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Full Issue 114 South African Journal of Science volume 114 number 5/6 Decolonising engineering in South Africa The Grootfontein aquifer: Governance of a hydro-social system Household food waste disposal in South Africa South African behavioural ecology research in a global perspective Volume 114 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Number 5/6 John Butler-Adam Academy of Science of South Africa May/June 2018 MANAGING EDITOR Linda Fick Academy of Science of South Africa South African ONLINE PUBLISHING Journal of Science SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR Nadine Wubbeling Academy of Science of South Africa ONLINE PUBLISHING ADMINISTRATOR Sbonga Dlamini eISSN: 1996-7489 Academy of Science of South Africa ASSOCIATE EDITORS Nicolas Beukes Leader Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg The Fourth Industrial Revolution and education John Butler-Adam .................................................................................................................... 1 Chris Chimimba Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria Book Review Towards human development friendly universities Linda Chisholm Merridy Wilson-Strydom .......................................................................................................... 2 Centre for Education Rights and Transformation, University of A new look at Old Fourlegs Johannesburg Brian W. van Wilgen ................................................................................................................. 4 Teresa Coutinho Department of Microbiology and Commentary Plant Pathology, University of Pretoria Decolonising engineering in South Africa – Experience to date and some emerging challenges Tania Douglas Mike Muller .............................................................................................................................. 5 Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cape Town Response to Benoit and Thackeray (2017): ‘A cladistic analysis of Graecopithecus’ Jochen Fuss, Nikolai Spassov, Madelaine Böhme & David R. Begun ......................................... 11 Menán du Plessis Department of General Linguistics, A temperature index in a Late Quaternary sequence at Wonderkrater, South Africa Stellenbosch University J. Francis Thackeray ................................................................................................................ 13 Maryna Steyn School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Review Article Psychrophiles: Ecological significance and potential industrial application Pieter Steyn Department of Chemistry Amira Hamdan ......................................................................................................................... 15 and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University Trends in behavioural ecology: Putting South African research in a global perspective Aliza le Roux ............................................................................................................................ 21 Marco Weinberg Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of Research Article the Witwatersrand Privacy and user awareness on Facebook Phillip Nyoni & Mthulisi Velempini ............................................................................................ 27 Patricia Whitelock South African Astronomical Cultural differences and confidence in institutions: Comparing Africa and the USA Observatory Bankole Falade ......................................................................................................................... 32 EDITORIAL ADVISORY Household food waste disposal in South Africa: A case study of Johannesburg BOARD and Ekurhuleni Laura Czerniewicz Suzan Oelofse, Aubrey Muswema & Fhumulani Ramukhwatho ................................................. 40 Centre for Higher Education Development, University of Cape Town Revelations from an online diagnostic arithmetic and algebra quiz for incoming students Roseanne Diab Aneshkumar Maharaj & Thokozani Dlomo ................................................................................. 46 Academy of Science of South Africa Hassina Mouri The Grootfontein aquifer: Governance of a hydro-social system at Nash equilibrium Department of Geology, Jude E. Cobbing & Maarten de Wit .......................................................................................... 53 University of Johannesburg Farmer groups and inorganic fertiliser use among smallholders in rural South Africa Johann Mouton Sikhulumile Sinyolo & Maxwell Mudhara ................................................................................... 60 Centre for Research on Science and Technology, Stellenbosch University Power laws, demography and entrepreneurship in selected South African regions Sershen Naidoo Daan Toerien ............................................................................................................................ 69 School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Arable agriculture changes soil microbial communities in the South African Grassland Biome Maano Ramutsindela Department of Environmental & Gilbert Kamgan Nkuekam, Don A. Cowan & Angel Valverde ..................................................... 77 Geographical Science, University of Cape Town Published by the Academy of Science of South Africa (www.assaf.org.za) with financial assistance from the Department of Science & Technology. Design and layout SUN MeDIA Bloemfontein T: 051 444 2552 E: [email protected] Correspondence and enquiries [email protected] Copyright All articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence. Copyright is retained by the authors. Disclaimer The publisher and editors accept no responsibility for statements made by the authors. Submissions Submissions should be made at www.sajs.co.za Cover caption A meerkat (Suricata suricatta). Meerkats feature prominently in behavioural ecology studies, both locally and internationally. In an article on page 21, Le Roux explores the trends in behavioural ecology studies and places South African research in a global perspective. Leader The Fourth Industrial Revolution and education The inauguration of one of the world’s leading specialists in artificial The implications that arise for institutions of education are at least intelligence (AI) as the Vice Chancellor of a South African university has twofold. Firstly, researchers in relevant disciplines face the challenge brought the Fourth Industrial Revolution to the fore in the local media – of making AI increasingly more sophisticated and useful, not just in and raised interest in what the Fourth Industrial Revolution might mean manufacturing or planning but also in the direct service of society. The for education in general – and for post-school education in particular. work of scientists, policymakers, social workers, educationists and A fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, many others whose duty of care it is to aim for the achievement of the digital and biological domains, AI’s precise beginning is not clear, but 17 Sustainable Development Goals can all benefit from sophisticated it was certainly in evidence 3 years ago, if not earlier, building on the AI applications. Whether the goal is quality education, decent work, digital revolution. climate action, affordable and clean energy or sustainable cities, there are already AI options of value and importance, yet more can and The implications of the AI revolution for business, industry and daily life should be developed. But there are also other ways in which research remain to some extent in the realm of speculation, but have nevertheless (perhaps of a different nature) is important. In the realms of voice and been discussed widely. Just what it might mean for education has had facial recognition, for example, current systems are based on American less attention, although the implications are extensive – both in terms of and European norms, so that (for example) African or Chinese accents what universities can (or should) contribute to the advance of AI and its or facial features remain marginal. AI needs to be revolutionised and applications and how curricula and learning will need to change. deracialised – and this requires research and interventions from scholars and scientists, a new activism, that goes beyond the creation The most obvious matters are those that relate to the ways in which the of new algorithms.3 nature of work and the job market are changing – and will continue to change at an increasing pace. It no longer makes sense to ask children The second implication has to do with curricula, teaching and learning what they would like to ‘do’ when they grow up. By the time they – rather than about robotic tutors. To succeed as a member of society, enter the world of work, a large portion of current job types will have and as an employee, in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, disappeared, and as many (if not more) jobs, presently not defined, will numeracy, literacy and an understanding of how the world operates are have become both every day and essential. Apart from the nature of all essential. Students studying the basic and applied sciences need work, there is considerable disagreement as to whether or not the Fourth also to understand the political and social natures of the world in which Industrial Revolution will create more employment or result in the loss they live. For the same reasons, students who study the humanities and of work opportunities. social sciences need to understand at least the foundations on which AI is based
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