HSRC to recognise outstanding social scientists
DATE: 16 August 2017
Human Sciences Research Council
Pretoria, Tuesday 15 August 2017 – In recognising the role of social science and the humanities in transforming society, the Human Sciences Research Council will on 31 August 2017 award the 2nd Annual Medal in Social Sciences and Humanities to an outstanding scholar and academic.
The inaugural medal was awarded to Professor Njabulo Ndebele in November 2016.
Reflecting on the significance of these Awards, Manusha Pillai, Director: Stakeholder Relations and Communications said, “The social sciences are crucial in enabling durable solutions to many challenges facing South Africans in particular and citizens around the world in general. Academics and researchers can support the country’s developmental agenda by providing research based analyses and understanding of how consumers behave and what will change that behaviour to create new patterns of being and living in communities and nations.”
“Once we have this as a foundation on which to build, our technological innovations will have greater utility, meaning and purpose for society. In this regard, the social sciences serve as a crucial bridge between insights, analyses and recommendations, the formulation of policy and tangible solutions which matter to citizens.”
“Going a step further, social scientists who ask and provide answers to pressing challenges can also predict trends in social conditions and what, if anything, can be done about it,” said Pillai.
This is the contribution that the social sciences and humanities make to South Africa on a daily basis.
A range of outstanding academics from various disciplines were nominated as candidates for the 2017 Medal in Social Sciences and Humanities. The winner will be announced by the Human Sciences Research Council’s CEO Professor Crain Soudien on Thursday 31 August 2017.
Media is invited to attend as follows:
Date : Thursday 31 August 2017
Time : 18h00 for 18h30
Venue : Human Sciences Research Council
134 Pretorius Street
(cnr Bosman and Pretorius Streets)
Pretoria
Enquiries/RSVPs : Manusha Pillai on MPillai@hsrc.ac.za or 0823893587
Adziliwi Nematandani on anematandani@hsrc.ac.za or 082 765 9191
Follow the conversation on #ResearchMatters #TransformingSociety #HSRC
Notes to the Editor
About the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
The HSRC was established in 1968 as South Africa’s statutory research agency and has grown to become the largest dedicated research institute in the social sciences and humanities on the African continent, doing cutting-edge public research in areas that are crucial to development.
Our mandate is to inform the effective formulation and monitoring of government policy; to evaluate policy implementation; to stimulate public debate through the effective dissemination of research-based data and fact-based research results; to foster research collaboration; and to help build research capacity and infrastructure for the human sciences.
The Council conducts large-scale, policy-relevant, social-scientific research for public sector users, non-governmental organisations and international development agencies. Research activities and structures are closely aligned with South Africa’s national development priorities.
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For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:
Manusha Pillai
Mobile: 082 389 3587
email: MPillai@hsrc.ac.za