Southern African Young Scientists Summer Program

The SA-YSSP, organized jointly by the South African National Research Foundation, Republic of South Africa Department of Science and Technology, the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa, and IIASA. The new program was inspired by the success of IIASA’s YSSP program, which has enabled more than a thousand students since 1977 to work together with IIASA researchers on problems of global significance.

The program

From December 1, 2012 to February 28, 2013, participants carried out collaborative research projects at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa. The projects related both to their graduate studies and to IIASA research that uses systems analysis methods to address major societal problems.  

Each student worked with a collaborating pair of advanced researchers, one from South Africa and the other from IIASA or IIASA's research network. South African advisors were resident for 2-3 weeks, while IIASA advisors were in attendance for 1-2 weeks. When the supervisors were off-site, they were connected with the young scientists via videoconferencing on a regular basis.

2012 project titles

• Complex adaptive systems in ecology and evolution
• Robustness measures of aquatic ecosystems using network analysis
• Application of multi-model approach to explore the robustness of aquatic ecosystems
• Multi-scale adaptations to climate change and social-ecological sustainability
• Impacts of climate change on food security in sub-Saharan Africa
• Improving food security in Africa
• Rangeland modeling for global economic analysis
• Integrated assessment of air pollution and greenhouse gases mitigation in South Africa
• Using multicriteria decision analysis to develop solutions to water and energy problems in South Africa
• Efficient utilization of waste resources in Southern African countries
• Integration of microgrids into scenarios for providing universal electricity access
• Issues in energy poverty
• Changing human capital in South Africa: educating the disengaged population and their children
• Optimal economic growth under environmental constraints

Conditions of participation

Participants are expected to be resident at the University of the Free State for the entire 3-month period, December through February, with a 6-10 day recess for the winter holidays.

Applicant eligibility

Advanced PhD students from South Africa, sub-Saharan African countries, and other IIASA member countries are eligible to apply. 

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Last edited: 08 April 2013