Research for Social Impact and Engagement: The Case of the National Research Foundation in South Africa with Dr. Fulufhelo Nelwamondo
There is growing interest in making sure that scientific investigations and inquiries are conducted with the purpose of generating knowledge that can contribute to positive changes in society. The goal of social impact research is to identify problems, challenges, and opportunities that can be addressed through evidence-based interventions and policies. The type of research is often interdisciplinary, collaborative, and driven by a desire to create meaningful and sustainable impact in areas such as health, education, environment, poverty, and social justice. By involving stakeholders, engaging communities, and using innovative methodologies, social impact research can lead to transformative changes that benefit individuals, organizations, and societies as a whole. The session aims at sharing the South African case and how the challenges are addressed.
Date: May 2, 2023
Time: 4-5:30pm ET
Location: Pless Hall, First Floor Lounge, 82 Washington Square East, New York, NY 10003
Speaker:
Dr. Fulufhelo Nelwamondo, CEO of the National Research Foundation, is a seasoned executive with a proven track record in strategy, operational planning and successful implementation. He has worked within the National System of Innovation with multiple stakeholders in the public and private sectors and has led strategic mission-driven research portfolios that demonstrated huge financial returns and societal impact. He holds various leadership roles and responsibilities, nationally and internationally. Dr Nelwamondo has worked in areas of advanced modelling, information security, data science, and artificial intelligence, and is a Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg’s Institute of Intelligent Systems. In 2017, he was awarded the Order of Mapungubwe in Silver, the highest civilian honour bestowed by the President of the Republic of South Africa, for his contribution to the field of science, particularly electrical engineering. He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering in Computational Intelligence from the University of the Witwatersrand. In 2008, he advanced his research endeavours as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, and was the youngest South African to receive the prestigious Harvard-South Africa Fellowship. Prior to joining the NRF, he was the Executive Manager for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Cluster: Next Generation Enterprises and Institutions.