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Synergies in the mathematical SOUTH AFRICAN sciences Journal of Science Alternative age for Little Foot Characterisation of traditional cosmetic clays Determination of ancient arrow poisons ISSN: 1996-7489 e MARCH/APRIL 2017 volume 113 number 3/4 MARCH/APRIL eISSN: 1996-7489 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF John Butler-Adam Office of the Vice Principal: Research and Graduate Education, University of Pretoria SOUTH AFRICAN MANAGING EDITOR Linda Fick Academy of Science of South Africa Journal of Science ONLINE PUBLISHING ADMINISTRATOR volume 113 Nadine Wubbeling Academy of Science of South Africa number 3/4 ASSOCIATE EDITORS Sally Archibald School of Animal, Plant & Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Leader Nicolaas Beukes Mathematics and… Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg John Butler-Adam .................................................................................................................... 1 Tania Douglas Invited Commentary Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cape Town Mathematics in mathematics education Jill Adler .................................................................................................................................. 2 Menán du Plessis Department of General Linguistics, Finding synergies between the mathematical and physical sciences Stellenbosch University Daya Reddy ............................................................................................................................. 5 Kavilan Moodley Mathematics and biology School of Mathematics, Statistics Jan-Hendrik S. Hofmeyr ........................................................................................................... 7 and Computer Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal Mathematics and economics: We should expect better models Martin Wittenberg .................................................................................................................... 10 Jolanda Roux Forestry and Agricultural Mathematical and statistical foundations and challenges of (big) data sciences Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria Loyiso G. Nongxa ..................................................................................................................... 13 Maryna Steyn Commentary School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Livestock predation in South Africa: The need for and value of a scientific assessment Pieter Steyn Department of Chemistry Graham I.H. Kerley, Kevin G. Behrens, Jane Carruthers, Marius Diemont, and Polymer Science, Jurie du Plessis, Liaan Minnie, Philip R.K. Richardson, Michael J. Somers, Stellenbosch University Craig J. Tambling, Jane Turpie, Hermias N. van Niekerk & Dave Balfour ................................... 17 Marco Weinberg Department of Molecular Medicine Book Review and Haematology, University of the Witwatersrand Let us now praise famous women: Revising South Africa’s foundational anthropology narrative Merridy Wilson-Strydom Karen Tranberg Hansen ............................................................................................................ 20 Centre for Research on Higher Education and Development, Dragonflies as indicators of aquatic ecosystem health University of the Free State Ferdinand C. de Moor .............................................................................................................. 22 EDITORIAL ADVISORY Showcasing Africa’s wonderful and varied geoheritage BOARD George Henry .......................................................................................................................... 24 Laura Czerniewicz Centre for Higher Education Development, University of Review Article Cape Town Mycotoxigenic Fusarium species associated with grain crops in South Africa – Roseanne Diab A review Academy of Science of South Africa Ilze Beukes, Lindy J. Rose, Gordon S. Shephard, Bradley C. Flett & Altus Viljoen ...................... 25 Hassina Mouri Research Article Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg A historical assessment of sources and uses of wheat varietal innovations in South Africa Johann Mouton Charity R. Nhemachena & Johann Kirsten ................................................................................ 37 Centre for Research on Science and Technology, Stellenbosch University The age of fossil StW573 (‘Little Foot’): An alternative interpretation of 26Al/10Be burial data Maano Ramutsindela Jan D. Kramers & Paul H.G.M. Dirks ......................................................................................... 45 Department of Environmental & Geographical Science, University of Developments in the production of economics PhDs at four research-intensive Cape Town universities in South Africa Phillip de Jager, Liezel Frick & Pieter van der Spuy ................................................................... 53 Published by the Academy of Science of South The enduring and spatial nature of the enterprise richness of South African towns Africa (www.assaf.org.za) with financial assistance from the Daan F. Toerien ......................................................................................................................... 62 Department of Science & Technology. Emission factors of domestic coal-burning braziers Design and layout Tafadzwa Makonese, Daniel M. Masekameni, Harold J. Annegarn & Patricia B.C. Forbes .......... 70 SUN MeDIA Bloemfontein T: 051 444 2552 Co-infection with Schistosoma haematobium and soil-transmitted helminths in E: [email protected] rural South Africa Mari Molvik, Elin Helland, Siphosenkosi G. Zulu, Elisabeth Kleppa, Correspondence and Kristine Lillebo, Svein G. Gundersen, Jane D. Kvalsvig, Myra Taylor, enquiries Eyrun F. Kjetland & Birgitte J. Vennervald .................................................................................. 81 [email protected] Characterisation of vumba and ubumba clays used for cosmetic purposes Copyright Refilwe Morekhure-Mphahlele, Walter W. Focke & Wiebke Grote .............................................. 87 All articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence. Potential for identifying plant-based toxins on San hunter-gatherer arrowheads Copyright is retained by the authors. Madelien Wooding, Justin Bradfield, Vinesh Maharaj, Dwayne Koot, Lyn Wadley, Disclaimer Linda Prinsloo & Marlize Lombard ............................................................................................ 92 The publisher and editors accept no responsibility for statements made by the authors. Submissions Submissions should be made at http:// mc.manuscriptcentral.com/sajs Cover caption The role of mathematics in different disciplines is explored in a series of Invited Commentaries on pages 2–16 (image CC: Torley, flickr). Leader Mathematics and… The vast majority of jobs of many flavours ‘Finding Synergies in the Mathematical Sciences’. A primary aim of the and incomes do not require the type of maths workshop was to seek a discursive space to explore synergies in the taught even in Grade 9. This is forgotten when mathematical sciences that could lead to interdisciplinary collaborations mathematics is positioned as supremely important across various disciplines that include mathematics as a key pivot in their for the job market, or for students’ personal pursuits to understand, generate and use new knowledge. Explaining the development. importance of the workshop, ASSAf stated: This view, expressed in a recent article in The Conversation by Sara Muller, a researcher and doctoral candidate at the University of Cape [There] is a global need for the mathematical Town, is not one generally shared. sciences, which includes the discipline of mathematics, to work closer together to Scores of articles in the media, written by other experts, have pointed create discursive spaces to explore synergies to the dangers of lowering the pass mark for mathematics, and the importance of at least some level of literacy in mathematics. Clive and collaborations of mutual benefit. The Kronenberg of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, for example, mathematical sciences include all disciplines that wrote: use mathematics in their pursuits to understand, generate and use new knowledge. This includes [Much research] illustrates the debilitating burden disciplines from the natural sciences such as that generations of South African children have had to endure, from the apartheid era until the physics, biochemistry, and astronomy etc. to the present day: an education system that has failed social sciences such as economics, psychology, them. It has not inducted pupils into the custom education, etc. of thinking and reasoning on logical, rational and The workshop included the presentation of five papers each on the critical terms. Critical thinking is a vital skill. role of mathematics in a different field, by leading scientists in those Research has shown that a well-cultivated critical fields. Each of these speakers was invited to revise their presentation for thinker raises vital questions and problems, publication in the Journal and we are very pleased to be able to publish formulating them clearly and precisely. They are them as a set of Invited Commentaries in this issue. able to gather and assess relevant information, using abstract ideas to interpret it effectively. Professor Jill Adler has written on ‘Mathematics in mathematics They can reach well-reasoned conclusions and education’; Professor Jan-Hendrik Hofmeyr on ‘Mathematics and solutions, testing them against relevant criteria and

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