Media briefs

A surprisingly large percentage of South African pupils feel that good luck is of major importance to do well in mathematics and science. This is in striking contrast to the attitude of students in countries who performed well in the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has found in its further interpretation of the findings.

A unique report that shows the spatial extent of needy communities and service provision in KwaZulu-Natal has just been released by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). The report, Service need and provision within KwaZulu-Natal, presents a format which for the first time collates spatial and database information generated within a Geographic Information System (GIS).

The gender imbalances that existed among graduates a decade ago have virtually been eradicated. In 1985 only 39% of the those who graduated from South African universities were women, whereas in 1994 women constituted almost half of the graduates.

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has been awarded almost half of the R10 million that the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST) made available for a special crime prevention fund. This fund was established to enable science and technology to make a meaningful contribution to crime prevention in South African communities.