University of Cape Town
Cir no: 30/2008
To:
13/05/2008
sabi08
The Deans of faculties Heads of academic departments, Heads of
Research, Extension & other academic organisational units (via
http://www.uct.ac.za/research/office/announcements/notices/)
South African Biosystematics Initiative (SABI)
Call for proposals 2008, for funding commencing in 2009
Internal deadline: Thursday, 26 June 2008
External deadline: Monday, 30 June 2008
Background
The South African Department of Science & Technology and the National
Research Foundation jointly supports the activities of the South African
Biosystematics Initiative (SABI). SABI aims to develop a representative
community of systematic biologists- well supported by government and societyaddressing exciting and important issues relevant to South Africa's rich biological
heritage. SABI’s funding and its activities are therefore focused around four
thrusts including research, education and training, public understanding of
science, and infrastructure.
This call for proposals pertains to the research thrust of SABI. Proposals will be
assessed according to a range of criteria relating to the track record of the
applicant, scientific merit of the proposal, issues of equity and redress,
collaborative efforts, and the potential impact of the research. Funding will be
allocated on a competitive basis but will take cognizance of strategic priorities for
equity and redress issues (i.e. race, gender and age) and the participation of
museum researchers.
Objectives
SABI was created with the purpose to provide a framework and strategy to:
 address dwindling national capacity in biological systematics and
taxonomy;
 provide leadership and co-ordination to promote innovative research in the
field of systematics;
 empower South African systematists to employ and develop modern
scientific technologies and approaches with regard to the documentation
and use and of biological resources;
 enhance the ability of South African systematists to contribute to the
National System of Innovation and the information society, and thus to
respond to national priorities in agriculture, health, sustainable
development and conservation;
 assist the broader scientific community and government in the fulfilment
of national and global biodiversity-related commitments; and
 promote awareness of the importance of systematic research in the
broader community through education and outreach projects.
The Vision of SABI is therefore:
To develop a representative community of systematic biologists - well supported
by government and society - addressing exciting and important issues relevant to
South Africa's rich biological heritage.
To achieve the SABI vision, the following thrusts have been identified for support:
1. Research
Proposals
dealing
with
research
on
animal
(excluding
humans)/plant/fungi/protozoa and microbes (bacteria and viruses)
systematics will be considered on a competitive basis. Systematics is
defined as the science of organismal diversity. It entails the discovery,
description and interpretation of biological diversity, as well as the
synthesis of information on diversity in the form of predictive
classification systems (Judd et al, 1999).
To qualify for SABI funding, proposals need to address at least one of
the following:
a. Biodiversity inventories that are associated with either a taxonomic
or biogeographic goal, poorly collected or under-studied geographic
regions, or for overt conservation purposes. These proposals
should, however, be posed in a clearly articulated scientific context,
and include an indication of efforts to be undertaken to address the
taxonomic impediment associated with identifying the samples
gathers, and/ or a clear statement of how the collections are to be
identified and housed in perpetuity;
b. Morphological and/ or molecular systematics on neglected, but
significant
taxa
(as
identified
by
the
SABI
audit
http://www.nrf.ac.za/focusareas/conserve/sabi.stm)
of
South
Africa's biodiversity;
c. Biogeographic studies of neglected but significant taxa, or
biogeographic studies that bring together data from various
sources into a synthetic or comparative analysis which will have
significant impact on the systematics and conservation of the
regions biodiversity;
d. Phylogenetic or phylogeographic studies that are relevant to
taxonomic revisions, and are directly associated with systematic
hypotheses and/ or taxonomic products;
e. Descriptive/ revisionary/ monographic research on neglected taxa;
and/ or
f. The production of identification tools, especially those that use
technology - such as electronic keys, on-line data / products.
Proposals must be well motivated in terms of the significance of the
taxonomy or study area. This can include economic, medical,
agricultural, veterinary importance, or importance in terms of
ecosystem functioning / ecosystem services or importance in terms
of biodiversity conservation value - phylogenetic uniqueness,
endemism, or in terms of developing our understanding of
evolutionary
processes
contributing
to
our
biodiversity.
Reference: Judd WS, Campbell CS, Kellogg EA & Stevens PF (1999). Plant
systematics: A phylogenetic approach. 1st edition, 1999. Sinauer Associates Inc.,
Sunderland, USA.
2. Education and Training (Sabi Bursaries and Postdoctoral Fellowships)
A call for free-standing NRF bursaries and Postdoctoral fellowships will
be made through the NRF's Student Support Office.
3. Public Understanding o Science (PUS)
SABI aims to host a number of PUS activities to promote
biosystematics
research
in
South
Africa.
Please
contact
fmazibuko@nrf.ac.za (Frank Mazibuko) for more information or if you
have any suggestions/recommendations for our consideration.
4. Infrastructure
This is not being directly addressed through SABI funding but rather
through the South African Biodiversity Information Facility (SABIF).
Eligibility
The following are eligible to apply for SABI funding:

Full time employees at an NRF recognised research institution in South
Africa

Part-time employees on contract at an NRF recognised research institution
in South Africa, but on condition that the appointment is for (at least) the
duration of the project applied for in the submission. The length of the
contract should be stated in the application form. Salaries must be paid
by the research institution and the primary employment of the individual
concerned must be at that institution. A contract researcher appointed at a
university or university of technology on behalf of a third party to fulfil a
very specific function for the latter does not qualify for support

Rated and Unrated researchers are eligible to submit applications.
Successful applicants will be eligible for funding for up to three years.
Candidates, who wish to apply for further funding after the completion of a
funding cycle, will have to submit a new proposal

Retired researchers provided that:
o
o
o
o
o
at the time of application, the researcher should have a valid NRF
rating hence the same rules for rated researchers would apply (see
above).
there must be demonstration of institutional support in the form of
an employment contract, office space, administrative support,
access to research equipment and space.
the researcher must have a good track record in the successful
training of research students and especially women and black
students.
at the time of application, the researcher must be involved in the
training of research students especially women and black students
these researchers will be eligible for a support period of three years
and any extension beyond the three years will be dependent on the
outputs in Research Capacity development such as graduated
students and published papers.
What can be funded?
 Grantholder-linked Student Support
 Research-related Operating Costs
These costs include materials and supplies, travel (including conferences)
and subsistence, equipment and research/technical/ad hoc assistance and
sabbaticals to other research organisations and institutions of higher
learning may be included within the context of the project proposals.
These costs should be justified and commensurate with the planned
outputs, as they will be assessed on this basis. The amount awarded
within this framework can be used at the discretion of the applicant.
 Staff Development Grants

Staff Development grants are awarded for staff members1 registered for
Masters and Doctoral degrees. The research for these degrees must be
related to the principal investigator’s project as funded by the NRF and the
principal investigator must be the [co-]supervisor of the staff member.
Funding to Cater for Disabilities
Additional funding support to cater for disability will only be allocated to
people with disabilities as specified in the Code of Good Practice on
Employment of People with Disabilities as in the Employment Equity Act
No 55 of 1998.
Application process & deadlines
Applications are web-based, and must be submitted electronically via the NRF’s
online system: http://nrfonline.nrf.ac.za within the deadline period. Late
applications will not be considered. The internal deadline for the submission of
applications is Thursday, 26 June 2008.
Further information
For further information, application guidelines and framework, and/ or assistance,
please contact:
1. Research Office
Haajirah Esau:
haajirah.esau@uct.ac.za , X2431
Essie Thomas:
estrelita.thomas@uct.ac.za , X5204
2. NRF
Renee le Roux:
renee@nrf.ac.za , (012) 481 4056
Circular approved by:
Dr Marilet Sienaert
Director: Research Office
1
At State supported SA universities or museum in South Africa with no restriction on race and gender