Being elected President of the South African Chemical Institute (SACI) is both an honour and a responsibility for Nikoletta Bathori, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, who says her recent election “represents the trust of my peers and the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of chemistry in South Africa and beyond”.

SACI, formally established in 1912, is the professional body that represents all chemists across South Africa, with a history of over a century of promoting chemistry education, research, and public understanding. The president serves a two-year term and is responsible for providing strategic direction, strengthening partnerships, and supporting the professional growth of members.

The dependable academic, who values integrity and lifelong learning, intends to advance SACI’s ongoing evolution in response to the opportunities and challenges of the digital era. “Our focus will be on renewal, sustainability, recognition, representation, and international collaboration, ensuring that SACI continues to serve as a strong and relevant voice for the chemistry community.”

Bathori, who likes to take initiative, stay organised, and follow through on commitments, notes that the institute has already embarked on a comprehensive rebranding initiative aimed at modernising the Institute’s image and strengthening its connection with members and the public. “A key priority of my term will be ensuring the long-term sustainability of the South African Journal of Chemistry, which has proudly served our scientific community since 1918. We are committed to maintaining our accessibility to members while enhancing our international competitiveness. Preserving this important journal is not only about tradition but about safeguarding a cornerstone of South African scientific excellence.”

The institute will introduce two new SACI awards to celebrate excellence within its community and to recognise the outstanding contributions of its members. She says they will continue to strengthen SACI’s international footprint across the African continent by extending memoranda of understanding with other chemical societies and fostering deeper partnerships that promote collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the advancement of chemistry in Africa.

“Through these initiatives, my goal is to ensure that SACI remains a vibrant, forward-looking organisation — one that honours its legacy while embracing innovation, partnership, and inclusivity in the service of chemistry and society.”

The Hungarian-born scholar, who moved to South Africa for a postdoctoral fellowship about 20 years ago, has advanced through various leadership positions within SACI, gaining a broad understanding of its structure and culture. “This role is a wonderful opportunity to practice and refine my leadership skills while applying my knowledge of business management in a scientific context. I see this as a rare gift — a chance to give back to a community that has given me so much and to help guide its future direction.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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Interested in a science based career? Then look no further than CPUT.

The university is still accepting applications for the following courses: Food Technology, Analytical Chemistry, Nature Conservation and Oceanography.

These courses offer students hands-on practical training in state-of-the-art-laboratories as well as an opportunity to hone their skills in the workplace.

And with a shortage of skilled graduates in the science and technology fields, those who opt to make CPUT their academic home, are sure to reap the benefits once they graduate.

Individuals who are interested in learning the science of food will fare well studying Food Technology, a course that focuses on the physical, microbiological and chemical composition of food.

These skills are in huge demand with large food manufacturing companies offering graduates employment opportunities in quality control, product development and the production management sector.

Interested in a research and development based career? Then a qualification in Analytical Chemistry is the right fit. This hands-on course skills students to apply basic principles and techniques of chemical quantitative and qualitative analysis, quality control of raw materials and finished products.

Individuals who are keen on pairing their science skills with their love of the outdoors can consider applying for the Nature Conservation or Oceanography courses.

Both courses equip students with a comprehensive range of technical and research skills for employment in the nature conservation sectors.

Late applications are accepted until 31 October at a fee of R150 and are available for local students only.

* A select number of courses are accepting late applications for the 2014 academic year, view these courses here.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

Learners from Sun Valley Primary School were shown the fun side of science through a number of interactive exercises during a recent visit to the Bellville campus.

They turned water into wine, induced static electricity, performed chromatography and created a bouncing polymer ball.

The first stop was the Department of Analytical Chemistry where staff explained how the instruments in the laboratories work and allowed the youngsters to conduct basic experiments.

After explaining how life would be without chemistry, Shaheeda Adonis split the group and together with lab assistants the youngsters were given a set of instructions and allowed to experiment.

They then moved on to the Food Technology Department where the Grade 6’s learnt about the role of bacteria in the processing of food and beverages.

They were shown all the machines that are used to process various types of food and beverages and were treated to demonstrations.

Later Timothy Jasson from the Horticulture Department took the learners through the growth pattern plants follow and explained how to create the best conditions for them to flourish.

By Kwanele Butana

Written by CPUT News
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Navigating CPUT’s academic library’s thousands of books, online journals and databases can be a daunting task for students.

But thanks to library staff, students are being shown step by step, how to find their way around any of the institutions 11 libraries.

The library developed the Information Literacy short course and Librarian Janine Lockhart says over just five modules students are trained to identify information, evaluate it and how to use information legally and ethically as well as how to reference.

Lockhart says these skills form a key component of academic life and a base for those who will pursue postgraduate studies.

Already 2 700 students have completed the course since its launch last year and recently the Library Director, Elisha Chiware, recognized a group of Analytical Chemistry students who were among the first to ace the course.

When starting out at CPUT, student Qiqa Mevana says she never considered the important role the library would play in her studies.

“I always relied on Google and never knew that I could access online resources such as Google Scholar, where I could find referenced information,” says Qiqa.

“The course taught us simple ways to research information, rather than having to go through hundreds of books or websites to find what you are looking for.”

Annually the library invest R13 million into new resources and currently boasts 265 327 books, 22 919 e-books, 43 Elsevier e-text books as well as 31 platforms which provide access to a total of 100 databases that includes numerous e-journals.

Director of the Library Elisha Chiware says this course is just one of the many initiatives to ensure students make use of these vast resources.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

In their quest to eradicate gender-based violence (GBV) and start conversations on educating CPUT men to be able to have a gender-equal campus, the Centre for Diversity, Inclusivity and  Social Change in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor recently hosted a workshop at the Bellville Campus.

The workshop followed the inauguration of the Vice-Chancellor’s Think Tank for Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Task Team in March this year.  The Centre for Diversity, Inclusivity and Social Change in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor saw a need to have ambassadors who will be directly involved in GBV campaigns and interventions across all CPUT campuses to promote a campus free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination,  is diverse, equitable, inclusive and where difference is valued and celebrated.

The Centre’s Diversity and Inclusivity Assistant, Tumiso Mfisa, coordinated the workshop. This included the training for the first cohort, which targeted students and facilitated the orientation of the ambassadors. The CSRC president, Nanga Codana, shared a message of support with the ambassadors, highlighting the significance of men’s immediate response to GBV. The three sessions addressed issues such as how the ambassadors can conceptualise GBV in South Africa and how men can play their role in eradicating GBV on and off campus.

The participants also went in-depth on the practicality of GBV interventions on and off-campus, where the facilitator spoke on community engagement and interventions, which work primarily on awareness-raising on and off-campus, and how important it is to mobilise men in such programmes and educated the ambassadors on how to win over society in partaking in any intervention. 

There were also team-building exercises and discussions on various qualities the ambassadors need to ensure success in implementing the GBV programmes and men’s development interventions. 

Mfisa highlighted the overall picture of what the ambassadors should be like, which included them being transformed to transform others and that “together we can forge gender equality the second cohort will follow and will involve CPUT Staff members”.  “A follow-up session will involve more students and staff in GBV interventions and campaigns. Collectively, we can all #BreakTheBias and end GBV if we work together and not in isolation, ‘gender equality is everyone’s responsibility to enhance oneness and smartness,’” he said.

Ambassador Kwena Etmond Mapumo, a Diploma in Analytical Chemistry student, said:  “It was a very thought-provoking session we had, and I’d like to see more engagements and for us to be the change we wish to see in making a safe space for all.”

Another ambassador, Lance Sibuyi, a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering student, said: “Indeed, it was an awesome session. [I] learned a lot, which upscaled my perspective and knowledge on various issues about gender-based violence.  Thank you, team, for the awesome workshop!”

For more information, contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Meet our ambassadors by opening the link below: https://ieyegallery.pic-time.com/avm046TH

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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