South Africa faces a fundamental and systemic challenge of poor maths and science education leading to low physics pass rates at school, resulting in few people taking up tertiary training in science, engineering and technology. Also, there are low numbers of females in physics, low numbers of previously disadvantaged communities participating in physics, low enrolments in physics at universities, leading to low numbers of physicists in the economy resulting in weakening the whole science, engineering and technology system. Consequently, physics is unable to reach its full potential in significantly contributing to addressing socio-economic challenges for the country.

Value Proposition

The SAIP is working To improve physics education and research, develop and nurture an inclusive next generation of physicists for South Africa thereby unlock physics potential to effectively contribute to addressing social challenges, economic challenges and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for South Africa.

Strategic Framework

The figure below shows the strategic framework on how the SAIP will bring about change.  The strategy is built upon crafting an enabling strategy for physics development. SAIP as the “Voice of Physics in South Africa” will engage government and all physics stakeholders to support, create and fund sustainable physics education and research capacity building system.  The framework has four strategic pillars in which all SAIP projects fit, and these are physics education and training, physics research and innovation, nurturing and developing professional physicists, and lastly promoting transformation, inclusivity and gender equality in physics. Through various projects implemented in these four thematic areas, the SAIP will empower and unlock the potential of the physics community in South Africa to effectively contribute to addressing social challenges such as clean water, health, contagious diseases (COVID, TB, HIV,);  economic development problems such as energy security, the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) human capital, and SDGs for South Africa. The Physics of Today is the Technology of Tomorrow.