Prof Vuyisa Mazwi-Tanga recently hosted the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mosibudi Mangeni at the Department of Maritime Studies on the Granger Bay Campus.
“We are pleased at how Minister Mosibudi Mangena has shown passion and commitment in developing Science and Technology in South Africa,” said Prof Mazwi-Tanga.

The Head of Maritime Studies, Captain Dr. Ed Snyders told Minister Mangena the plans and activities of the department. Once the formalities were completed, the Minister, Vice-Chancellor, Dr Oswald Franks, Dean of Engineering and the other guests were given a tour of the campus.

Maritime Studies is a niche area offered by only two higher education institutions in South Africa. The department offers formal education in marine navigation and marine engineering, and non-formal training in offshore safety and survival. The Department boasts the only Offshore Survival Centre in Africa and trains 2 500 students from Africa and beyond.

“Our private Granger Bay harbour houses a number of lifeboats/crafts, fast rescue craft and an indoor, heated swimming pool. It is envisaged that a new floating laboratory (training vessel), a first for Africa, and marine engineering workshop on the Bellville campus shall be operational in the near future”, Captain Dr Snyders told the Minister.

The Department of Maritime Studies is also an important role player in the Eastern Cape Maritime Awareness Project (EC-MAP) that was launched in August 2005.

“EC-MAP is a partnership formed by the CPUT, the Eastern Cape Education Department and the National Ports Authority to reverse the high levels of unemployment and crime. Eight Eastern Cape schools were identified with the view to making learners and educators aware of their maritime heritage and the job opportunities the maritime industry provides. We’ve enrolled eight students from EC-MAP and their progress has been satisfactory. The idea is to roll this project out into the Western Cape Province next year, “said Capt Dr Snyders.

Written by CPUT News
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Professor Robert Van Zyl, Deputy Director of F’SATI, will be jetting off to Japan after being nominated by the South African Government to represent it at the United Nations/Japan Nano-Satellite Symposium in Nagoya, Japan, next week.

Prof Van Zyl said his nomination signifies “a remarkable shift in recognizing the role that CPUT is playing in developing skills. We can contribute a lot to the discussion in South Africa. For us it acknowledges the prominence we have in the national skills training landscape. It also gives us the opportunity to explore collaboration with researchers in Japan”.

Ms Naledi Pandor, Minister of Science and Technology, said: “I trust that his participation in the symposium will enhance our National Space Programme and Research & Development in Space Applications and Space Technology as South Africa continues to build capacity in space programmes in micro and nano-Satellite”

Prof Van Zyl delivered a speech at the Space Science Colloquim held at the University of Pretoria yesterday as a pre-emptive to his trip to Japan. The Colloquim was hosted by the Japan Embassy, The DST, the Nairobi Research Station and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Its objective was to find common points of interest between South Africa and Japan in astronomy, earth observation and micro-satellite research.

Professor Van Zyl spoke about Satellite development in S.A. over the past two decades. He also covered work done in the SunSat and SumbadilaSat microsatellites developed by the University of Stellenbosch and current developments in the CubeSat/Nanosatellite projects.

CPUT students are finalists in the Mission Idea Contest, a global competition run by the Tokyo University and the Japan Space Agency. Last year CPUT were semi-finalists in the competition. More than sixty Universities from across the world are participating.

By Thami Nkwanyane

Written by CPUT News
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Outstanding contributions towards science, engineering, innovation and technology were acknowledged at the twelfth National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) Awards.

The winners of the 2009/10 NSTF Awards were announced at the annual Gala Dinner that took place on 4 May 2010 at Emperors Palace, Gauteng.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Ms Naledi Pandor presented the fourteen category awards on the evening.

The NSTF Awards affords an opportunity for recognition to all practising scientists, engineers, technologists and innovators across the system of innovation.

Teachers, schools and students who excelled in the mathematics, science, and technology field were also acknowledged.

The Awards represent a collaborative effort by the SET community of South Africa, made possible by the participation and sponsorship of a variety of stakeholders.

CPUT’s Prof Oluwole Daniel Makinde received recognition for his success in research in mathematical modelling and computation as well as research capacity development in challenging environments.

The NRF Sponsored T W Kambule Award to a 'senior black male researcher over the last five to ten years' was made to Prof Makinde, who is currently a Senior Professor and Chair of Postgraduate Studies in the Faculty of Engineering.

In 2009, Prof Makinde received an NSTF finalist award for outstanding contribution to science, engineering, technology and innovation.

This year, he was nominated by Dr S M Tshehla, Deputy Dean Military Science at the University of Stellenbosch.

Prof Makinde’s involvement in the NSTF is mainly through capacity development in the area of computational and mathematical sciences among previously disadvantaged communities in South Africa and beyond, as well as his contributions in the area of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Modeling.

Over the past ten years his research work has contributed to the upliftment of students through supervision and training at Honours, Masters, PhD and post-doctoral levels.

“This achievement has given my research niche area a boost. Computational and mathematical modeling of engineering and biological systems provide a cost effective means of investigating the inherent complex dynamics embedded in them”, said Prof Makinde.

The main objective of his research work is to use mathematical theories and methodologies to gain insight into the dynamics of various engineering & biological systems which are of industrial, environmental and social interest.

“The NSTF provides a good platform for our academic staff and students to embark of quality research activities. We are here to provide adequate mentorship in order to make their dreams a reality. Research excellence is achievable and we can all contribute to the advancement of Science/Technological Innovation/New Knowledge in South Africa and Africa in general”, said Prof Makinde.

Presently, he is serving as the Secretary General of the African Mathematical Union and an Associate member of National Institute of Physics in South Africa (NIThep).

He has co-authored two textbooks, two monographs and published numerous research articles in journals and conference proceedings and has received several academic and research excellent awards, honours and grants within and outside South Africa.

He added: “I will continue to provide much needed mentorship and support that are necessary for the development of essential research skills for both academic staff and students at CPUT, other South African institutions and Africa continent in general”.

For more information and a gallery of photographs from the event visit the NSTF website at www.nstfawards.org.za.

By Thando Moiloa

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT is a trailblazer in research and innovation, so who better to call on for help when developing a new framework for innovation in South Africa.

Deputy-Vice Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, Dr Chris Nhlapo, has been appointed to a national task team that will pen a new framework for innovation in South Africa.

The task team, comprising key role-players in the South African higher education sector, was handpicked by the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI).

This body was created to advise the South African Minister of Science and Technology on the role and contribution that innovation plays in addressing economic, social, scientific and technology challenges.

Dr Nhlapo says their first task will be to “unpack the concept of innovation.”

According to NACI, innovation consists of three phases. The first is a conception of a new idea, while the second is the conversion of this idea into a product, service or process. The final phase is commercialisation or the successful uptake by users

However, Dr Nhlapo says that innovation is unfortunately often misunderstood, with many people limiting its scope to science and technology. He says innovation cuts across all disciplines, from science and technology right up to business.

“Innovation is not only for monetary gains. There is also social innovation, which benefits the community,” he says.

Dr Nhlapo says the task team will focus their attention on developing a national innovation framework that encompasses all disciplines.

During the next few months, they will also survey the South African innovation terrain between 1994 and 2011 and explore existing successful frameworks.

By: Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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Minister of Science and Technology, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane hailed the send-off of the ZACube-2 satellite as a job well done by CPUT.

Kubayi-Ngubane delivered the keynote address at the nano-satellites send-off ceremony at the Bellville campus of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology yesterday. 

“We are excited about the work you are doing here because the country has a deficit of space engineers, especially black and female ones,” she told the gathering. “We are trying to achieve a critical and meaningful role in the global space economy and need you to do that.”

ZACube-2 will now be shipped to The Netherlands where it would be integrated with other CubeSats. It would then make its way to India from where it will eventually be launched.

Nano-satellites are small satellites weighing between 1kg and 10kg and ZACube-2 was developed by the internationally acclaimed French South African Institute at CPUT, which made history when it launched Africa’s first nano-satellite in 2013.

ZACube-2 is a triple unit CubeSat - three times the size of its predecessor and will monitor marine traffic along the South African coast and feed Operation Phakisa objectives. Data received from ships includes the ships’ GPS coordinates, registration information, speed and direction of travel and will assist the authorities to track ship traffic in our exclusive economic zone and improve the safety of ships. ZACube-2 will also carry an advanced camera, which will detect forest and veld fires.

CPUT’s Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, Technology and Innovation Professor Marshall Sheldon says the university has an all-encompassing approach to learning which sees all aspects of the satellite development happen on in high tech on-campus facilities like a cleanroom, production and development areas, state of the art test equipment and a ground station.

“Nano-satellites are affordable to produce and provide a paradigm shift from the traditional large-satellite industry. Highly responsive and agile they provide real-world solutions to real-world issues,” she says.

“Initiatives like ZACube-2 are helping to attract more learners to careers in space engineering and as it does, the abundance of ingenuity, creativity and entrepreneurship that pulsates through the youth of South Africa becomes ever more apparent.”

*Operation Phakisa is an initiative of the South African government aimed at implementing priority programmes better, faster and more effectively.

*The ZACube-2 mission is an initiative funded by the Department of Science and Technology, the South African National Space Agency, the National Research Foundation and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

Our technology partners include the CSIR, Stone Three, Stellenbosch University (CubeSpace), Astrofica, Luvhone, Etse, Spaceteq and Clyde Space.

Written by Lauren Kansley
Tel: +27 21 953 8646
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Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.