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Lindi Mophuti |
Lindi Mophuti has been appointed as the first women manager to a FabLab in South Africa. She is responsible for the FabLab situated at the Innovation Hub in Pretoria.
Mophuti studied computer systems engineering, after which she joined the CSIR. Her first exposure to a FabLab was as an ordinary user, making printed circuit boards. Being involved with the AMTS implementation unit, she was assigned as project manager for FabLab community projects involving all AMTS FabLabs.
FabLabs are the realisation of the Department of Science and Technology's (DST) goals of providing science, engineering and technology platforms for social development, while benefiting private sector competitiveness and growth.
This is achieved by bringing advanced manufacturing technology platforms to ordinary people as an accessible platform to empower themselves by personally participating in an environment that enables the freedom to experiment and facilitates peer-to-peer learning. The platforms also provide the means to solve local problems innovatively and stimulate creativity that should lead to techno-preneurship options.
The DST enables the roll-out of the FabLabs nationally through the AMTS implementation unit, which is hosted by CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing. The AMTS has entered into a partnership with the Massachusetts Institute for Technology's (MIT) Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA) to establish FabLabs in South Africa. Sixth FabLabs have so far been launched in South Africa.
Mophuti has an affinity for youngsters and wants to raise the awareness that technology can be a part of their lives and make a difference. "Through awareness of technology, they can change patterns and know they have opportunities to positively influence the community," she says.
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