INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & COOPERATION
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE (ICSU) SA SECRETARIAT
Pocket Guide
WHAT IS THE ICSU SECRETARIAT?
South Africa is a founder member of the International Council for Science which was established in 1931
to promote international scientific activity in the different branches of science and their applications for
the benefit of humanity. The South African ICSU Secretariat serves the South African scientific
community and most of the ICSU unions. The NRF is the adhering body to ICSU. The Secretariat is
administered by the NRF as part of its science liaison activities. In 1992 the ICSU National Board of SA
was appointed to advise the NRF, on matters pertaining to international cooperation with ICSU and ICSU
bodies with the goal of promoting effective South African involvement in the organisations of the ICSU
family.
ICSU family general assemblies are held at regular intervals and the South African national delegates
appointed to these are full voting members of the assemblies.
WHAT DO WE DO?
Its role is to promote and maintain close links between South African scientists and members of the
worldwide community of the International Council for Science (ICSU), through the local national
committee structure. The structure, policy and procedures of the SA ICSU Secretariat are based on the
universal character of science, irrespective of race, gender or creed.
WHICH NATIONAL COMMITTEES ARE CURRENTLY SUPPORTED BY THE ICSU SA SECRETARIAT?
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Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA)
Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)
International Astronomical Union (IAU)
International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO)
International Cartographic Association (ICA)
International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP)
International Geographical Union (IGU)
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International Mathematical Union (IMU)
International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA)
International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS)
International Union of Crystallography (IUCr)
International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST)
International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG)
International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS)
International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS)
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International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS)
International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS)
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)
International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP)
International Union of Pharmacology (IUPHAR)
International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS)
International Union of Psychological Sciences (IUPsyS)
International Union of Radio Science (URSI)
International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (IUTAM)
Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics (SCOSTEP)
Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR)
Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR)
The Secretariat also maintains close contact with the following Unions, Scientific and Special
Committees, Associates and Joint Programmes:
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An International Program of Biodiversity Science (DIVERSITAS) International
International Astronautical Federation (IAF)
International Council on Laboratory Animal Science (ICLAS)
International Council for Scientific and Technical Information(ICSTI)
International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP)
International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP)
International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB)
International Union of Forestry Research Organisations (IUFRO)
International Water Association (IWA) World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)
Assistance is also given to official South African delegations to General Assemblies of ICSU and the ICSU
Unions/Associates. This includes financing, credential letters, compilation of national reports, circulation
of documentation as well as coordination of South African delegations where applicable.
WHAT TO APPLY FOR?
Currently only members of the National Committees are supported to attend meetings that are
sanctioned by ICSU as representatives of South Africa. Their support comes as form travel grants which
include:
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Accommodation
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Flights
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Ground Transport
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VISA
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S&T
WHO CAN APPLY?
Members of the National Committees , Commissions and Working Groups
HOW TO APPLY
Application forms are available through the SA ICSU Secretariat Staff (see back page of this document).
Delegations are often decided at one of the National Committee meetings.
GRANTING PROCESS
Applications are reviewed by the internal NRF panel in consultation with a relevant committee
chairperson and/or the chairperson of the ICSU National Board.
TRAVEL GRANT HOLDERS’ OBLIGATIONS
Travellers will be required to submit a report and boarding passes within 21 days upon their return
UPCOMING ICSU GENERAL ASSEMBLIES AND CONFERENCES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Jan 2014 – Southern African Powder Diffraction Conference and Workshop, Wits University,
Johannesburg
2014 - International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR)
from 13-18 July at the Cape Town International Convention Centre,www.iuphar2014.org
2016-International Union for Geological Sciences (IUGS) in Cape Town
PROGRAMME CONTACTS
Professional Officer: Mrs Masela Pillay
Tel: 012 481 4093
Fax: 012 481 4044
email: Masela@nrf.ac.za
Committees: ICSU, IBRO, ICA, IUCr, IUFoST/IUNS, IUGG,IUIS, IUMS, IUPsYS, IUTAM, SCAR, SCOR
The following SA bodies function on their own
IAF,ICLAS, ICSTI, IFIP, IUBMB, IUFRO and IUTOX
Professional Officer: Ms Lynn Ngwenya
Tel: 012 481 4244
Fax: 012 481 4044
email: Lynn.Ngwenya@nrf.ac.za
Committees: CODATA, COSPAR/SCOSTEP, IAU, IGU, IMU, INQUA, IUBS, IUGS, IUPAC, IUPAP, IUPHAR,
IUPS, URSI
Or for general enquiries: amc@nrf.ac.za