Pretoria - Young Scientists from a number of countries will converge on South Africa soon to participate in an international conference and the General Assembly of the Global Young Academy (GYA).
The event will be hosted by the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS) from 20 - 23 May 2012.
"Hosting the 2012 GYA General Assembly offers South Africa and Africa a unique opportunity since the event is likely to be one of the most prominent science events in the region in 2012 and will serve as a motivating factor for young scientists to fully participate in national and global scientific issues," SAYAS said.
A number of top young scientists, invited senior scientists and science administrators from across the globe are expected to attend the event.
Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor is expeced to deliver the key note address on the event's theme - Sustainability: Lessons on the road between Rio and Rio+20.
Rio+20 is the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012.
"As the 'voice of young scientists around the world', the GYA seeks to mobilise young scientists in their creative prime. It will provide a rallying point for outstanding young scientists from around the world to come together to address topics of global importance," it added.
In collaboration with South African institutions of higher learning, attendees of the General Assembly and Conference will engage in outreach activities.
This includes presentations of their work at universities, building of networks for further research collaboration, and science outreach to schools and science development centres in South Africa.
GYA co-chair, Professor Gregory Weiss from the University of California, said: "We fully support South Africa's leadership in promoting young scientists, and want to be in South Africa at this historic time as a tangible demonstration of this support. We are very much looking forward to holding our General Assembly meeting there."
The conference is supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Academy of Science of South Africa, the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute at the University of Pretoria, the Global Network of Science Academies, the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
"As the main sponsor of the event, DST has shown their support for SAYAS and its ethos to give a voice to young scientists, to promote science as a career of choice for young people, to narrow the gap between science in developed and developing countries and to encourage the development of novel approaches to problems of international significance," SAYAS added.
