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Dr Bob Scholes
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As an outspoken scientist with high scientific values and standards and considerable practical experience of using space products for research purposes, CSIR systems ecologist Dr Bob Scholes will add immense value to the inaugural board of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA).
Dr Konrad Wessels, research group leader in remote sensing at the
CSIR's Meraka Institute, said he was delighted that his nominee was
appointed to the SANSA board: "Scholes is an A-rated scientist and an
ecologist with a sound scientific background. He will ensure that South
Africa's space technology will have the necessary societal and
ecological benefits," he said.
Cabinet announced the inaugural board of SANSA in May, seven months
after the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in consultation
with the National Assembly's Portfolio Committee on Science and
Technology finalised a shortlist of candidates. They will serve with
effect from 1 June 2010 until 31 May 2014.
According to a defenceWeb media release, the board will oversee the agency, monitor research priorities and programmes, and implement the agency's strategy. The board will be chaired by Maurice Magugumela from the National Nuclear Regulator.
The agency was created early last year, when then-President Kgalema Motlanthe signed the National Space Agency Act into law. Its mandate is to promote the peaceful use of space, foster research in space science and communications navigation, and promote international co-operation in space-related activities.
Scholes said he looked forward to serving on the board, using his international experience of putting together the Global Earth Observation Systems of Systems in 2002, as well as being one of the lead authors of South Africa's Earth Observation Strategy in 2006.
Currently Scholes is serving as chair of the steering committee of the Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) - this group has recently been cited in the prestigious science publication Nature as a crucial mechanism for supporting the proposed intergovernmental science-policy platform for biodiversity and ecosystem services. This platform is hoping to do for biodiversity what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) did for the international debate on climate change: "Fed by a stream of high-quality data from GEO BON ... biodiversity science should flourish. Regular assessment ... should help our planet's biota to flourish too," the Nature editorial reads.
Scholes was also the first chair of the Global Terrestrial Observation System programme for observations, modelling and analysis of terrestrial ecosystems to support sustainable development.
The other board members are Mr Leeandran Annamalai (EDI Holdings executive manager), Dr EJO Gavin, Mr Vincent Gore (civil society), Ms Joy-Marie Lawrence (an expert on space and satellite law), Mr P Maine, Captain Mpho Mamashela (Air Traffic Navigation Service), Dr Lee-Anne McKinell (Rhodes University physicist), Ms Louisa Mogudi (Sage Wise managing director), Mr Tsheko Ratsheko (civil society), Ms Rosy Sekese (Deputy Director General for ICT Infrastructure at the Department of Communications), Ms Brenda Titi (Deputy Director General at the Department of Agriculture) and Mr M Zondi.
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