The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) will be hosting the Polymer Processing Society (PPS) Europe-Africa 2019 Regional Conference (PPS2019) in Pretoria on 18 - 21 November 2019.

The event will be held under the theme “Advanced Plastics as an enabling technology for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0)”.

The PPS meeting is a leading conference on polymer processing and it attracts internationally renowned scientists, engineers and designers in the field of polymer research and development. The goals of the society, as embodied in its constitution, are to foster scientific understanding and technical innovation in polymer processing by providing a discussion forum for the worldwide community of engineers and scientists in the field.

“Industry has made a concerted effort to participate substantially. It is our strong belief that the close collaboration between universities, research institutes and centres, and industry is the key to technological advancement,” says head of the CSIR Polymers, Composites, Nano Research Centre, and Conference Chairperson, Prof. Suprakas Sinha Ray.

Some of the people who are expected to attend the opening of the conference on Monday are the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Science Innovation, Imran Patel ; Executive Director of Plastic SA, Anton Hanekom who will deliver a speech on the state of plastics in South Africa; the President of PPS Europe-Africa, Professor Jean-Francois Agassant and the CEO of the CSIR, Dr Thulani Dlamini who will also address the delegation.

With a total of 257 abstracts submitted from more than 30 countries globally, the conference will include lectures by distinguished plenary and invited speakers from all over the world, contributed oral presentations by both senior and younger scientists and engineers, as well as oral and poster presentations by young postdoctoral fellows, PhD and master’s students, and engineers working in academia and industry.

An important ingredient for the success of this meeting will be the participation of all professionals in all aspects of polymer science and technology from all around the world.

“We are looking forward to welcoming polymer scientists and engineers from Europe, Africa and all over the world to participate in the conference,” adds Prof. Suprakas Sinha Ray.

Members of the media are invited as follows:

Official opening of the conference

Date: Monday, 18 November 2019
Time: 18:00 – 21:00
Venue: CSIR ICC Meiring Naude Road, Brummeria, Pretoria

Other sessions of the conference: please see programme for the conference.

RSVP: Contact Ms Kgauhelo Dioka on 073 398 8633 or email: kdioka@csir.co.za

ENDS

Issued by:

David Mandaha: CSIR Media Relations Manager
Tel: 072 126 8910/012 841 3654
Email: dmandaha@csir.co.za

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