EXCLUSIVE: The Unholy Trinity of Science, Technology, and Innovation – A Celebration of South Africa’s Best (and Worst)
Last night, the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) threw a lavish party to celebrate the crème de la crème of South African science, engineering, technology, and innovation. But beneath the glitz and glamour, was this just a hollow exercise in self-congratulation, or a genuine attempt to drive meaningful change in the country?
The winners of the annual NSTF-South32 Awards, affectionately known as the "Science Oscars," were announced, including the recipient of the lifetime achievement award. Professor Ben-Erik van Wyk, chair of the Department of Science and Innovation, was honored for his contributions to botany and his expertise on traditional and commercial uses of plants.
But was this just a token gesture to placate the scientific community, or a genuine recognition of van Wyk’s groundbreaking work? And what about the other winners, who were awarded for their outstanding contributions to SET and innovation? Were they truly deserving of their accolades, or was this just a case of "everyone gets a trophy"?
The keynote speaker, Science and Innovation Minister Professor Blade Nzimande, praised the NSTF for its role in fostering dialogue among key stakeholders within the national system of innovation. But did he really mean it, or was this just a PR stunt to make the government look good?
The theme of this year’s awards was the fourth industrial revolution in South Africa, with winners announced during a hybrid gala in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and broadcast live. But was this just a shallow attempt to jump on the bandwagon of trendy tech, or a genuine exploration of the opportunities and challenges presented by this revolution?
The full list of winners can be viewed here. But was this just a hollow exercise in self-congratulation, or a genuine attempt to drive meaningful change in the country? Only time will tell.
