Defence, peace, safety and security

Feature story

Hands-on enthusiast promotes landward sciences Unlike his namesake in the book Waiting for the Rain (1987) by Sheila Gordon, Dr Frikkie Mostert, 52, does not want things to stay the same. He loves change and embraces such if it is for the benefit of industry and the advancement of science.

News

SA's aeronautic expertise takes off internationally The international aerospace industry's confidence in the CSIR's aeronautic systems research has shown further growth when a team of flutter specialists, led by Louw van Zyl from this area, recently returned from Austria where it undertook flutter clearance work for Diamond Aircraft Industries' new aircraft.

CSIR technology lights up the runway Portable, user-friendly and now also infrared-enabled lights are assisting defence force personnel in Africa as well as other companies working in infrastructure-poor areas to conduct their business more efficiently - and safely.

Computer security gets its own response team While the internet helps to make life easier and people have access to services at the push of a button instead of standing in long queues, it could be to the users' detriment if security issues are not heeded.

Information warfare battle lines drawn Scientists, researchers from around the world and engineers together with the South African military representatives met at the 4th International Conference on Information Warfare held in Cape Town recently where information warfare specialists mapped the future and identified future threats on information warfare.

New acquisition to help in human injury research The CSIR has acquired a side impact dummy (EuroSID II) - manufactured by Robert Denton in the US - to enhance its human injury criteria research on side impact protection.

Action for a Safe South Africa wins PRISM Gold Award Action for Safe South Africa (AFSSA) has been awarded a 2008/2009 PRISM Gold Award by the Public Relations Institute of South Africa (Prisa). CSIR senior crime prevention researcher and co-founder of this campaign, Barbara Holtmann, accepted the coveted award.