To: ALL media
Media Advisory
Friday, 3 July 2026
On Saturday, 4 July 2026, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) will showcase a range of cutting-edge technologies at the launch of National Science Month (NSM) 2026 at the Vaal University of Technology. This year’s NSM will be held under the theme, “Science, technology and innovation for everyone”.
This annual event aims to bridge the gap between science and society by highlighting the impact of science on everyday life. The goal is to build a South African society that is informed about science, aware of scientific and technological developments and able to form its own opinions on science-related matters.
NSM, an initiative of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, is designed to celebrate science and its significant contributions to society. During the launch, thousands of learners from various schools in and around the Vaal will participate in several activities that will expose them to various career pathways and the skills required in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and innovation, with the aim of encouraging them to pursue careers in these fields.
Researchers from the CSIR will showcase cutting-edge technologies that highlight the critical role of science and technology. The featured innovations will include the CSIR Television White Space deployment, along with complementary projects that provide affordable broadband connectivity to rural and township communities in South Africa. Other technologies that will be on display include:
Additive manufacturing and atomiser: Featuring parts from Aeroswift and CSIR-produced metal powders.
Microfluidics and lab-on-chip (LOC) devices and prototypes: LOC refers to devices that integrate one or several laboratory functions, such as chemical reactions or DNA analysis, onto a single miniaturised chip.
Indigenous knowledge with scientific research to support the sustainable use and value addition of medicinal plants: This work involves collaboration with local communities to document traditional knowledge, promote sustainable harvesting practices and develop scientifically validated plant-based products.
5G network that supports network slicing: A single physical infrastructure is partitioned into multiple logical networks to meet different service requirements and ensure that quality of service and service-level agreements are maintained.
Members of the media are invited as follows:
Date: Saturday, 4 July 2026
Time: 09:00 am
Venue: Vaal University of Technology, Sebokeng Campus, 1 145 Voortrekker Street, Sebokeng, 1982, South Africa
Contact details for media enquiries:
Phetolo Phatsibi, Media Relations Practitioner
PPhatsibi@csir.co.za
Contact: 081 396 8871
About the CSIR:
The CSIR, an entity of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, is one of the leading scientific and technology research, development and implementation organisations in Africa. Constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1945 as a science council, the CSIR undertakes directed and multidisciplinary research and technological innovation, as well as industrial and scientific development, to improve the quality of life of all South Africans. For more information, visit www.csir.co.za.
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