A lifetime of national and international service
THE Fourth Industrial Revolution is dramatically changing how humans interact with new technologies, how we embrace innovation and convergence, how we communicate, and how we use technology to improve our collective futures, according to Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, (Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Postgraduate Affairs, University of the Witwatersrand (WITS).
He says, “It is dramatically changing how humans interact with new technologies, how we embrace innovation and convergence, how we communicate, and how we use technology to improve our collective futures.
“Universities have a critical role to play in shaping the new digital world order through reshaping how we think about the future of work and jobs, the digital economy and new trade opportunities; the role of the state and citizens in a local, regional and global digital context; and the challenges associated with the digital divide, inequality, privacy and ethics, amongst other issues.
“Researchers are at the heart of spearheading the creation of new knowledge, be it discovery, applied or innovative research. For example, in a first for Africa, Wits announced last week that researchers now have access to the IBM Q network that is exploring the potential applications of quantum computing (exponentially faster computing), enhanced medical imaging, efficient light harvesting materials (clean energy), secure optical communication networks (cybersecurity), amongst other aspects.”
Examples of applied research undertaken by Wits academics and researchers inform national policies like those related to the sugar tax, national health insurance, organ donation and the national minimum wage, for example. The university’s scientists have developed technology that ensures the efficacy of equipment that test for tuberculosis, which is now in use around the world.
“But”, the professor emphasizes, “none of these achievements would be possible without the talented researchers and students who work to advance society. They are the problem-posers and problem-solvers, the critical thinkers, the experimenters and the challengers who dare to ask the difficult questions and to seek the answers. They work across disciplines to produce new knowledge, find cures, save lives, effect social change, and improve the world for future generations.”
Universities also develop the multidisciplinary, high level skills required to tackle the problems of the future and reproduce them in adequate measure. In the digital era, new teaching pedagogies are required to ensure that academics can participate in the digital space, coupled with world-class infrastructure, creative technologies, access to data, smart classrooms, simulation laboratories and e-zones to prepare future graduates.
He adds, “Our exceptional researchers make novel discoveries, create new knowledge, impact on policy, change the way we work, advance human rights and social justice, and help us to think critically in order to find solutions to our current and future challenges. They are the vanguards of society who should be applauded and who deserve our deep appreciation and continuous support. Researchers, we salute you!” THE University of Johannesburg (UJ) congratulates its Technology Station Manager, Nickey Janse van Rensburg, for being awarded the National Science and Technology Forum for the NSTF-Lewis Foundation Green Economy Award. She is recognised for her role in research and innovation in South Africa towards achieving biodiversity conservation, envirownmental sustainability and a green economy by an individual or an organisation over the past 5 to 10 years.
Senior Manager Lesmarie Bentley-Steyn says, “Beyond the award, it shows that along with her peers at UJ, Nickey is committed to ‘creating tomorrow’’. It further justifies UJ’s position as the African leader in the fourth industrial revolution which plays an increasingly bigger role in our daily lives and work and the value of these awards becomes more relevant every year.”
As the Process, Energy and Environmental Technology Station Manager and researcher in sustainable socio-technical systems Janse van Rensburg’s research interests span engineering education, social innovation and appropriate technology development. She has presented her research in local and international conferences in eight countries and published 38 accredited journal papers, conference proceedings and book chapters. She is also a recent recipient of the SANEA Energy Award and was a NSTF nominee in 2016 for Outreach and Creating Awareness of SET and Innovation.
The Technology Station Programme, implemented by the Technology Short-listed as a 2018/2019 NSTF-South32 finalist in the category: Lifetime Award , Prof Mary Gulumian, now head of Toxicology Research Projects at the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH), has represented the Toxicology & Biochemistry Department for numerous years. Her focus having included research, teaching, training and consultation to number of governmental departments and industry stakeholders, as well as specialised service delivery.
The department aims to assess the risk associated with particles or chemicals by conducting hazard identification and exposure assessment, as well as risk assessment and characterisation, using various methodologies and modelling Innovation Agency on behalf of the Department of Science and Technology, has created a framework for knowledge transfer mandated to support technology development with SMEs. She believes universities should serve as centres for the flow of new knowledge and technology development to support economic growth and the UJ station provides subsidised engineering services to small and medium enterprises that operate in the green economy.
She says, “The primary mandate is to contribute towards improving the competitiveness of industry. SMEs, through the application of specialised knowledge, technology and the interaction between industry and academia enable innovation and technology transfer to grow the green economy. strategies. Hazard identification involves determining the toxicity of particles or chemicals, while exposure assessment involves determining the degree of exposure, if any, to humans or the environment. Risk assessment and characterisation involves correlating the existing information to assess whether a risk is imminent. Online resources include www.nioh.ac.za/services/genotoxicity-unit/, www.nioh.ac.za/services/nano-and-microparticle-toxicity-unit/ and http://www.nioh.ac.za/services/healthrisk-assessment-unit/.
Similarly, Prof Gulumian has established collaborations with local and international institutions over the years, which allowed for training of staff and postgraduate students in the field of general occupational toxicology and nano-toxicology. These international collaborations include a Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) Multilateral Project and various European Union projects, e.g. EUH2020s projects including
“We facilitate access to UJ resources, such as laboratories, specialist expertise and engineering services, by implementing R&D projects on their behalf. To impact on the green economy in a sustainable manner, a return on investment in science and technology must be measured through the impact on the well-being of our communities. In the face of climate change, we urgently need to find pathways to a low-carbon, green economy. Only then can we improve the well-being of nine billion people by 2050 and achieve our national Sustainable Development Goals.”
She adds: “Our focus is on process optimisation, specifically in the energy and environmental sectors that supports I4.0 business strategies, among others.” caLIBRAte, NanoSolveIT, and Gov4Nano.
Locally, the professor liaised with various stakeholders regarding research projects conducted within the Toxicology & Biochemistry Department at the NIOH. Examples include the Department of Science and Technology, Mine Health & Safety Council, Medical Research Council, National Research Foundation, and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. She also served on committees for South African Bureau of Standards and as Council member of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions. Prof Gulumian was also the founder member and the President of the Toxicology Society of Toxicology and more recently, the Society of Risk Analysis.
She has also served on various international committees, such as the Vice President of International Union of Toxicology, the International Organisation for Standardisation, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, as well as the WHO Chemical Risk Assessment Network.
A finalist is a nominee who, in the opinion of the adjudication panel, is considered eligible for the award. This means that the nominee has made a significantly outstanding contribution to SET and innovation in South Africa and qualifies to be considered as a potential winner.