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| The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa is one of the leading scientific and technology research, development and implementation organisations in Africa. It undertakes directed research and development for socio-economic growth. |
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Each year we honour the 20 000 brave South African women who marched to the Union Building to protest against the pass law, chanting, "You strike a woman, you strike a rock!" These individuals made a significant contribution towards the empowerment of women and our democracy. While we salute those special women, the CSIR also celebrates its women in science working to improve the lives of people. These eight women were featured during women's month (August) 2009. |
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After six months in the United States as a visiting scholar, PhD student Thabo Gcwabaza returned home with valuable knowledge gained from his learning experience and the distinct possibility of collaboration. He brought both back to the CSIR. |
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Growing up with close connections to the farming community in the arid eastern Karoo, principal climate change specialist Dr Emma Archer spent a lot of her childhood hearing relatives and family friends talking about drought and rain. |
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Every year on 3 December the world celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities. As an initiative leader in the field of information and communications technologies (ICT) for persons with disabilities and the aged, Hina Patel of the CSIR’s Meraka Institute is passionate about using technology to achieve the aims of inclusion and empowerment |
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Community-driven innovation in a real-life context and collaboration between different stakeholders – these are powerful ingredients in the hands of Professor Marlien Herselman and the Living Labs research group at the CSIR’s Meraka Institute.
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Finding solutions to large and detailed problems in the area of infrastructure engineering by combining his knowledge of a variety of fields is what excites Dr James Maina. Recently promoted to a chief researcher at the CSIR - the highest ranking within the CSIR's research career ladder - Maina is also research group leader for CSIR transport infrastructure engineering.
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A talent for making the model match the real thing makes Dr Wim van der Molen’s research into the numerical and physical modelling of moored ships a highly sought-after skill in the context of layout and maintenance of South Africa’s port infrastructure.
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Unlocking the potential benefits of earth observation for developing nations. A talented young space scientist with a background in tracking and telemetry and a passion for remote sensing – these attributes make Daniel Matsapola of the CSIR Satellite Applications Centre the ideal candidate for his job.
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16 June is a day dedicated to the youth of South Africa. With youth in mind, we highlight the budding career of Franscious Cummings, one of our young scientist who, at 26, is a physicist with a mission to make a significant contribution to finding a solution for the world’s energy crisis.
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It is time for environmental scientists to lead society on new and sustainable pathways. However, defining these pathways will be one of those “wicked problems”, says conservation scientist and principal CSIR researcher Dr Belinda Reyers, who admits that the intricate complexities of the dependencies between people and nature are what interest her most.
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Diamonds are the hardest known natural substance. There are many types of diamonds such as industrial, commercial and synthetic ones. Laser scientist Bathusile Masina is involved in studies whereby industrial diamonds are heated by a laser beam and the resulting temperature is optically measured on the surface of the diamond in order to study temperature driven defects.
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It is said that when the sun shines while it rains, it will rain the same time again the next day. Mary-Jane Kgatuke, a research scientist at the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC), managed by the CSIR, may have her own ideas about whether this holds water.
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Weapons have been drawn and the battle to snuff out malaria is intensifying, especially as this year on 25 April, international efforts to commemorate World Malaria Day are celebrated under the banner ‘Counting out Malaria’ in anticipation of prevention and treatment goals instituted by the United Nations. Dr Tsepo Tsekoa, a protein biochemist, interrogates current and new antimalarials to counter drug resistance as his contribution to the war.
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As laboratory analysts celebrate World Laboratory Day on 23 April, the CSIR’s Zolela Sigqakaza urges the public to be mindful of the nutritional information on the food products they buy and to learn the basics about food analysis – and the food they eat.
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Dr Philip Loveday believes that the world changes continuously and that it does so incrementally. In the process, today's research will become tomorrow's everyday technology - something his own research in smart structures and materials has taught him.
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According to CSIR researcher Elizabeth Masekoameng, many South Africans do not realise that they are in a water scarce country because every time they open their taps, water comes out. Occasions such as the National Water Week from 2 to 8 March and the World Water Day on 22 March are intended to change people’s perceptions and attitudes about water. From 16 March researchers around the world will gather in Turkey for the World Water Forum to address water-related issues.
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CSIR research scientist, Dr Bhekisipho Twala, involved in digital intelligence studies, knows the value of mathematics and its inextricable link to science all too well.
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Daniel van Niekerk of the Meraka Institute of the CSIR focuses on research in the field of text-to-speech systems for South Africa’s multilingual population. |
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Current trends in healthcare have seen a shift towards patient comfort. Ann Singh, a researcher at the CSIR National Laser Centre, is one of the people involved in fundamental research into the development of non-invasive medical techniques and devices, such as determining the optical properties of tissue to contribute to the further advancement of non-invasive cancer therapy research. |
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The discovery of Ophrydium versatile by CSIR researcher Paul Oberholster and his team has given hope that not all water has been spoiled. Oberholster discovered this particular species of protozoa in a tributary of what he calls “pristine water” in the Lapalala River in the Waterberg. |
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