SET for our future professionals! Bursaries available Visit the NSTF Bursary Directory for the latest available bursaries in science, engineering and technology (SET). Undergraduate bursaries: Grand Gaming Bursary (Deadline: 31 May 2024)Mineral Processing Guru (MPG) Bursary (Deadline: not specified)PG Group Bursary (Deadline: not specified)WBHO Bursary (Deadline: not specified)Worley Bursary (Deadline: not specified) Postgraduate bursaries: Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS) (Deadline: 24 May 2024)Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA) Bursary (Deadline: 7 June 2024) Bursary providers can notify Ms Seipati Moleleki of any SET-related bursaries that become available to feature free of charge on the popular NSTF Bursary Directory. To enquire or apply for any of the bursaries, contact the bursary providers directly. SET for life! NSTF Discussion Forums News Annual Energy Crisis Discussion Forum The presentations delivered at the Annual Energy Crisis Discussion Forum of 24-25 April 2024 are now available. Watch your mailbox for the media release summarising the salient points and outcomes. Current Challenges in Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Systems in South Africa This online discussion forum: Current Challenges in Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Systems in South Africa takes place on 13-14 August 2024. This event is held in collaboration with the NSTF Science Councils and Statutory Bodies Sector. Watch your mailbox for news. Make your voice heard! NSTF welcomes new Executive Committee (Exco) representatives for Higher Education Sector Prof Nnenesi Kgabi, Director: Research Support at North-West University has been appointed as the new main representative for the Higher Education sector. She was promoted from the alternate representative position and has been serving on the Exco since 2020.Dr Priscilla Mensah, Director: Research Development at Nelson Mandela University has been appointed as the new alternate for the Higher Education sector. The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) is a broad civil society forum that brings together more than 130 organisational members involved in science, engineering and technology (SET) and innovation in six membership sectors, as well as government. The NSTF is an instrument of democracy, encouraging free speech and critical voices on matters related to SET and innovation in South Africa. SET for socio-economic growth! Meet our 2024 Brilliants students – top performers in STEM Rachel Meiring is studying medicine at the University of Cape Town (UCT). She matriculated at the Rhenish Girls’ High School in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. Rachel wants to specialise in neurosurgery to help those who suffered in the same way as her aunt. “You are so much more than a number. Do not become disillusioned with yourself; be proud of everything that you have accomplished”. Gwiba Nonkenge is studying BEng (Mechatronics Engineering) at UCT. He matriculated at Toli Senior Secondary School in the Eastern Cape. Gwiba is studying mechatronics to be better suited for the 4th industrial revolution and the future we’re heading towards. “Just keep your head down and work as best as you can as frequently as possible, the results of that are life changing”. The 2024 NSTF Brilliants Programme recognises the top achievers in physical science and mathematics and is proudly sponsored by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) STEM for life! The STEMulator inspires young minds at the SAIEE Career Day in Kwa-Thema On 20 April 2024, the STEMulator team had the honour of exhibiting and presenting at the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers’ (SAIEE) Career Day in Kwa-Thema, east of Johannesburg. The event was attended by over 300 learners from grades 9-11 across five different schools from Johannesburg. The primary objective was to encourage these young individuals to embrace careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). During the team’s presentation, the virtual landscape of the STEMulator.org was demonstrated. This innovative virtual learning tool is designed to ignite curiosity and passion for STEM subjects among learners. The STEMulator team set up an exhibition table to give learners an interactive experience of the STEMulator. Additional educational material such as career talk videos of award winning scientists were on display. The learners were rewarded for their interest with gift packs containing the NSTF STEM career booklet with insightful information on a plethora of careers. The NSTF thanks the SAIEE for providing the learners who attended with an extraordinary opportunity to delve into the world of STEM. Explore>Discover>Learn 176 schools participate in IITPSA Talent Search 176 schools countrywide participated in this year’s Computer Olympiad Talent Search, an initiative run at schools across the country by the Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA). Read more. Booysendal hosts GSSA Eastern Limb Relaunch! On Tuesday, 30 April 2024, Northam Booysendal Mine hosted the Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA) for their Eastern Limb Branch Relaunch at the South Mine Lapa. The event also included the introduction of the newly-appointed Interim Committee. Geologists, including interns and graduates from the Eastern Limb mines, were present. Read more. Condolences from CESA Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) expressed its sorrow at the tragic collapse of a five-story building that took place in George on Monday, 6 May. Read more. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens re-opens for visitors despite nearby fires The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) has confirmed that the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are open for patrons after the veld fires in the vicinity. Read more. SET-related policy news Some articles included in the section below are opinion pieces. The opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSTF Executive Committee, Directors, Secretariat or Members. 4IR and information technologies South Africa key to continent’s ICT development (itweb.co.za)South Africa’s draft AI strategy needs more work, say pundits (itweb.co.za) Agriculture BRICS+ offers an opportunity to lift South Africa’s agricultural exports (agbiz.co.za)How effective are policies in reducing the environmental impacts of agriculture? (ourworldindata.org)South Africa’s agricultural policy after the elections (wandilesihlobo.com) Basic education Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill: public hearings (pmg.org.za)Bela Bill stalls at Council of Provinces (citizen.co.za) Higher education New national commission needed to probe state of HE – Expert (universityworldnews.com) Energy Call for comments on draft Gas Master Plan (sanews.gov.za)DMRE calls to procure generation capacity from battery energy storage (devdiscourse.com)NERSA approves Sasol Gas application (sanews.gov.za)R500 billion ‘day zero’ for South Africa is coming (businesstech.co.za)New gas ‘master plan’ for South Africa – including changes for Eskom power stations (businesstech.co.za) Environment and climate change Positive feedback for South Africa’s new Climate Change Bill (farmersweekly.co.za) Health NHI bill a reflection of government’s poor planning: Health Funders (sabcnews.com)The NHI Bill: SA’s step towards inclusive health care (www.iol.co.za) Infrastructure Govt must level the PPP playing field to encourage private sector investment (infrastructurenews.co.za) Science Councils and Statutory Bodies ARC: Water – A precious resource (arc.agric.za)CSIR: Abulele Adams appointed to Board of International Association for Impact Assessment (csir.co.za)HSRC: Gaining ground in the fight against TB: finding the missing cases (hsrc.ac.za)HSRC: New work (open access): Gender and equity considerations in AMR research: a systematic scoping review (hsrc.ac.za)HSRC: Preliminary results on agrarian livelihoods to be presented at 2024 Tshintsha Amakhaya National Indaba (hsrc.ac.za)Mintek: Three Mintek Scientists nominated for the NSTF Awards (mintek.co.za)NRF: South African Risk & Vulnerability Atlas (SARVA) workshop at the University of Free State Centre for Global Change (nrf.ac.za)NRF: The National Research Foundation features at the 9th STI Multistakeholder Forum for the SDGs held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York (nrf.ac.za)SAEON: Agent of change. Meet the manager of SAEON’s Fynbos Node (enews.saeon.ac.za)SAMRC: SAMRC grants UFH researchers R1M for an innovative study on workplace safety among nurses in South Africa (ufh.ac.za)SAMRC: A humanist with an unblinking gaze – Professor Ntobeko Ntusi takes the hot seat at the SAMRC (news24.com)SANSA: Solar Storms to Collide with Earth (sansa.org.za)SANSA: Southern African Skies light up with Aurora as Historic Solar Storms Collides with Earth (sansa.org.za) Higher Education Institutions Academics with disabilities: South African universities need an overhaul to make them genuinely inclusive (theconversation.com)Child speech database research project attracts international attention (bizcommunity.com)Exciting discovery of honey badger at UCT (news.uct.ac.za)Higher education department revitalises technology and science skills in TVET colleges (msn.com)More than 560k students in South Africa in debt, many unable to graduate (citizen.co.za)North-West University to establish South Africa’s 11th medical school (bloemfonteincourant.co.za)NWU will contribute to world-class medical doctors (news.nwu.ac.za)Realising digital health innovation through a Swedish-South African student virtual exchange Hackathon (ufh.ac.za)SA continues to struggle with university dropout rates (bizcommunity.com)South Africa’s national student financial aid scheme has helped millions but is in trouble: here’s why (theconversation.com)UCT academics collaborate with global leaders to decarbonise concrete (bizcommunity.com)Unisa celebrates its 2024 graduates living with disabilities (unisa.ac.za)Unisa probes over 1,400 cases of cheating in online exams (iol.co.za) 4IR and information technologies AI tool can convert doctors’ notes into accurate lay language (news-medical.net)Andile Ngcaba lobbies for minister of AI (itweb.co.za)Artificial intelligence expands diagnostic horizons in coronary angiography (news-medical.net)AWS: GenAI to usher in a new future of efficiency and service delivery (itweb.co.za)Calls for single network to boost healthcare connectivity (itweb.co.za)Contact centres must embrace generative AI or risk being left behind (engineerit.co.za)Expert notes deepfakes’ potential to impact national elections (ru.ac.za)Fighting AI with AI (itweb.co.za)Independent tower industry fundamental for development of African telecommunications (engineerit.co.za)Not again: SA internet disruption caused by new cable fault days after old ones fixed (news24.com)SA consumers become more tech-savvy, but payment security concerns remain (dailymaverick.co.za)SA opens Africa’s first military-focused AI hub (itweb.co.za)The Influence of Artificial Intelligence on aviation (engineerit.co.za)The Significance of Diverse Thinking in the Age of AI: Qlik (itnewsafrica.com)The speed of technological change has made cybersecurity a bigger challenge than ever (engineerit.co.za)Using AI to tailor drugs for Africa (news.uct.ac.za)Winning the cybersecurity war with AI (businesstech.co.za)Workers and the rise of the algorithmic boss (mg.co.za) Agriculture and food security Agricultural programme sparks a bountiful harvest for emerging farmers (halive2green.co.za)Decline in sugarcane production sparks call to action (foodformzansi.co.za)El Niño wanes, La Niña beckons: Warm, dry winter on the cards (foodformzansi.co.za)Farmers urged to update animal health programmes for winter (farmersweekly.co.za)Foot-and-mouth outbreak in Eastern Cape (farmersweekly.co.za)From mines to maize: Engineer Otukile finds farming fortune (foodformzansi.co.za)How bird flu could threaten cow cuddling. Yes, it is a thing (news24.com)Pressures persist as lower food inflation offers limited relief (foodformzansi.co.za)Private initiative to combat stock theft expanded (farmersweekly.co.za)South Africa now cultivates a unique and ‘superior-tasting’ fruit (msn.com)South Africans are abandoning smallholder farming – history and policy can help explain why (africaninsider.com)Sustainable grazing key for climate-smart beef farming (foodformzansi.co.za)Vigilance in containing FMD critical for red meat export growth (bizcommunity.com) Basic education Education department will hire temps to fill 31 000 teacher vacancies (mg.co.za)Equal Education takes education department to court over unplaced learners (bizcommunity.com)Six rural schools reap rewards from online maths and science support (sustainability-handbook.alive2green.co.za)Unesco calls for more teacher support and training in Africa’s schools (citizen.co.za) Biology Insect army winning fight against invasive water hyacinth (ru.ac.za) Energy Addressing grid bottlenecks: SA Wind Energy Association calls for infrastructure investment (energize.co.za)Bid submission date for Battery Energy Storage Bid Window 3 pushed out (energize.co.za)Big turn for petrol prices in South Africa lined up for June (businesstech.co.za)Climate commission model points to the growth potential of green industrialisation (engineeringnews.co.za)Eskom kissing its R9 billion-a-year headache goodbye (businesstech.co.za)Industry leaders discuss innovation in South Africa’s energy sector (energize.co.za)Load shedding remains suspended (sanews.gov.za)Minister calls for completion of gas-to-power plant in Richards Bay ahead of schedule (energize.co.za)Namibia strategically poised to become the sustainable energy capital of Africa (engineerit.co.za)Promising SA-first solution to convert paper sludge, food and textile waste into bioethanol (sustainability-handbook.alive2green.co.za)R10 billion solar plan coming to South Africa (businesstech.co.za)Red Rocket starts construction of the largest grid-connected solar farm in Africa (msn.com)Renewables to thank for weeks of no load-shedding (itweb.co.za)SA unlocks investment opportunities for renewable energy (itweb.co.za)South Africa delays shutdown of coal-fired power plants (businesstech.co.za)South Africa’s plan to move away from coal: 8 steps to make it succeed (theconversation.com) Environment, water and climate change Climate change: World’s oceans suffer from record-breaking year of heat (bbc.com)DWS reiterates commitment to fast-track bulk water projects (sanews.gov.za)Great white sharks off South Africa’s coast are protected by law, but not in practice. Why this needs to change (theconversation.com)Panel highlights the urgency of climate change governance (engineeringnews.co.za)Planting trees in grasslands won’t save the planet – rather protect and restore forests (theconversation.com)Prince William’s prestigious environmental award to put spotlight on SA’s climate solutions (news24.com)Warm, dry winter still on the cards for SA, rains of La Niña beckon (dailymaverick.co.za)Waste pickers play a key role in the fight against plastic pollution – insights from South Africa into how their voices can be heard (theconversation.com)Zoogeochemists measure how animals change the chemistry of their environments (acs.org) Geology Exploring the world of Geology Safaris (iol.co.za)From Fossils to Fuel: Mozambique’s Maniamba Basin’s Energy Potential (wits.ac.za) Health and medicine All systems grow — medicinal cannabis economy gets boost in Eastern Cape (bizcommunity.com)Caesarean births: SA’s rates are too high – they can be dangerous for mothers and babies (bizcommunity.com)CHAMPS receives grant to study causes of death in adults with HIV in Africa (wits.ac.za)Codeine misuse: South Africa set to get new guidelines (spotlightnsp.co.za)Diabetes a leading killer in SA…but we don’t know who has it or where they are (news24.com)Deskercise: Staying Fit in a Sedentary Lifestyle (news-medical.net)Health dismisses reports of new COVID-19 variant (sanews.gov.za)Health Minister alerts public to monkeypox case in Gauteng (africaninsider.com)High-risk people encouraged to get flu vaccination (sanews.gov.za)New lab a leap forward for oral health in the Eastern Cape (spotlightnsp.co.za)New book outlines simple recollection-boosting techniques to improve learning (news-medical.net)New research unearths plant extracts as safer alternatives to harmful skin-lightening ingredients (uwc.ac.za)Safeguarding samples: The science behind a cutting-edge biorepository (news.uct.ac.za)SA’s flu rates anticipated to return to pre-COVID-19 levels (spotlightnsp.co.za)Three health reforms the new government must prioritise for SA (spotlightnsp.co.za)Ultrasounds in hand, midwives are transforming maternal health (gatesfoundation.org)UWC and University of Wisconsin-Madison Study Reveals Critical Insights into Lethal Colon Infection (uwc.ac.za)Gauteng cancer patients continue to die while on the waiting list for treatment (health-e.org.za) Mining De Beers Group: ‘building forever’ sustainability goals (miningreview.com)Mining in South Africa: A journey of promise and persistence (miningreview.com)Pan African weighs R2bn Mintails extension as gold powers on (miningmx.com)South Deep gold output well down as Gold Fields implements recovery plan (miningweekly.com)Unveiling the Potential of AI in Africa’s Mining Industry (infrastructurenews.co.za) Palaeontology and Archaeology Africa is full of bats, but their fossils are scarce – why these rare records matter (theconversation.com)Fossilised circles in the sand on South Africa’s coast may be artwork by our early ancestors (theconversation.com)New Fossil Bovids from Kromdraai (wits.ac.za)‘Urgent’ palaeoscience reforms delayed by budget cuts (researchprofessionalnews.com) Skills for the economy CTFL Masterplan has had a positive impact on local industry (sanews.gov.za) Space science and Astronomy AI skills pipeline – Lessons from South African astronomy (universityworldnews.com)MeerKAT: the South African radio telescope that’s transformed our understanding of the cosmos (theconversation.com) Transport Newly launched terminal a symbol of resilience (infrastructurenews.co.za)PRASA relocates trains to safety after JHB fire (sanews.gov.za) The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF), established in 1995: is a broadly-representative stakeholder body for all science, engineering and technology (SET) and innovation organisations in South Africagathers stakeholders around burning issues of national and global interest, across the public and private sectors, including matters of public policyincludes a network of professional societies in SET and STEM education (STEM = science, technology, engineering and mathematics) – the NSTF proSET membership sector.recognises, awards and profiles the outstanding contributions of individuals and groups to SET and innovation through the prestigious NSTF Awardsruns and supports collaborative projects and youth outreach, including recognition of top performance in mathematics and science, role modelling, bursary and STEM career informationruns and supports the STEMulator.org which attracts youth and educators to Explore>Discover>Learn the world of STEM including careers. (Established by NSTF proSET) For more information www.nstf.org.za E-mail: enquiries@nstf.org.za Disclaimer The NSTF has taken all practical measures to ensure that the material contained in this newsletter is correct. Privacy Registration details submitted to the NSTF will be treated confidentially and will only be used by NSTF to communicate with its members and subscribers, as required by the South African Protection of Personal Information Act. Non Profit Company Registration Number: 2007/029165/08 NPO Registration Number: 92042 Donations Tax exempt |