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Dr Hencharl Strauss was appointed as manager of the CSIR Photonics Centre as of 1 March 2022.
The coastal and hydraulics laboratory is an 11 000m2 facility that houses infrastructure for both 2D and 3D physical model studies.
CSIR senior researcher Dr Thomas Ryan-Keogh and CSIR research group leader for the Southern Ocean Carbon-Climate Observatory Dr Sandy Thomalla are co-lead authors of this high-impact research, which suggests that there may be a reduction in the supply of iron to the Southern Ocean’s surface sunlit waters.
Outlining the significance of the research, Ryan-Keogh says that the Southern Ocean is a globally important region that helps to mitigate the impacts of climate change by absorbing, mainly through physical processes, a significant proportion of the man-made carbon dioxide that is emitted through the burning of fossil fuels. “Almost half of all the anthropogenic carbon dioxide that dissolves in the ocean does so here,” he says.
Tonnes of waste are produced daily, and waste management issues are common across communities worldwide. The four-day event attracted a staggering 350 plus oral and poster presentations. Stimulating thematic sessions offered engagement opportunities for delegates to participate in and apply their minds towards addressing how innovative methodologies can turn trash into wealth from recycled materials.
Researchers from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) made an impression with their insight and relevant findings. On the second day, CSIR principal scientist Prof. Linda Godfrey set the scene during the conference’s plenary session, delivering a well-received keynote address titled, “What will it take to fix South Africa’s broken waste management system?” She provided valuable insights into the challenges and solutions needed to address the current issues in waste management, emphasising the importance of innovation and collaboration.
More than 80 ocean climate scientists, engineers and technicians are now skilled in advanced robotics, modelling, satellite remote sensing, ocean chemistry and more, thanks to over a decade of investment in Southern Ocean climate research by the CSIR and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI).
“We now have these very mature capabilities in South Africa to understand the Southern Ocean and how it impacts climate, and that understanding is then implemented into Earth systems models,” says Dr Sandy Thomalla. “With better Earth systems models, we can feed back into society by supporting policy and governance around adaptation and mitigation strategies.” Read more...
The launch of Skubu marks a significant step in integrating circular economy principles into retail, demonstrating how innovation and sustainable business practices can benefit communities. Beyond environmental benefits, the demonstrator also tackles food security by allowing lower-income citizens to access quality products in smaller quantities at more affordable prices.
Speaking at the launch, Professor Linda Godfrey, CSIR principal researcher who leads Circular Innovation South Africa, a DSTI initiative hosted by the CSIR, said, “Skubu is a great demonstration initiative to show how circular economy principles can be implemented through collaboration. The intention is to focus on the national system of innovation, which looks at how a country creates and applies new ideas to improve technology and grow its economy. This includes bringing universities and science councils closer to the private sector to help de-risk and scale circular interventions,” she explained.
In the latest edition of ScienceScope, we feature some of the CSIR’s work to help meet the needs of the continent while answering critical questions about how it can contribute to global sustainable development goals. Read and watch stories about science, technology, and innovation for a sustainable future.
At least 90% of the printed circuit boards and 80% of the plastic recovered from electronic waste (e-waste) in South Africa are exported for reprocessing. In doing so, the country loses access to valuable metals, as well as the opportunity to create jobs. This is according to a recent study conducted by Mintek, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
The CSIR and Uber have signed a collaboration agreement to share expertise on the use of Uber transactional data and city transport models to help cities to plan better, including the effective evaluation of where transport infrastructure investments are most needed. South Africa has a transport-intensive economy and requires infrastructure and services that need to serve a dynamic population that include many people who are still being excluded from optimal participation in the economy due to transport barriers.