 150 NRF-rated
grown by 28.5 per cent between 2005 and
researchers in 2006, the number of A and B
2008 with an average grant currently being
ratings, indicative of researchers with inter-
of the order of R62 000 per annum.
national recognition, was only 48. It is an-
ticipated that this number will increase as Women are relatively well represented in
newly rated younger mathematicians be- the mathematical sciences, with 29% of
come more established in the international NRF-rated mathematical scientists being
research community. A key driver of this an- female. Black researchers in mathematical
ticipated trend is the number, the strength sciences remain a minority and constituted
and the quality of international research only 18% in 2006. NRF programmes such as
networks and linkages that are established. Thuthuka have had some success in grow-
In this respect, recently established bi-lat- ing participation among under-represent-
eral agreements which provide funding for ed groups.
research cooperation between South Africa
(through the NRF) and several other coun- General novice researcher capacity devel-
tries including Japan, Norway, Brazil, India opment (researchers in training, scholar-
and the European Union countries are an ships and fellowships, and the Technology
extremely positive and constructive devel-
and Human Resources for Industry Pro-
opment. Joint research and collaborative
gramme (THRIP) represents a significant
projects with regional, national and African
component of the funding portfolio of
partners should also be recognised as a
mathematical sciences.
high priority within the New Partnership for
Africa’s Development (NEPAD) initiative. Research productivity: articles in peer-re-
viewed journals
The breakdown of NRF-rated mathemati- Productivity in terms of peer-reviewed re-
cal scientists within the different sub-dis- search article output per annum in the
ciplines is, by nature, inexact but there are mathematical sciences has almost doubled
approximately 105 in pure and applied over the past 17 years from 120 articles to
mathematics, 35 in statistics and ten in 216 articles in ISI-accredited journals. Ap-
mathematics education. plied mathematics and pure mathematics
75
TWAS book_Chap1-6.indd 75 2009/10/06 12:03:48 PM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230 |
Page 231 |
Page 232 |
Page 233 |
Page 234 |
Page 235 |
Page 236 |
Page 237 |
Page 238 |
Page 239 |
Page 240 |
Page 241 |
Page 242 |
Page 243 |
Page 244 |
Page 245 |
Page 246 |
Page 247 |
Page 248 |
Page 249 |
Page 250 |
Page 251 |
Page 252 |
Page 253 |
Page 254 |
Page 255 |
Page 256 |
Page 257 |
Page 258 |
Page 259 |
Page 260 |
Page 261 |
Page 262 |
Page 263 |
Page 264 |
Page 265 |
Page 266 |
Page 267 |
Page 268 |
Page 269 |
Page 270 |
Page 271 |
Page 272 |
Page 273 |
Page 274 |
Page 275 |
Page 276 |
Page 277 |
Page 278 |
Page 279 |
Page 280 |
Page 281 |
Page 282 |
Page 283 |
Page 284 |
Page 285 |
Page 286 |
Page 287 |
Page 288 |
Page 289 |
Page 290