The 2015 JD Roberts Award for Emerging Researchers was presented to Dr Jacomine Grobler for her contribution to the development of mathematical models and optimisation algorithms, which solve industrial engineering problems at a ceremony hosted by construction and engineering group Murray & Roberts in Bedfordview.

The annual JD Roberts Award, a partnership between Murray & Roberts and the CSIR, was instituted by Murray & Roberts in 1980 in remembrance of one of the group’s founding fathers, Dr JD ‘Douglas’ Roberts, the award recognises and encourages scientific research into technology that promotes environmentally-sustainable solutions to human living environment challenges.

The award also recognises the significant contribution made by researchers to improving global competitiveness of South African industry. The runner-up finalists were Julius Komba and Vhahangwele Masindi respectively.

This year’s winner Dr Grobler heads the Transport and Freight Logistics Research group at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Her accomplishments include the development of a multi-objective algorithm for a complex real-world production scheduling problem. The algorithms she developed were shown to outperform existing state-of-the-art algorithms by up to 76%, resulting in a significant decrease in manufacturing and algorithm development costs.

Runner-up Julius Komba’s research focuses on road design, advanced evaluation of road construction materials and monitoring the long-term performance of roads.

While the other runner-up Vhahangwele Masindi has developed acid mine drainage treatment technology with a patent filed in the United States, Canada and Argentina.

CSIR executive director, Dr Cornelius Ruiters congratulated Dr Grobler and the two finalists. “The Murray & Roberts family and the CSIR congratulate Dr Grobler for her sterling research work in this complex field, as well as Komba and Masindi for their contributions in the road design and water environments, respectively,” he said.

“The research presented was world-class and demonstrates the depth of research talent we have in South Africa,” says Andrew Skudder, sustainability director at Murray & Roberts and member of the adjudication panel.

CSIR group executive for strategic alliances and communication, Dr Rachel Chikwamba said it was incredible that the partnership between the CSIR and Murray & Roberts had 35 years of endurance. “But what is heartening is that we had three brilliant innovations for which young

stars were champions and now we have this giant that is Murray & Roberts asking how do we partner further in the interest of further development of the technologies that have been put forward,” she said.

“It’s a partnership that has endured and we hope it will be strengthened even further by the innovations that we keep churning out year in year out.”

The finalists’ research presentations are adjudicated based on the relevance and potential improvement to people’s quality of life; the innovation, uniqueness and distinction of the work; the potential uptake and practicality of the research in the relevant sector and the potential impact of the research.

Dr Ruiters added that the partnership between the two organisations illustrated the mutual beneficial relationship achieved when industrial research meets the needs of engineering and construction services. “We are committed to our partnership,” he concluded.

About Murray & Roberts:

Murray & Roberts is a leading engineering and construction services company. It has predominantly delivered infrastructure throughout South and Southern Africa for more than 110 years, and is today recognised as an international engineering and construction group. Murray & Roberts is a group of world-class companies and brands aligned to the same purpose and vision, and guided by the same set of values.

The company offers civil, mechanical, electrical, mining engineering, general building, procurement, construction, commissioning, operations and maintenance services. Murray & Roberts does so in the global underground mining market, selected international oil & gas, power & water markets and African infrastructure sectors.

Murray & Roberts operates in Southern, Central and Western Africa, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australasia and North and South America. The company is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, where it has a public listing on the JSE Limited. It has principle offices in Australia, Botswana, Canada, Chile, Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia, United Arab Emirates, United States of America and Zambia.

Values

Integrity – Respect – Care – Accountability – Commitment

Purpose

Delivery of infrastructure in a sustainable way to facilitate economic and social development

Vision

By 2020 we aim to be a leading diversified project engineering, procurement and construction group in selected natural resources sectors and supporting infrastructure

More information is available at www.murrob.com

About the CSIR:

www.murrob.com The CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) is one of the leading research and development, technology and innovation institutions in Africa, with a track record spanning 70 years. The CSIR strives for excellence in all its endeavours in order to improve the quality of life of South Africa's people and to increase the global competitiveness of South African industry. The CSIR − our future through science www.murrob.com More information is available at www.csir.co.za

For further Information:

Ed Jardim Murray 
Roberts Group Communications Executive
Tel: 011 456 1000
Email: ed.jardim@murrob.com