Biosciences

Cape Biotech backs CSIR technology to produce an affordable HIV antiretroviral peptide It's one of the most effective antiretroviral treatments for HIV, but hopelessly unaffordable for most patients in sub-Saharan Africa. Now scientists at the CSIR have developed a bio-manufacturing process for Enfuvirtide that may just change all of this.

GreenPharm™ gets the green light A contract has been signed and sealed for an investment of R15m by South Africa's Innovation Fund for the final phases of development aimed at the establishment of a start-up venture that will produce rabies virus neutralising antibodies through tobacco plants.

Built environment

CSIR develops tool for measuring transport-related air quality A multidisciplinary research team from the CSIR has developed and demonstrated the feasibility of a health risk assessment tool for measuring air quality impact relating to traffic emissions.

CSIR coastal engineering expert wins JD Roberts Award The development of innovative methods for effective monitoring of harbour and coastal structures is one of the factors that came into play when Dave Phelp of the CSIR was selected as the 2009 recipient of the prestigious JD Roberts Award in July.

CSIR develops high-accuracy wave measurement system A newly developed system enables the CSIR to assure port authorities and advise coastal engineers on the safe and efficient design of ports. Researchers have developed the new 'keofloat' system to measure very small waves in the laboratory.

CSIR heliostat mirror panel withstands hailstone tests A heliostat mirror panel used by the CSIR in solar power research passed hailstone tests by Agrément South Africa recently with flying colours.

Defence, peace, safety & security

Masters of unseen battle shares knowledge at CSIR "Electronic warfare (EW) can save lives," said Major General Mario Brazzoli speaking at an international EW conference held at the CSIR recently. The conference was organised by the South African Chapter of the Association of Old Crows (AOC) - the Aardvark Roost.

CSIR develops a 3D viewer library CSIR engineers are developing a 3D viewer library called Sentience3D. The project aims to help developers of computer simulations in building the visualisation tools they need to achieve the required level of situation awareness in their virtual environment.

Direct manufacture now turning designers' dreams into reality The CSIR's technology for special operations (TSO) research area - focusing on developing and applying technology to meet the unique requirements of South African special operations organisations - has recently acquired the capability of direct manufacture, previously referred to as rapid prototyping.

CSIR aero engineers take part in aviation challenge The CSIR's aeronautics engineers are preparing for the Aeronautical Society of South Africa (AeSSA) Indoor Model Aviation Challenge to be held on 18 September at the Air Force Base Waterkloof.

Information & communications

CSIR awards national research network tender to Telkom The CSIR has awarded the contract for the installation of the national backbone network of the South African National Research Network (SANReN) to Telkom. SANReN forms a crucial part of the national cyberinfrastructure initiative funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

Cream of the student crop: CSIR talented researchers hold their own in Italy Ronell Alberts and Thomas Fogwill of the CSIR's Meraka Institute successfully completed the requisite course work for a Master's degree in computational logic at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano in Italy.

A tour de force for CSIR researchers at IGARSS09 Researchers from the CSIR stepped up to the mark at the annual IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (IGARSS) in Cape Town from 13-17 July 2009. Not only did they provide high-level planning input, but collectively CSIR researchers delivered 30 papers, presentations, posters or panel sessions over the five days.

Laser science

Almost a clean sweep at SAIP conference for CSIR laser scientists! CSIR National Laser Centre scientists emerged triumphant at the recent 54th Annual Conference of the South African Institute of Physics (SAIP), scooping four of the five prizes awarded by the Laser, Optics and Spectroscopy Specialised Group.

CSIR laser scientists move at 'ultra-fast' speed The CSIR's laser research capacity has just received a boost with the opening of its second femtosecond laboratory; a mere two years since the first lab's establishment. Femtosecond science involves the use of high-tech laser systems delivering femtosecond (ultra short) pulses with high peak intensities.

Materials science and manufacturing

Physics conference brings award for CSIR A postdoctoral student from the National Centre for Nano-structured Materials walked away with the Goodfellow PhD Publication Award at the 54th Annual Conference of the South African Institute of Physics (SAIP).

First young researcher symposium for nanoscience scheduled for Gauteng The first Nanoscience Young Researcher Symposium (NYRS) for the Gauteng region will be held at the CSIR, Pretoria on 18 September 2009. The symposium sets out to showcase cutting-edge research and product development in nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Biomaterials in the spotlight Biomaterials-Africa 2009, taking place from 20 to 22 September at the CSIR International Convention Centre, will be the first of its kind and, it is believed, of many more to come. The conference is being hosted by the Biomaterials Association of South Africa (BioMatASA) with the theme of 'Advancing biomaterials in Africa'.

Ministerial interactions

S&T can make biggest difference in South Africa, says Minister The Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs Naledi Pandor, has called on the CSIR and other key players in the science, engineering and technology sector to communicate their work more aggressively to maximise its impact on society. She was speaking during her first official visit to the CSIR.

ICT offerings showcased for Deputy Minister of Science and Technology A visit by Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom, to the CSIR's Meraka Institute on 22 July 2009 presented an opportunity to update him on the latest and most fascinating research results in the CSIR's information and communications technologies (ICTs) arena.

Natural resources and the environment

SA economy too carbon intense for future global economies A carbon balance study has highlighted the carbon intensity of the South African economy and specifically its exports: at least 129% more carbon is associated with a dollar earned with exports than a dollar spent on imports, and the carbon footprint of the outflows equates to 37%, on average, of the total carbon emissions of the economy.

Biological indicators to detect biotoxin in rural drinking water The humble little cricket - and duckweed - might just find itself suddenly in demand when it comes to safe drinking water in the rural areas of the country. CSIR scientists have developed a method of using a water plant and insects as indicators of the toxicity of blue-green algae in rural drinking water.

Plastic pellet pollutants used to measure organic pollutants in coastal waters In an ironic twist and another innovation in the monitoring of pollutants in coastal waters, scientists are using one form of pollution to measure another. Small, plastic resin pellets that unintentionally end up in the environment as a result of plastic manufacturing are proving to be a useful medium for monitoring persistent organic pollutants.

Innovative solutions for a water-scarce SA possible, but action must start now South Africa's water crisis presents us with "an enormous range of opportunities" and should not be seen only as "insurmountable problems". However, that also implies that the country should start making innovative plans now if it wants to achieve national water security in 15 years' time.

New on the shelf

Latest ScienceScope The examples of multidisciplinary water research illustrated in this edition of ScienceScope provide some indication of the complexity of managing a critical natural resource, subject to intense demand, within a diverse and changing ecosystem.

Space technology

CSIR geospatial training resource to benefit North-West University students A copy of the Fundisa disc, a geospatial training resource developed by the CSIR Satellite Applications Centre, has been handed over to the North-West University (NWU) in Potchefstroom. This will allow students interested in pursuing studies in geospatial sciences free access to a range of data and tools.

CSIR bids farewell to SPOT-2 satellite It was the end of an era at the CSIR Satellite Applications Centre when the tracking, telemetry and command group bid farewell to SPOT-2 on 29 July 2009. At 20:50 Greenwich Mean Time on this date, the CSIR performed some of the final manoeuvres to end the life of this satellite.