scholarly journals Developing an e-Strategy for the South African Astronomical Observatory Library and Information Service: A case study

2018 ◽  
Vol 186 ◽  
pp. 09002
Author(s):  
Bennett Samantha Muriëll ◽  
Theresa de Young
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Strategic Change ◽  
Information Service ◽  
Astronomical Observatory ◽  
Business Unit ◽  
The South ◽  
Library Service ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
World Class

The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) Library and Information Service (LIS) forms part of the SAAO - which is a business unit of the National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa. Until recently each business unit had a library service that operated independently. With the formation of the NRF Knowledge Center (KC) this is set to change. Previously it was possible for a library service to conduct its processes and procedures in isolation as long as the LIS aligned with the business unit. This paper covers the study that investigated the needs and possible guidelines for an e-Strategy for the SAAO LIS that is both aligned to the broader NRF strategy but which also incorporates recommendations to upgrade the library products and services offering. The pool of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) -based products and services is growing. ‘Upgrading’ therefore requires that it is acknowledged that ICT provides essential infrastructure for the relevant the library. Library focused trends show continuous development. Bringing the SAAO LIS up to standard will require that these developments are continuously monitored for relevance and incorporation. This paper provides information about the SAAO LIS and its history. Both ‘SWOT’ and ‘PESTEL’ analyses were used to direct the discussion on the internal and external influences on the SAAO LIS. The analyses also provided insight into the challenges the SAAO LIS faces, the strengths that could be capitalized and the opportunities that could be exploited. The paper recommends that the SAAO LIS, before engaging in a strategic change, addresses the challenges of sustainable funding and accessibility to core resources. It is also recommends that the SAAO LIS uses its e-Strategy to ‘fast track’ the process of bringing it up to the standard required of world-class astronomy libraries.

Opera and the South African Political

2019 ◽  
pp. 289-311
Author(s):  
Christopher Ballantine
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Singing Voice ◽  
The South ◽  
Sociopolitical Context ◽  
Creating Meaning ◽  
Empirical Means

Christopher Ballantine’s focus is on timbre, in particular the timbre of the singing voice, and how this combines with the imagination to create meaning. His investigation is largely philosophical; but the growth in popularity of opera in post-apartheid South Africa provides empirical means for Ballantine to indicate this powerful but analytically neglected way of creating meaning in the performance of music. His case study shows how timbre can produce musical experiences that have a particular, and often surprising, resonance. Through interviews with leading figures in South African opera, Ballantine demonstrates that timbre is a vital wellspring of imagined meaning; it should especially be seen thus if we seek to understand the singing voice in a sociopolitical context such as that of South Africa during and after apartheid.

scholarly journals Investigating temperature breaks in the summer fruit export cold chain: A case study

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heinri W. Freiboth ◽  
Leila Goedhals-Gerber ◽  
F. Esbeth Van Dyk ◽  
Malcolm C. Dodd
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Variation ◽  
South African ◽  
Temperature Data ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Cold Chain ◽  
The South ◽  
Export Supply ◽  
Cold Store ◽  
Summer Fruit

There is concern in the South African fruit industry that a large amount of fruit and money is lost every season due to breaks in the fruit export cold chain. The possibility of a large percentage of losses in a significant sector of the economy warranted further investigation. This article attempted to highlight some of the possible problem areas in the cold chain, from the cold store to the port, by analysing historic temperature data from different fruit export supply chains of apples, pears and grapes. In addition, a trial shipment of apples was used to investigate temperature variation between different pallets in the same container. This research has added value to the South African fruit industry by identifying the need to improve operational procedures in the cold chain.

scholarly journals Curriculum Development of an ICT4D Module in the South African Context

10.28945/2181 ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 111-139
Author(s):  
Caroline Khene
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
South African ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Theoretical Study ◽  
South African Context ◽  
The South ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
African Context ◽  
Discipline Knowledge

The significance of ICTs in supporting socio-economic development in developing countries is inevitable. As academics of information systems in developing countries, we cannot ignore the need for teaching and building the capacity of our students to become knowledgeable and skilled in Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) practice and discourse. Furthermore, it is vital to equip our students with the ability to apply their discipline knowledge in addressing some of the ICT discrepancies in current ICT4D practice in their own context. I introduced and teach the ICT4D module to the Honours level course at my university in South Africa. This paper explores the factors that have influenced and shaped the development of the ICT4D module curriculum in the South African context I teach in, using a qualitative ethnographic lens and theoretical study. This provides a practice lens to motivate for and support the introduction of an ICT4D module in tertiary curricula in developing countries.

Deconstructing the South African Government's ICT for Development Discourse

2011 ◽  
pp. 283-290
Author(s):  
S. Moodley
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
National Commission ◽  
Poor People ◽  
The South ◽  
Development Discourse ◽  
Development Technology ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Ict For Development

The post-apartheid South African government has placed ICTs at the centre of the national agenda for social and economic development (Mbeki, 1996, 2002b; Presidential National Commission on the Information Society and Development (PNC on ISAD), 2003a). The question of whether the application of technologies to improve information and communication access can increase the capabilities of disadvantaged and poor people is central to whether the new ICTs (particularly the Internet) will support or undermine real development. Technology appears in the South African government’s ICT for development discourse as a politically neutral force with the power to develop, and without which people are classified as information-poor. As Wajcman (2002) cogently argues, “governments everywhere legitimate much of their policy in terms of a technological imperative” (p. 348). One effect of this discourse is to render poor people passive and dependent, as objects to be developed, rather than as active agents of development. Failure to address these assumptions may lead social scientists to become complacent in distracting attention away from the very real global economic, social, and cultural inequalities, to virtual inequalities, which merely hide an unwillingness to address the core failings of the development paradigm. The paper attempts to meet the challenge put forth by Robert Wade (2002): The current campaign to promote the uptake of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in developing countries and to get aid donors to redirect their aid budgets needs devil’s advocates to challenge what John Stuart Mill once called ‘the deep slumber of a decided opinion.’ (p. 443)

scholarly journals A spectroscopic search for oscillations in the 769.9 nm potassium line of Procyon

1988 ◽  
Vol 123 ◽  
pp. 255-259
Author(s):  
G.R. Isaak ◽  
A.R. Jones
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Optical Filter ◽  
Astronomical Observatory ◽  
Orbital Velocity ◽  
The South ◽  
Velocity Calibration ◽  
Velocity Changes

A double magneto optical filter attached to the Cassegrain focus of the 1.9 m reflector of the South African Astronomical Observatory was used to observe Procyon in the 769.9 nm line of potassium during all clear hours of six nights. Velocity calibration was provided by the rotational and orbital velocity changes of the observer as well as by a continuous magnetic modulation.

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