Our people

	CSIR appoints new Executive Director for Built Environment Dr Cornelius Ruiters joined the CSIR in December 2011 as Executive Director of the CSIR Built Environment unit. As both a civil engineer and a scientist, Ruiters brings the diverse skills and experience required for this position.
	Health infrastructure expert wins 2011 JD Roberts Award The vast contribution by Geoff Abbott in the planning, design and management of health facilities in South Africa has won him the coveted annual JD Roberts Award. A research architect at the CSIR, Abbott has furthermore provided valuable guidance in immovable asset management in the public sector for more than 30 years.
	Laurens Cloete appointed as Executive Director: CSIR Meraka Institute Laurens Cloete has been appointed Executive Director: CSIR Meraka Institute, the CSIR’s information and communications technology (ICT) research and development unit.

Hot off the press

Strengthening southern Africa’s response to global change through research and technology The most recent edition of the ScienceScope focuses on science and technology that contribute to a better understanding of our changing planet. The CSIR’s work in this area comprises atmospheric modelling, oceanic and terrestrial measurements and observing our climate from outer space.

Conferences

Reliable statistics crucial for decision-making “Reliable statistics can act as an early-warning system for the economic wellbeing of a country. Data, and statistics derived for that, must be of a high quality with every aspect being scrutinised as if under a microscope. We must remember that statistical mistakes live on for a long time,” warned the Minister in the Presidency responsible for the National Planning Commission, Trevor Manual.

Geomatics experts consider domain standards Local and international experts in geographic information and geomatics met in Centurion for a week in November when South Africa hosted the 33rd ISO TC/211 plenary and related meetings.

Built environment

Longer-life roads technology piloted successfully in Durban A section of South Coast Road at the entrance to the Durban harbour has been the scene of a full-scale trial of technology. The base layers of that stretch of road were constructed using a cost-effective road materials technology with improved performance to cater for the extreme volumes of heavy vehicles entering and leaving the harbour.

Health

	DST/CSIR’s Nanomedicine Research programme awarded status as ANDI Centre of Excellence in health innovation The CSIR’s nanomedicine research programme, sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has been awarded Centre of Excellence in health innovation status by the African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation (ANDI).
	CSIR publishes Hoodia clinical studies The CSIR has published a synopsis on the clinical studies done on Hoodia during the period 1999 to 2003. Dr Vinesh Maharaj, Technology Manager at the CSIR, said: “It is important to publish these clinical studies for public awareness.

Information and communications technology

	Notetaker recognised by SAB Foundation Innovation Awards The Notetaker, an indigenous computer for the blind, developed by Willem van der Walt, senior researcher at the CSIR Meraka Institute, has received a seed grant from the South African Breweries (SAB) Foundation Innovation Awards.
	Research fibre optic network up and running in Cape Town Thirty-six research institutions in the Western Cape are now connected to the South African National Fibre Network (SANReN) with 10 gigabits-per-second’s worth of bandwidth at their fingertips.

Natural environment

	A local take on the global carbon stakes If we change the volume of greenhouse gas emissions, how will the world change? In South Africa and around the globe, the question is tackled from a variety of perspectives.
	Taking it all the way: research on priority areas for SA’s freshwater ecosystems relayed to decision-makers CSIR scientists who have been instrumental in the compilation of the Atlas of Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas, have trained 250 stakeholders who are directly involved with aspects of water management and conservation on the use of the atlas and its associated products.

Enabling technologies: Manufacturing

iSlices adds Technology Top 100 sustainability award to its tally A company created around CSIR licensed technology, iSlices Manufacturing, was awarded a Technology Top 100 award for sustainability. The award was presented by Mrs Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s Minister of Science & Technology, and Professor Roy Marcus, chairman of the Top Technology 100 Awards Program, at a formal presentation in Johannesburg at the end of November.