CPUT is set to showcase our environmentally friendly programmes at the Climate Change Response Expo, taking place in Durban.

Organised by the Department of Environmental Affairs, the expo runs as a side event to the United Nations 17^th Conferences of the Parties (COP17), where national and internal stakeholders will discuss global climate change.

The two-week-long expo, which opens on 28 November, provides a platform for local and international organisations, to showcase their sustainable initiatives and products.

DELEGATION: An excited group of CPUT students and staff members will represent the university at the expo.

CPUT will proudly showcase their wares – the Shu Shu Shine solar water heater, a sustainable fish farm and ZACUBE01 – South Africa’s first CubeSat.

Engineering Lecturer Fareed Ismail, who is part of the CPUT delegation travelling to the expo, said this is a great opportunity to promote the university and its green activities.

The solar water heater provides hot water at a fraction of the cost of those currently on the market, while the fish farm, located in a container, relies on solar power for all its operations.

“These two projects are currently located in the Belhar community, where trials are taking place,” said Ismail.

CPUT’s CubeSat is also expected to draw large crowds. It is the second time in less than a month that the CubeSat will be showcased. Recently it was on display at the International Astronomical Federation Conference, which took place in Cape Town.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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The South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC) is featuring in the 24 Hours of Reality: 24 Reasons For Hope film, which goes live today.

The film is an initiative of the Climate Reality Project, an organization spearheaded by former US Vice President and Nobel Laureate, Al Gore.

The project aims to create awareness of climate change and advocates a global shift to renewable energy.

SARETEC Project Manager, Howard Fawkes, says the film will cover the status of global warming and the global actions that are underway to mitigate the effects of global warming.

Currently under construction at the Bellville Campus, SARETEC is collaboration between local universities and will be national training facility for renewable energy technicians.

Earlier this year, filmmaker and producer Jeff Barbee covered the contributions from several African countries for the film.

He spent a day with Fawkes and the SARETEC team and some time at the SARETEC site.

“This is a major global media event and SARETEC is proud to be part of it,” says Fawkes.

SARETEC also recently made it television debut and featured on CNBC Africa TV.

Watch the film here

Watch the CNBC Africa TV clip here

Find out more about SARETEC

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.

CPUT is planning a series of events between World Environment Day and World Oceans Day to raise awareness about the effects of plastic pollution. 

The theme for this year’s World Environment Day on 5 June is Beat Plastic Pollution and for World Oceans Day on 8 June, it is about preventing plastic pollution.

Extended Curriculum Programme Coordinator in the Faculty of Applied Sciences Beatrice Opeolu drives activities to create awareness around climate change and the environment as the leader of the Climate Change and Environmental Research Focus Area.

 “There is strong evidence now that plastic is everywhere, in the water we drink, in river systems, in the oceans. Studies have also proved that plastics of different sizes and different types cause different kinds of ecological imbalances in the environment at large,” said Opeolu.

The first event is a day-long symposium on 5 June at the Science Building on the District Six Campus. Themed Beat Plastic Pollution, the symposium will feature six speakers talking about various effects of plastic pollution.

Renowned toxicologist Prof Augustine Arukwe from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway, will talk about endocrine disruptive effects of plastic-derived contaminants.

CPUT’s Oceans Research Chair Prof Ken Findlay will give a glimpse into plastic pollution and marine animal entanglements and mortalities while Aaniya Omardien of The Beach Cooperative will talk about beach clean-ups.

Prof Jonathan Okonkwo of the Tshwane University of Technology, Nitasha Baijnath-Pillay of the Department of Environmental Affairs and North-West University doctoral student Karin Minnaar round out the programme.

The next day,  6 June, between 11 am to 1 pm, CPUT students and staff are invited to take part in an effort to clean up the precinct around the District Six Campus.

Thursday 7 June, between 11 am to 1 pm, is set aside for invited guests to meet CPUT researchers, lecturers and students. “They will be based at the Applied Sciences Faculty to meet anyone from the institution who wants to work with them or just network,” said Opeolu.

On Friday 8 June, Arukwe will deliver a public lecture at the Saretec building on Bellville Campus followed by a panel discussion, between 12 am and 2 pm. The public lecture is titled “Plastic components as significant source for environmental obesogens: A societal concern for human and wildlife health.”

“After the lecture, all of the colleagues we invited for the symposium, except for Aaniyah Omardien who will not be available, will sit in a panel discussion and chat about plastic pollution and plastic issues.

“The audience will have the opportunity to ask them questions and to contribute to the discussion,” said Opeolu.  

Find the World Environment Day & Oceans Day programme here.

Written by Theresa Smith
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The Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability Research Focus Area (RFA) will host a symposium tomorrow (8 June) to commemorate World Environment Day and Oceans Day.

World Environment Day is marked on 5 June every year and is the largest global platform for environmental public outreach. This year’s theme is Only One Earth: The United Nations celebrates World Oceans Day on June 8 every year, and this year’s theme is: “Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean”.

The symposium will be held online (MS Teams) and is scheduled to start at 10 am.

Prof Beatrice Opeolu, Leader of the Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability Research Focus Area, said the symposium aims " to create awareness about the existential threat of climate change and our daily life choices to man and the environment”.

“We have only one earth, so it must be cherished and handled with care rather than abused. Oceans play an important role in ecosystem balance, so unhealthy practices against our oceans affect oceans economies and human and environmental health.”

She said attendees will be privileged to listen to environmental scientists within and outside CPUT discussing some of these issues.

“We also hope to use the event to foster collaborations for research and community engagement activities.”

Chioma Chikere, Professor of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology in the Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, will deliver an invited speech.

Department of Environmental and Occupational Studies staff will also share their waste management initiatives with the CPUT community.

Click here to join the meeting.

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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