smothapo@csir.co.za For More Info
smothapo@csir.co.za For More Info Arrival at CSIR ICC · Registration and Lunch
Inaugural Session
Welcome Address
Professor Suprakas Sinha Ray
Centre Manager CSIR
About the American Chemical Society
Ms. LaTrease Garrison
COO, American Chemical Society
Introduction to the Faculty Leadership Summit
Ms. Aparna Sharma
Program Manager, American Chemical Society
Role of the National Research Foundation in SA’s National System of Innovation
Dr Ndivhuwo Luruli
Chief Strategist in the Office of the CEO at the NRF
Q&A and Leg break with Juice and Coffee
Plenary Lecture on Scientific Leadership
Scientific leadership drives innovation, mentors talent, and fosters collaboration — guiding research, encouraging creativity, and bridging communication gaps. Cultivating it takes education, hands-on experience, networking, continuous learning, and self-awareness. By nurturing scientific leaders, we tackle challenges, advance knowledge, and help ensure a sustainable future.
Prof. Professor Eugene Cloete
CEO, Cape Higher Education Consortium
Essentials of Leadership
Effective leadership cultivates a supportive research environment, guiding teams to innovate, achieve shared goals, and navigate the complexities of academia. Good leaders know what to prioritise, what to delegate, and how to make the best of what is in front of them.
Dr Thulani Dlamini
CEO, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
Q & A and Discussion
Group Photo and Coffee Break with light snacks
Group Exercise 1 – “Know your Neighbor”
Group Discussion — Promoting Women’s Leadership in STEM
A moderated panel on advancing women into leadership across science and academia — addressing structural barriers, mentorship and sponsorship, work–life integration, and practical strategies institutions can adopt to build inclusive, equitable pathways to leadership.
Prof. Nikoletta B. Báthori, SACI President 2025-2027, MRSC, MRSSAf
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Ms. LaTrease Garrison
COO, American Chemical Society
Moderator:
Ms. Aparna Sharma
Program Manager, American Chemical Society
Dinner & Networking Mixer at CSIR ICC
Arrival at CSIR ICC and Coffee
Reflections on Day 1
How to become a successful researcher?
Suprakas Sinha Ray
The Importance of Scientific Communication
As more people look online for answers, scientists must communicate thoughtfully and find clear, creative ways to cut through a complex information landscape. The public needs accessible education on rapidly changing science that meets varying levels of familiarity with critical thinking and the scientific method.
Dr Mamoeletsi Mosia
Managing Director, South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement
Coffee Break
Importance of Intellectual Property (IP) Protection and Commercialization
Protecting and commercializing Intellectual Property (IP) is vital for converting research, innovation, and creative ideas into economic, social, and industrial benefits. Effective IP management helps researchers, universities, and industries boost their competitiveness and influence.
Dr Minal Soni, CSIR Enterprise
Q & A session
Group Discussion on Innovation in Everyday Life: Africa’s Path to Becoming a Scientific Superpower
Leveraging science & technology could help Africa emerge as a global leader in scientific research, driving innovation and socio-economic growth.
Moderators:
Dr. Krishna Raghav Chaturvedi
Program Manager, American Chemical Society
Ms. Aparna Sharma
Program Manager, American Chemical Society
Lunch
Team Exercise – Building Stronger Teams
Coffee Break
AI for Scholarly Publishing
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how research is written, reviewed, and disseminated. This session explores AI-assisted manuscript preparation, peer review and integrity tools, responsible-use guidelines, and what these shifts mean for early-career researchers navigating the evolving publishing landscape.
Dr. Krishna Raghav Chaturvedi
Program Manager, American Chemical Society
Resources at ACS for Early-Career Faculty Members
Ms. Aparna Sharma
Program Manager, American Chemical Society
Q & A session
Project Discussions
Dinner & Networking Mixer at CSIR ICC
Arrival at CSIR ICC and coffee
Reflection on Day 2
Building Effective Collaborations through Networking
Networking and collaboration expand research horizons — offering early-career faculty interdisciplinary partnerships, resource sharing, and broader career development. Strong networks open access to opportunities, resources, and cross-disciplinary teams.
Dr. Krishna Raghav Chaturvedi
Program Manager, American Chemical Society
Presentations on Assigned Projects
Crafting Effective Grant Proposals
Securing funding takes more than a compelling research topic — the craft of writing the proposal is equally vital. We focus on project design and overall presentation quality as decisive factors in competitive grant applications.
Dr Patrick Nonjola
Manager: NRF Research, Innovation, Impact Support and Advancement
Session Closure
Certificate distribution and vote of thanks
Lunch and Departure