Dates to diarise

CSIR Science real and relevant - get the programme on your mobile phone Less than one week to go to the CSIR's biennial conference, Science real and relevant. This year, mobile technology puts the conference programme in the palm of your hand. If you have a web-enabled phone you can access the conference programme anywhere, anytime.

People news

CSIR road engineering expert wins esteemed JD Roberts Award Transport infrastructure engineer, Dr James Maina, has been selected as the 2010 recipient of the prestigious JD Roberts Award. He is recognised nationally and internationally for outstanding research towards finding solutions for large and detailed problems in his field of expertise.

Built environment

CSIR develops large, precision-built model of off-shore iron-ore loading wharf The CSIR's coastal engineering and port infrastructure team recently completed a large intricate 1:100 scale model of an international port. The new digital imaging technology developed resulted in a new South African capability to measure waves in a physical model.

Dedicated wards for TB patients constructed at nine hospitals South Africa has insufficient infrastructure to cope with the ongoing tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, with extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) emerging on top of the rise in multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). Infrastructure constraints in existing hospital buildings for TB patients remain an obstacle to safe health service delivery.

Defence and security

Radar technology touted as best world-wide Currently, the largest defence acquisition programme for the South African National Defence Force is the Ground Based Air Defence System. A key element of this system is its radar. Armscor has the option to import this radar or to use a radar developed and manufactured in South Africa.

Simulation environment for electronic warfare sharpens decision-making The CSIR's sensors and electronic warfare engagement simulation (SEWES) is used by defence research institutes for evaluating the effectiveness of electronic warfare, developing doctrine and training.

Energy

Algal biodiesel research accentuates potential socio-economic benefits Ongoing research into microalgae for biodiesel shows that this technology offers the best natural solution to current energy and environmental challenges.

Integrated models to aid small town municipal service delivery The CSIR is one step closer to the establishment of an integrated research infrastructure platform on its campus. The goal of this platform is to devise alternative solutions to municipal service delivery problems that mitigate climate change and contribute to food, energy and water security using a systems approach.

Health

Improving healthcare for patients in rural areas through ICT The CSIR piloted research to assist a rural community with improved healthcare through an intervention using information and communications technology (ICT). Volunteer healthcare workers provide basic medical assistance to rural patients, visiting them at home on a daily to weekly basis.

Is it safe, is it clean, is it fresh? The CSIR provides a range of specialist analytical laboratory services for various industries and clients locally as well as across Africa. The accuracy and quality of these services are critical for quality control purposes and ensuring industry compliance to regulatory requirements.

Industry

World's first low element-count 3D underwater imaging system developed at the CSIR Researchers at the CSIR have developed the world's first low element-count three-dimensional (3D) underwater imaging system. The researchers have also built a technology demonstrator that was successfully tested at the underwater test facility of the Institute for Maritime Technology.

ICT

Putting the AxS mobile service platform to use for tutoring life orientation The success of Dr Math, a chat-based tutoring programme to assist learners with mathematics, has prompted education researcher Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, to explore the option of using a similar system for tutoring life orientation.

Third successful Masters Ontology School hosted by CSIR For the third year running, the Knowledge Representation and Reasoning (KRR) group of the CSIR Meraka Institute held a Masters ontology school from 19-30 July 2010, known this year as MOWS 2010 (Masters Ontology Winter School).

South Korea-based studies beckon for young ICT student Studying abroad is a dream for most students and Angeline Dludla, a member of the CSIR's wireless networks research group, is not an exception. When she was offered a study opportunity at KAIST in Daejeon, South Korea, she jumped at the opportunity. KAIST is one of the nation's most prestigious science and technology institutions.

Natural environment

Monitoring the impact of acid mine water on the Cradle of Humankind Mining activities are associated with environmental contamination such as acid mine drainage. CSIR geohydrologists are keeping a close eye on the impact of acid mine drainage on surface water and groundwater resources in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.

National estuarine management protocol developed for South Africa As part of a Water Research Commission project on cooperative governance, the CSIR, with contributions from various lead authorities, initiated the development of a national estuarine management protocol (NEMP) – a flexible, but legally defensible, protocol providing guidance to estuarine managers at all levels.