News
Researchers from the CSIR are investigating the impact of climate-induced migration or environmental refugees in the Southern African region, focusing on internal displacement and cross-border displacement as part of a multi-funded project. Dubbed ‘Kukimbia’, which means ‘to flee’ in kiSwahili, the research will look at how environmental factors lead people to move from their homes for a life elsewhere.
Demonstrating its support of green living and local innovation, the CSIR has successfully implemented the use of a local range of eco-friendly biological cleaning products across most of its campuses. The products were developed by the organisation’s scientists.
An Agrément South Africa certified technology, Hydraform, is changing how the brick industry is manufacturing bricks, one interlocking block at a time. The technology is currently changing lives in Gombani, a small village outside Thohoyandou in Venda, as well as in Northern Uganda. At Gombani village, Hydraform’s interlocking brick building technology was handed over to twelve women, one from each of the families who were trained in block making, by the Department of Public Works for a rural housing project a few years ago. The women in Gombani have since constructed their own houses utilising the Hydraform machine.
The CSIR’s capability to test the performance of military vehicles when detonating a landmine has been significantly enhanced with the updating of the organisation’s crash test dummies. Called anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs), these crash test dummies are used to simulate human injuries suffered as a result of blast events.
The CSIR has completed the first stage leading up to the development of guidelines on how municipalities can adapt human settlements to withstand the impact of climate change.
The risk of sinkholes forming without warning is a concern in many inhabited areas all over the world. A massive sinkhole recently appeared near Danielskuil in the Northern Cape Province. Sinkholes form in areas where soluble rocks below the surface, like limestone or dolomite, are dissolved by water.
CSIR researchers have completed a waste characterisation report for the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality that will influence its decision-making regarding waste.
Agrément South Africa (SA), an agency of the Department of Public Works, managed by the CSIR, awarded 38 fit-for-purpose certificates during the 2015/16 financial year following a rigorous process of testing and evaluation.
CSIR researchers in polymers and composites are making strides in the development of bioplastics that will be 100% biodegradable and suitable for recycling. This technology will contribute to the reduction of environmental pollution and could boost local job creation in manufacturing.
