News
Some of the most common household products, including sunscreens, hair relaxers, lotions and cleaning detergents, contain engineered nanomaterial ingredients that, when released into the environment, have the potential to cause nanopollution, warn studies by local environmental and nanotechnology scientists.
A novel research study by the CSIR and Stellenbosch University to quantify water uses nationwide shows that, while South Africa’s largest water user is the agricultural sector, in Gauteng; industrial water use is the highest.
“An ability to quantify water use is key to the planning, management and allocation of water resources, especially in an arid region such as South Africa,” says CSIR research group leader, Dr Nebo Jovanovic.
Media invite
The Chairperson of the Board of CSIR, Prof Thokozani Majozi, together with the CEO, Dr Thulani Dlamini, held a media briefing to provide an update on some of the latest strategic developments in the organisation, including new key research projects.
The mandate of the CSIR requires the organisation to undertake directed scientific and industrial development research to improving the quality of life of the people of South Africa.
Eskom, in conjunction with the Technology Localisation Implementation Unit (TLIU), a Department of Science and Technology (DST) programme hosted at the CSIR will be hosting a supplier forum at the CSIR International Convention Centre, in Pretoria on 13 to 14 May 2019.
In 2019, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) forum, organised and hosted by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland, celebrated its 10th anniversary. The CSIR’s Dr Jabu Mtsweni served as one of 14 high-level track facilitators, having been nominated by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
South Africa will soon join the World Economic Forum's Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network (C4IR Network) alongside China, India and Japan by launching an Affiliate Centre.
This comes as the world prepares for the unprecedented transformation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), enabled by the convergence of digital, physical and biological technologies which are disrupting existing industries and the production and consumption of goods and services.
The Data Intensive Research Initiative of South Africa (DIRISA) recently launched its South African Data Management Planning tool (SA-DMP), which is used to create and share data management plans that meet funder requirements. Good data management enables the location, increased sharing and reuse of data, and reduces the duplication of data. These attributes of good data management reduce costs and efforts in generating data. A data management tool, coupled with sound data management practices, also supports the findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable principles of open data.
Monday, 1 April 2019 signalled the start of the implementation of a new strategic direction for the CSIR, which in 2020 will turn 75. The new strategy is built around the vision of accelerating socioeconomic prosperity in South Africa through leading innovation.
