National Research Foundation Annual Report 2008 / 2009 [Part 2]

NRF impact report 2008/09impact!Space science and technology is one of the Department ofScience & Technology’s (DST’s) “Grand Challenges”, a commitmentthat has been underscored by the establishment of theSouth African National Space Agency (SANSA).Lofty ideals for an emerging economy?Should reaching for the stars really take precedence over moregrassroots development needs?Yes, says the research. For South Africa, the pathto a knowledge society leads through the stars.In this Impact Report we highlight a sample ofNational Research Foundation (NRF)-funded research projects,many of which are astronomy-based. All, though, havetheir feet firmly on South African soil, with the needsof her people guiding every step they take ...

1contentsa generation of ‘Trekkies’....................................................................................2stargazing radiates opportunity......................................................................6reaching for the stars..........................................................................................10bright sparks fly........................................................................................................14the power of one.....................................................................................................18innovation unlocks a knowledge economy........................................22opening the world to wireless ......................................................................26histories in the making...................................................................................... 30a new kind of neighbourhood watch......................................................34plumbing the depths of marine understanding............................. 38

4 NRFimpact report 2008/09A worldwide effortProfessor Phil CharlesThe local astronomy community’s IYA2009 efforts are not limited to South Africa (SA). In fact, our countryplayed a pivotal role in creating the initiative. Efforts to convince the United Nations (UN) to declare2009 as the International Year of Astronomy were driven through the International Astronomical Union(IAU) and the UN Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). South Africa, throughSAAO, represented other African countries as part of a small, high-level delegation sent to lobbysupport at UN headquarters in New York.Following the successful lobbying exercise, South Africa worked with the IAU to developprogrammes to promote astronomy in underdeveloped regions all over the world. SAAOstaff now coordinate one of 11 IYA2009 global cornerstone projects entitled “DevelopingAstronomy Globally”. The SAAO project conducted a global astronomy survey; sourced andmanaged funds from UNESCO for African students to attend the IYA2009 opening eventin Paris; managed a full grant process for astronomy “seed funding” for developing countriesacross the globe; developed plans for a series of astronomy development visits by the IAU totargeted regions; and is leading the distribution of donated telescopes worldwide.SAAO has also conducted numerous astronomy outreach and development training workshops in Kenya,Nigeria, Namibia, Lesotho and all across South Africa. “We also provide general support to other Africancountries that need assistance to develop their astronomy outreach programmes,” concludes Prof. Charles.The National Astrophysics and Space Science ProgrammeSouth Africa’s astronomical community does not only lead people to the stars through fun events. Anextensive academic programme is nurturing the astronomers of tomorrow.The National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme (NASSP) trains local astronomers toensure that our country takes full advantage of the magnificent SALT facility. “SALT provided the impetusfor the programme. It gave us a way to entice people, especially those from previously disadvantagedcommunities, into the space sciences, while also addressing the dearth of high-level science skills in thecountry,” says Prof. Charles.Started in 2003, NASSP prepares students who graduate in physics, applied mathematics or relateddisciplines to start on a PhD in astrophysics (specialising in optical, radio, gamma-ray or theoreticalastronomy) or in space physics. This is done through a one-year Honours course followed by an 18-month Master’s. The students complete the Honours and first six months of the Master’s programmeat the host institution, which is the University of Cape Town. They then proceed to one of the partnerinstitutions for their Master of Science (MSc) thesis research. Partner institutions include the universitiesREFLECTED GLORYThis photograph was taken at the launch of IYA2009 in South Africa at SAAO. It coincided with the partial solareclipse on 26 January 2009. It was selected to appear on the internationally renowned NASA Astronomy Pictureof the Day website on 29 January (http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090129.html), reaching a worldwide audience.Note the repeated images of the eclipse on the shirt. The effect is familiar to eclipse enthusiasts as small gaps,commonly between leaves on trees, that act as pinhole cameras to generate multiple recognisable images of theeclipse. From the Cape Town perspective, the solar eclipse was a partial one, with a maximum of about 65% of theSun covered.

5of the Western Cape, North West, Witwatersrand, Free State, Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa.The astronomical and space facilities, such as SAAO, Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory(HartRAO) and Hermanus Magnetic Observatory (HMO) also participate in the programme.According to Prof. Charles, South Africa has some first-rate people in astrophysics and space physics,but they are thinly spread among several universities and national facilities. “NASSP pools these skills bybasing the programme at a single institution.” Lecturers from outside of Cape Town present intensive3- to 4-week courses at the University of Cape Town (UCT). In 2008 NASSP hosted lecturers from theUnited States of America (USA), thanks to the USA National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) andfinancial support from the Kellogg Foundation.Part of the NASSP objective is to create an African network of astronomers. Starting all the studentstogether at a single institution, helps to achieve this objective. The NASSP students come from all overSouth Africa as well as from Botswana, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Rwanda,Sudan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In 2009 NASSP had its first African-American students fundedby the Kellogg Foundation through the NSBP.Approximately 27% of NASSP graduates are women, which is more than in other mathematical andphysical sciences in South Africa. However, only one or two black South Africans have been graduatingannually. To increase this number, an extended Honours programme was introduced in 2007, giving studentsan extra year at NASSP before they start the main Honours programme. Because of the intensive nature ofthe tuition and the cost of the course, only 10 students are accepted each year.The number of students undertaking PhDs in astronomy or space science has increased by a factor ofabout 10 since NASSP started.SALT: the central star in SAAO’s constellationSALT is the largest telescope in the southern hemisphere, and also the launch pad for many astronomy-related initiatives. It isthe magnet which attracts tourists to Sutherland and students to space science courses. It opens young people’s eyes to theopportunities in astronomy, and cements South Africa’s place in the front row of international astronomy.The NRF holds the largest share (33%) in the 13-member SALT consortium and has led the project on behalf of SouthAfrica since its inception. Since its inauguration in November 2005, SAAO has operated the telescope.Although it is still being commissioned, SALT has been delivering astronomical observations since 2006 when the “FirstScience with SALT” paper was published. Since then a further eight publications have appeared in the Institute for Scientific Information(ISI) refereed journals.SALT’s ability to observe rapidly variable stars is unmatched. Its “video-camera” data have shown remarkable changes in the brightnessof very close binary stars such as cataclysmic variables, X-ray binary stars and flare stars. The same capacity has captured exo-planetspassing in front of their parent stars, and moons passing in front of stars of the outer planets in our solar system.Not all is plain sailing through the cosmos with a state-of-the-art giant telescope like SALT, however. A number of problems,unanticipated by the construction team, have kept the SALT Technical Operations and SAAO engineering staff busy since SAAO took over theoperation of SALT. Essential features have also been added, such as the automated mirror cleaning system. “Our proudest moment, however,was diagnosing the cause of the most serious problem encountered so far, namely poor images of stars in parts of SALT’s field of view. Thesolution is well advanced,” recounts Prof. Charles.The early stream of data from SALT has already enhanced research projects across all sub-disciplines of astronomy involving internationalcollaborations with South African astronomers. Several local NASSP PhD students are harvesting data from SALT in support of their researchprojects. And all this is only the beginning.The KELT dome– the KilodegreeExtremely LittleTelescope – atSALT.

6 NRFimpact report 2008/09Should a society that has not yet eradicated illiteracy, hunger and informalhousing be investing in space sciences? Yes, says the research. For SouthAfrica, the path to a knowledge society leads through the stars.stargazing radiatesopportunityOne hundred-and-fifty years ago, traders and explorers en route between the Cape and Botswanaestablished a small town in the middle of nowhere. Today, Carnarvon in the Northern Cape is poisedto become the centre of the universe for space studies. The international astronomy community isdeveloping proposals for a major investment, estimated at between €1-2 billion, in a new radio telescopecalled the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). South Africa and Australia have been shortlisted as potentialsites for this telescope, mainly because both countries have sparsely populated desert areas which areradio-quiet zones. In South Africa, that area is near Carnarvon and Williston, an area known up to now forsheep farming and a mountain tortoise reserve.The Northern Cape is one of the least developed areas in the country. Poverty and unemployment arerife and the majority of young people grow up with little or no personal and professional prospects. A verylarge telescope with its associated infrastructure can change this.MeerKAT leads the wayThe SKA will not be the first major space project in the Northern Cape. At the moment, the MeerKATtelescope is under construction on the same site earmarked for SKA. Once operating it will be one of thelargest radio telescopes in the world. MeerKAT will have a major Operations and Science Centre (OSC)that will be located in or near existing science institutes, possibly in or near Cape Town.MeerKAT is a pathfinder and precursor project for the SKA, as well as an important science facility in itsown right. South Africa’s investment in MeerKAT is necessary to demonstrate it has the capability to hostthe SKA, to develop South Africa’s own astronomy community and to attract students and internationalresearchers.The international astronomy community wants to start building the SKA soon after 2012. If the SKA issited in South Africa, its core will be at the present MeerKAT site. Much of its associated infrastructure willeither be on the site or near Carnarvon in the Karoo. The SKA will be built by an international consortium offunders, resulting in significant foreign direct investment for construction work and operating costs.

7In the middle of nowhere something of extraordinary global significance is takingshape: the building of MeerKAT, a precursor project for the SKA. The pedestals forthe KAT-7 antennae (main photograph) are already in place.

9rural and sparsely populated region where the telescope will be constructed. The extension of MeerKATto the full SKA would significantly lengthen the construction phase to beyond 2021, thus extending thedirect impact on the local towns.Local firms will manufacture new products and provide new services in response to the constructionrequirements. These products and services may emerge from in-house development and design efforts,or be based on technologies obtained under licence, and would be applicable in other local contexts orin similar projects overseas. Firms may also need to develop new processes or acquire them from foreignsources. Such new processes may help to reduce the costs of existing production lines or improve thequality of existing products and services.The application of new project management and other organisational tools can reduce costs andimprove quality in the participating companies.From a reputation point of view, a successful MeerKAT/SKA contract can be invaluable to a localcompany. The new skills and knowledge acquired by firms working with MeerKAT and the SKA is verylikely to translate into new and exciting contracts.Infrastructure developmentMeerKAT and the SKA (if built) will deliver very large quantities of data for analysis, hence broadbandinfrastructure and large-scale computing facilities are a key part of the infrastructure investment.The project includes the establishment of an Astronomy Reserve which requires roads, powerreticulation and optical fibre networks. Tangible benefits to the local community include access to powerlines and new electronic networks for training and communication.TourismIt is unlikely that MeerKAT and the SKA will, on their own, create a large-scale tourism industry in theNorthern Cape. They can, however, lay the foundation with the SALT telescope for a niche astro-tourismmarket. One of the ways in which this can happen, is through the development of an Astronomy Reservethat includes a strong wilderness component. In so doing, the area can become a tourist destination andan asset, rather than a liability, to local landowners and residents. A viewing point and information centreon the periphery of the site will prove invaluable to attract tourists and cater for school tours.What the rest of the world has learnedHaving studied the literature, Faranah estimates that the overall benefits from MeerKAT and the SKA arevery likely to be more than twice their cost. “It could be significantly higher if the projects are managed aspart of a wider set of interventions aimed at enhancing innovation in South Africa.”The prime objective of building MeerKAT is to produce a new-generation radio telescope. It representsa new era in this important branch of pure science. Experience has consistently demonstrated that suchepoch-defining research facilities push the limits of engineering and technology, and produce a range ofspin-off technologies.Elsewhere in the world, large science facilities have proven to be powerful magnets for scientists seekingcareers. In Arizona, for example, the development over many years of the astronomy, planetary science andspace science research programmes has developed a significant cluster of activity worth over US$1 billion,with an annual turnover of US$164 million and a direct impact of a further US$90 million in 2006.

10 NRFimpact report 2008/09The AstroQuiz is more than just a Q&A session – it hopes tostimulate interest in learners to eventually answer South Africa’sneed for graduates in the natural and physical sciences.reaching for the starsRegardless of their culture or history, the night skies are a part of every South African’s life. For millennia,they have told farmers when the time is right to plant crops, they have told sailors in which direction tonavigate, and they have entranced and inspired children, poets and spiritual leaders.A partnership between the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA)and the Gauteng-based Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, is giving even more meaning to the stars for SouthAfrican learners. “South Africa has a dire shortage of specialists in the sciences, and it’s one of our goalsto encourage learners to understand the potential of careers in these fields,” says Shadrack Mkansi,acting manager for the Science Awareness Platform at SAASTA. “A world of possibility is open tothem now – school leavers have many more options than the teaching, nursing, policing oradministrative jobs from which their parents could choose.”SAASTA wanted to get students interested in astronomy, using it as a steppingstoneto other sciences, but understood that it would have to win this interestthrough activities that would encourage learners to conduct their own research,rather than through passive information campaigns that could be easily glossed over.“A competition is a great way to stimulate activity in the school environment,” saysMkansi. “It encourages engagement between the pupils, and builds on the senseof community in each learning environment. The pupils encourage one another, worktogether to prepare for the quiz, and they inspire excitement in the younger generations toShadrack Mkansi follow in their footsteps.”AstroQuiz lays the foundation for exciting careersA grant from SAASTA, a business unit of the NRF, brought both SAASTA and Sci-Bono together in 2006to launch the AstroQuiz – an astronomy quiz for Grade 7 learners located close to five of the country’sobservatories. The competition ran for the third time in 2008, with 900 pupils from five provinces takingpart. Learners at participating schools compete in groups of four to answer a set of astronomy-relatedquestions. Discussion and debate is encouraged, and the winning team from each school proceeds toa regional quiz. Regional winners are hosted by SAASTA at an annual national final, with the winnersreceiving certificates and prizes for their school.

11While children prepare for the AstroQuiz they gain insight into the importance ofstudying mathematics and see how the seemingly abstract principles they learn inthe classroom help lay the foundations for an exciting career.

14 NRFimpact report 2008/09Two years from now, a tiny satellite – not much bigger than a wine bottle– will carry a high-frequency beacon into the skies above Antarctica tocalibrate a radar system at the research base. This cluster of CubeSats isalso the toast of a French/South African collaboration to keep academicson campus.bright sparks flyAt the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), postgraduate researchers are liberating handicappedpeople. On the campus of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) they are building a satellite.Across our country, the Franco-South African Technology Institute in Electronics (F’SATIE) is making itspresence felt.F’SATIE was founded in the late 1990s by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the FrenchGovernment, the NRF and TUT. CPUT officially joined the programme in February 2008. F’SATIE aims toadvance research in electrical engineering and information and communication technology – both areas inwhich South Africa needs a skills boost.Research at CPUTDuring 2007, the DST identified five critical areas for South Africa, the so-called “Grand Challenges”.Space science and technology is one of these, deemed to have the potential to develop a knowledgebasedlocal economy.In line with the Grand Challenges, the government recently approved the Space Policy, paving the wayfor the establishment of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA). This created a burningneed for a programme to develop the human capital required for a successful and sustainable localspace industry. F’SATIE at CPUT stepped into the breach with a Satellite Systems Engineering (SSE)programme under the F’SATIE banner.The CPUT programme covers the broad fields of satellite communications and power systems.Although focused on space applications, the programme integrates engineering skills and technologiesused in many other disciplines. In reaching for the stars, satellite engineering makes a real impact inpromoting engineering in general. Says Dr Robert van Zyl, Deputy Director of F’SATIE and ProgrammeManager of the Programme at CPUT: “We have been inundated with enquiries since introducing ourprogramme and announcing that we are looking for researchers to build a satellite.”The satellite in question is a so-called CubeSat. This technology, packaged in a 10cm 3 nano-satellite,was developed in the USA to make the building of satellites affordable and accessible to academicinstitutions. The CPUT version will be a 3 x 1 cube cluster of CubeSats fitted with a camera, or opticpayload, as well as a scientific payload of the HMO. The scientific payload will be a high-frequencybeacon – a device that emits high-frequency electromagnetic pulses – that will be used to calibrate theradar system at the HMO research base in Antarctica.

15Associate Professor Robert van Zyl, Deputy Director: F’SATIE (above) says theprogramme has been inundated with enquiries since announcing that it waslooking for researchers to build a satellite. The paper model (centre) shows the3-cube CubeSat that will be the first satellite to be built by F’SATIE.It will measure 300mm x 100mm x 100mm.

16 NRFimpact report 2008/09The satellite’s engineering model will be unveiled at the International Astronomical Federation 2011event in Cape Town.According to Dr Van Zyl, the tiny CubeSat is the start of much bigger things. “Our project gives studentsthe exposure and discipline they will require to eventually work on bigger and more advanced satellitesunder the SANSA. The CubeSat project will provide a very visible and tangible vehicle to raise the interestand awareness of our learners and students in space engineering. This is very important to grow thenumbers of students in the science, engineering and technology fields.”There are currently 12 students enrolled in the postgraduate programme; 12 more will be added eachyear. Dr Van Zyl expects the numbers to stabilise at 26 Master’s degree students and 10 PhDs.In support of the DST’s 10-year plan, the SSE programme plans to achieve the following outcomes by2018:l Independent earth observation high-resolution satellite data available for all of Africa from aconstellation of satellites designed and manufactured in Africa; andl SET students comprising 35% of students at higher education institutions (up from 28% in 2005).l More than 3 000 SET PhD students per year (up from 561 in 2005). Achieving this goal would implymore than 500 doctoral and more than 1 000 Master’s supervisors.In support of the Grand Challenges, the NRF’s biggest contribution to F’SATIE is for the SSEprogramme at CPUT.Research at TUTAt TUT, F’SATIE research focuses on seven areas:l Enabled environment and assistance to handicapped persons;l Telecommunication with special emphasis on wireless networks;The research to assist handicapped persons covers a variety of topics:l Design and control of equipment such as wheelchairs, exoskeletons, and other equipment that enablepeople to perceive and control their environment;l Modelling people’s behaviour in driving situations in order to adapt equipment to their needs;l Modelling of domestic and industrial environments using virtual reality techniques to qualify and adaptthe environment to the users’ needs;l Designing indoor and outdoor spaces to improve accessibility; andl Detecting and understanding the intention of people through multiple inputs, including visual and BrainComputer Interfaces (BCI).Telecommunication and the sharing of data is the lifeblood of a knowledge economy. F’SATIE researchin this area improves the design and control of wireless ad‐hoc networks and optimises the powerconsumption in wireless sensor networks. Researchers also work on quality of supply issues and ways toextend coverage in rural areas.The programme in a nutshellIn terms of the F’SATIE agreement, postgraduate students can achieve dual MTech/Msc and DTech/PhDqualifications. At the Master’s level the students may obtain an MTech from either TUT or the CPUT andan MSc from the Ecole Supérieure d’Ingénieurs en Electronique et Electrotechnique (ESIEE) in France.At the doctorate level students may obtain a DTech and a doctorate from one of two French universities inthe Parisian region.

17Students from both countries are also involved in exchange programmes. Five CPUT students are dueto travel to France in October 2009 to complete their second year of Master’s studies in Paris. CPUTcurrently hosts six French students to complete research projects.F’SATIE wants to establish and develop a dedicated base for research, in part by encouraging fulltimestudents to remain on campus instead of returning to industry. In this way, a number of strategicobjectives are being met:l Academic excellence;l An increasing number of local postgraduates; andl Increased research output.An important feature of the programme is the linkages it establishes between academia, governmentand industry, both locally and internationally. Some of the organisations and institutions involved includeNRF facilities, notably HMO, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the EuropeanUnion Space Agency (EUSA), the ESIEE graduate school in Paris and the Paris Chamber of Commerceand Industry.F’SATIE aims to enhance the network between South African industry and universities and extend it toinclude relationships with higher education institutions and companies in France and the rest of Europe.To this end, much of the research conducted under the F’SATIE banner is geared towards addressingindustry-related problems.F’SATIE deliversResearch output for 2008:4 15 international journal papers4 46 international conference papers4 2 technical reportsIndustrial research output for 2008:4 3 THRIP projects4 Student registrations in 2008:60 Master’s15 PhDsOn 28 February 2008, the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy,and South Africa’s then-Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, attended the official inauguration of F’SATIE at CPUT.2008 graduates:4 3 PhDs4 20 Master’sF’SATIE is the most successful French venture of its kind in anon-French speaking African country.Students discuss system design aspects of the CubeSat withProfessor Robert van Zyl. The students are (from left):Jean Bester, Marys Madiba-Iyambo and Matthew Sibanda(all first-year Master’s students).

18 NRFimpact report 2008/09The difference an individual can make is seldom more powerfully demonstratedthan in a lecture hall. A single skilled academic can shape minds and attitudesto unlock social and economic prosperity. Such academics are what the BlackResearchers/Academics Development (BRAD) programme seeks to nurture.the power of oneIn his laboratory at the University of the Western Cape, Dr Mario Williams is manipulating gases. Hedevelops materials that can separate oxygen and hydrogen from the exhaust gases released when coal isburnt underground.Inaccessible coal seams are sources of energy that cannot be developed due to the limitations ofconventional mining methods. Underground coal gasification is not a new technology, but if the efficiencyof the process can be improved, it will have a positive effect on the cost of electricity while also reducingthe environmental impacts of coal-fired power generation.Dr Williams is one of the first three PhD students to graduate under the BRAD programme. His currentresearch is at a postdoctoral level and also funded through BRAD.The BRAD philosophyThe programme aims to increase the critical mass of academics that are currently needed in the Science,Engineering and Technology sector in South Africa. Master’s and doctoral students at specific centresof excellence are eligible for the programme. The identified centres conduct research relevant to theelectricity industry as well as in areas that are of national importance, such as high-voltage research andrenewable energy.BRAD is implemented at seven higher education institutions: the universities of Western Cape, CapeTown, KwaZulu-Natal, Fort Hare, Limpopo, Stellenbosch and Witwatersrand. The NRF funds bursaries forMaster’s and doctoral students through nominations from these participating higher education institutions.Funding from the NRF amounted to R555 000 in 2007 and R610 000 in 2008. Eskom’s contributionover the same period was R1,9 million.According to Dr Thandi Mgwebi, Director of the Human Capacity Programme at the NRF, the drivingforces behind BRAD are human capacity development, mentoring and attracting high-quality researchersinto the academic sphere. “It also facilitates the inter-institutional partnerships between the NRF andindustry that are pivotal to fast-track capacity building, principally among the previously disadvantagedgroups.”

19Dr Mario Williams’ research into improving underground coal gasification couldreduce both electricity costs and environmental hazards.

20 NRFimpact report 2008/09A partner in powerThe NRF’s industry partner in this endeavour is national electricity utility, Eskom, which provides additionalfunding in the form of a fellowship and research activity costs. The students also have access to Eskom’sfacilities and technical experts, allowing them the opportunity to gain practical industry knowledge.Why would a technocratic organisation concern itself with the development of academics? Accordingto Yashin Brijmohan, Technical Capacity Development Manager at Eskom, the answer is simple: oneacademic can develop several students who are potentially future Eskom employees. “We are acutelyaware of the existing skills shortages, but Eskom is also taking a longer-term view in terms of skillsdevelopment. In doing so, we realised that the current status at universities will not deliver the skills ourindustry will need in future. Higher education institutions would require an increasing level of industrysupport.”In response, the organisation designed and implemented a broad Tertiary Education SupportProgramme (TESP), and a research programme through which academics work on Eskom-relatedprojects. This is complemented by the BRAD programme which also supports Eskom’s bursar programme.Yashin is very clear about the focus of BRAD: “We are looking to develop future academics. To beconsidered for funding, the candidates must be intent on becoming full-time academics. We accept thatthere are no guarantees, but the academic intention and inclination have to be there from the start.”BRAD was piloted in 2003 and formalised in 2008. The three-party contract between the NRF, Eskom,and the universities will be reviewed in 2011.The BRAD programme addresses one of the NRF’s strategic goals, namely to “create a representativescience workforce in South Africa”. “It is a cornerstone of our efforts to build the human capital base for aknowledge economy that is vital for progress in our country,” concludes Dr Mgwebi.

21More energy with less effortThe rising cost and looming shortage of energy sources worldwide is a cause of grave concern. Ittherefore makes sense that BRAD would fund research into ways of alleviating the problem.Dr Mario Williams is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of the Western Cape whose workis all about gases. On the one hand he studies hydrogen storage, separation and purification using metalhydrants, and on the other oxygen separation for the purpose of air enrichment.Dr Williams explains: “We produce, purify, and store high-purity hydrogen and oxygen using a host of inorganic materials. We take animpure source of hydrogen, in this case coal combustion exhaust fumes, and remove the hydrogen. In doing so we produce 99,9% purehydrogen. The aim of our research is to do this on demand and feed the pure gas into a fuel cell.”The oxygen enrichment process aims to increase oxygen levels in air by as much as 25%. “We are developing a membrane materialthat will assist in first removing oxygen from the coal combustion fumes and then pumping it back into the air.”The practical application of this work lies in underground coal seams. Seams that cannot be mined conventionally can be burnedunderground and the resultant gases captured to generate electricity. Underground combustion entails drilling a hole on either side of theseam. Oxygen is pumped down the one hole, leading to combustion. As the coal burns it produces exhaust fumes that escape throughthe second hole.Enriched oxygen will make the combustion process more efficient, while the hydrogen purification process will result in a betterquality energy source.Dr Williams chose this field of study because of his concerns regarding energy shortages. To him the value of BRAD lies in theexposure it afforded him. “Thanks to the funding I could attend a conference in the Ukraine where I established a network of people thatproved invaluable in helping me to complete my PhD. At this level it is crucial to be exposed to peers and leaders in the field to help aresearcher achieve his goals.”Building battery powerDr Rapela Maphanga is a lecturer at the University of Limpopo with a passion for batteries. She completed her PhD in energy storagematerials with BRAD funding, and still continues her research in this field.“My area of expertise is the computational modelling of materials by combining experimental data and theoretical data,” explainsDr Maphanga. In layman’s terms, she is studying the structure of batteries in order to improve their performance and lifespan. “Toachieve this, I am generating models of lithium manganese dioxide.” It may sound highly theoretical,but the outcome of Dr Maphanga’s work will be mobile phones and laptop computers that don’trun out of battery power when you need them most.For Dr Maphanga, BRAD meant peace of mind and the luxury of focusing on her studies.“I could concentrate on my work and not worry about finances. This is invaluable for aresearcher and a privilege very few have.”

22 NRFimpact report 2008/09Science – and society – needs the enquiring minds of young people to pushboundaries, question the status quo and unlock dormant solutions. The Post-Doctoral Innovation Fellowship provides the ideal setting for such minds.innovation unlocks aknowledge economyIf South Africa is to be able to compete globally, it needs to build a strong knowledge economy acrossall sectors of the population. The Post-Doctoral Innovation Fellowship, a National Research FoundationProject in partnership with the DST, began in 2002 with this specific goal in mind.To date, the programme has invested in the careers of 30 research fellows, who are selected in linewith its goals of having a complement of fellows that is 85% black, and 65% female. The fellowshiphas chosen to focus on projects in climate change, astronomy, agricultural science, computer science,engineering, ICT, geology and physics, among others. Its main aim is to drive innovation that will leadto improvements in South Africans’ lives, through projects that will boost the country’s standing in theinternational scientific community.“The culture of postdoctoral fellowship is still not that strong in South Africa,” says Dr Thandi Mgwebi,the programme’s director. “Apart from a shortage of graduates at postdoctoral level, there are otherfactors that affect the success of a project like this.”By the time an individual reaches postdoctoral level, they have been in the academic environmentfor many years, often supported by extended family. “When someone reaches this level,their family, and often other relatives, look to them for support. At the very least, theywant them to quest after the prestige and remuneration that come with researchpositions in the corporate world, and the academic environment can seldomcompete with these,” Dr Mgwebi says. Added to these demands, many overseasuniversities offer prestigious and lucrative research fellowships, with which localprojects cannot compete, and the country loses many of its doctoral graduates toinstitutions abroad.Dr Thandi Mgwebi, programme director of the Post-Doctoral Innovation Fellowship.

23The day science becomes real for everyday South Africans is when innovationchanges their lives. Research, such as that conducted on drought-tolerant genes byMonique Morse (above), would improve profitability for farmers in arid areas.

24 NRFimpact report 2008/09In order to add value to the research fellows’ experience of the programme, and to encourage localgraduates to stay in South Africa, the programme has evolved to include travel expenses to conferences,lab visits and workshops abroad.“We’ve also started an annual focus group discussion with the research fellows, where they presenttheir work to one another and get to know one another – building networks that will be key to thesuccess of scientific research in the future,” Dr Mgwebi adds.The Post-Doctoral Innovation Fellowship has adopted a long-term view in its partnerships with thevarious academic institutions. When a fellowship is granted, it is on the understanding that the researchfellow will be mentored by an experienced researcher at the institution, who will work with them to build acareer. The institutions are required to commit to providing the necessary space and facilities, and to playa role in monitoring the progress of the research, and to ensure the longevity of each project.This not only ensures the integrity of the research work that is completed, but it teaches theresearchers to become teachers themselves, as they lead Master’s and doctoral students in their researchteams. It is this collaborative way of working that will build the culture of research and innovation thatthe programme seeks to foster, both in the academic environment and in the commercial and corporatearenas.“This rounded approach to postdoctoral fellowships means that the researchers who emerge fromthe NRF’s Innovation Fund are very well equipped to take research and development positions outsidethe academic arena,” says Nonkqubela Silulwane, the Programme Officer for Student and Post-DoctoralStudies at the Fund. “The level of mentorship that we encourage through this programme fosters anentrepreneurial spirit and independence of thought in our fellows that equips them to deal with thechallenges of the workplaces outside the academic world. This approach of giving our leading researchersthe skills to continue their work beyond the relative shelter of academia once their fellowships have cometo an end, is truly taking innovation out into the South African economy.”

25New life for agricultureMonique Morse, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Cape Town, has continuedresearch into the resurrection plant (X. viscosa) to isolate the genes that allow this species to survivedrought. Morse is one of a group of students investigating the roles of various genes, isolated fromstress libraries, in drought tolerance. The eventual objective of using these genes, or even just usingtheir promoters, is to research the modification of drought-tolerant crops. This would improve profitability forfarmers in arid areas, and would possibly extend the use of land that would not otherwise be suitable for farming.“The Innovation Fellowship is very prestigious, and even though we work in close collaboration with a supervisor, the grant from theNRF has been mine to control,” Morse says. “I’ve been able to use the money for equipment and supplies for the lab, for the analysis ofsamples, and to buy a laptop on which to document my research. This not only gives fellows the freedom to decide what is done withthe money that is granted to their projects, but it teaches them financial responsibility and budgeting – an important skill in laboratorymanagement that is not part of any scientific curriculum.”THE LIGHT TOUCH OF HEALINGDenise Hawkins Evans of the University of Johannesburg wanted to further her research in biomedical technology with a postdoctoralresearch project investigating the effects of low-level laser therapy. The focus of the research project, funded through the Post-DoctoralInnovation Fellowship, was to examine wound healing, and how stressed or wounded skin cells responded to laser treatments.“My study initially focused on laser irradiation of normal or wounded cells, and then progressed to developing cell-culture basedmodels to study the effects of laser therapy on ageing and stressed cells. The project also studied the effect of visible red laser light oncell stress and cell death pathways and showed that laser therapy could promote cell survival,” Hawkins Evans says. “My research tookplace at a cellular level, but with the outcomes of my research, we are hoping to eventually produce laser technology that will benefitwound healing, particularly in diabetes patients, or that will reverse premature ageing in patients withmuscle atrophy, heart disease and neurodegenerative disorders.”The funding from the fellowship enabled Hawkins Evans to obtain essential consumables andequipment for her research, and to travel abroad to present at the Society of Photo-opticalInstrumentation Engineers (SPIE) Photonics West conference in San Francisco. HawkinsEvans also presented her work at the World Association of Laser Therapy (WALT) conference,hosted in South Africa and it was at this conference that she was recognised as Best YoungInvestigator, bringing international recognition to her, and her completed project.

26 NRFimpact report 2008/09The bulk of South Africans do not have access to the Internet because theycannot afford a personal computer. However, cellphones are ubiquitous at alllevels of our population. Why can’t they be used as hand-held devices withwhich to surf – and use – the online world?opening the worldto wirelessThe days of the mobile phone being just a telephony device are long gone. Handsets are now cameras,voice recorders, MP3 players, and devices for surfing the Internet. If you’ve got the right smartphone,you can even pretend that you’ve got a light sabre, complete with sound effects. But, however multifunctionalthey may be, cellphones remain limited by the data streams via which they receive the packetsof information that become voice calls, SMSes, videos and emails.Currently cellular telephony networks in South Africa communicate via 3G, which is a family ofstandards for wireless telecommunication, as defined by the International TelecommunicationUnion. It includes GSM EDGE, UMTS, CDMA2000, DECT and WiMax. This standard isacceptable for voice transmission, but is slow for other data like images,video, email and surfing the Internet.With experts predicting that many South Africans will skipover the use of personal computers, and head straight toachieving access to the Internet via their cellphones, thelag that exists in 3G data transmission is a conceivablebarrier to the benefits that could be enjoyed by thisemerging market. These could include online bankingand transactions, education, entertainment and accessto news media.Professor Fambirai Takawira and his team of sixacademic staff and 14 postgraduate researchers at theUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal are examining ways to achievehigher standards of data transmission.“My research is looking at solving the problems of mixing, sothat there’s no distinction between the speeds and quality of voiceand data transmission,” Professor Hongjun Xu, one of the researchers, says.“We wantto expand wirelesscommunication so that itcan benefit the people whodon’t have access to the world ofonline information, and give themthe opportunity to overcome thedigital divide for which the‘Dark Continent’ of Africais known.”Tahmid Quazi

27Professor Hongjun Xu (left) of the University of KwaZulu-Natal is investigatingfaster data transmission via 4G so that cellphones become the newgateway to the online world.

28 NRFimpact report 2008/09“In terms of quality, the data requirements of voice and video, for example, are very different. Voice doesn’tdemand a lot of data during packet transmission, but video does. For this reason, you can’t watch a videoas it lands in your inbox – you have to wait for it to download, but you can have a conversation withoutenduring any interference. It is our goal to achieve a standard where there’s no distinction at the user’slevel – where data reception for voice, video or email happens at the same quick speed.”Tahmid Quazi, one of the postgraduate students working with Prof. Xu, feels that 4G will be aconvergence of all the different wireless technologies with the Internet Protocol (IP) standard as the baseupon which the convergence occurs.“WiFi is free, and works on unlicensed bands, and this technology will make so many things cheaperand more accessible,” Quazi says. “We’re going to see hotspotted cities and municipalities, in whichresidents have 24-hour access to the Internet wherever they are. Once the bandwidth for this accessis sufficient, they could use it not only to browse the Internet and use it for applications such as socialnetworking, but they could be making all their phone calls via Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP),changing the way the telephony companies do business.”The research groups are working with a view to making teleconferencing and open education availableto areas that have been excluded from basic and higher education. “Our cause is to make technologyimprove people’s lives – and by that we don’t mean to make it quicker and easier for high-flyingexecutives to conduct their business,” Quazi says. “We want to expand wireless communication so thatit can benefit the people who don’t have access to the world of online information and give them theopportunity to overcome the digital divide for which the ‘Dark Continent’ of Africa is known.”Although the research teams have made extraordinary headway in their investigations, findings areprimarily theoretical at present and have yet to be tested or put into practical use. However, if theirresearch and analysis creates and opens up the technology to allow indiscriminate access to informationvia affordable and portable devices, they will indeed have changed the lives of many South Africans – andother global citizens.Why are cellphones the nextgateway to the Internet?l In 2005, it was estimated that there were 2,14 billion cellphone subscribers worldwide.l According to EightyTwenty, 60% of South African households own a cellphone, while only 20% own a landline.l Cellphones are the only way that seven million South Africans surf the Internet, according to BizCommunity.l Cellphones are more affordable, more portable and use less electricity than computers. No wonder so many banks and otherorganisations are optimising their websites to make them easier to browse via a cellphone.

31Mark Mandita, education officer at the Amathole Museum, takes learners fromSinako School on a tour of the museum. Professor Leslie Witz (centre) wantsto understand the processes through which history is created and make SouthAfricans aware that history must not be accepted at face value.

32 NRFimpact report 2008/09“Ourresearchcontests andeffectively decentres therole of academic historiansas the keepers andmessengers of the finalword in history.”The focus at the Iziko South African Museum has been on thePower of Rock Art, an exhibition that has used the shamanistinterpretation of rock art as its explanatory context. In theresearch the exhibition has been mapped in detail and somevisitor responses recorded. These responses are beingconsidered alongside the processes of representation inthe display, particularly in comparison to the challengesto shamanist interpretation of rock art that have appearedin recent years and that have foreground histories ofanthropological and archaeological practice.Research at the Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum revealed thatthe relationship between the museum and the community it is claimingto represent is hardly a straightforward one between history and public. Themuseum makes extensive use of South African academic social history as recorded in theProfessor Leslie Witz1980s, to provide the context for the shift towards the migrant labour system. However, it has becomeapparent that this knowledge is not absolute, as struggles over the constitution of the community and itshistory continue. This museum seems to be more about negotiating and building a sense of communitythrough confronting legacies of enforced identities and the uneven allocation of resources, than it is aboutbeing an expression of people’s history.More broadly this project is interested in the phenomena of the flourishing of museums in postapartheidSouth Africa, particularly history museums. What has become apparent is that, despite theclaims to a momentous change in the ways that museums approached history in the 1990s, there ismuch more of a continuum than is immediately apparent. The systems and methodologies set in placethrough the development of the category of cultural history in museums and in academic departments atuniversities in the 1950s and 1960s have become the basis to install new histories.Museums have flourished in post-apartheid South Africa, particularly history museums. An important part of Prof. Witz’s studyquestions whether the “facts” of the past, be they in the form of oral histories, manuscripts or objects, should go unchallenged.

33While the content might be changing, the approach to history in museums is still located in a positivistmode of reconstruction, in which the artefacts and their provenance are presented as the “facts” of thepast whether they are in the form of oral histories, manuscripts or objects.In practical terms, Prof. Witz and his team are working with their network of heritage and tertiaryinstitutions to create an environment in which they will be more firmly placed to transform the publicand education spheres in terms of how they research and present history. “What is at stake in theengagements with heritage institutions is that our research contests and effectively decentres the role ofacademic historians as the keepers and messengers of the final word in history,” Prof. Witz says. “Insteadof casting the historian either as a consultant who conveys history to the public, or as a field workercarrying out research about an institution, we are determined to understand and reveal the politics of theproduction of history and the historian’s relationship with, and immersion in, the cut and thrust of makinghistory.”Professors Witz and Rassool maintain that breaking down the distinctions between history andthose who recorded it not only broadens the scope for the study of history, but allows for much morecomplex and nuanced understandings of different events. For them, it is not so much about acquiringthe information about what happened, as it is about how, why and which stories, in which forms, wererecognised as fact at various times and places.New historians for future pastsApart from challenging the ways in which South Africans, with their particularly intricate past, record andretell their history, Prof. Witz sees his research programme as an incubator for students from the rest ofAfrica who want to become historians and heritage practitioners. “This project has opened up the field ofheritage studies and museums to students throughout the continent. Their determination to understand thecomplexities of how heritage and history come to be constituted will surely see many more effective criticalengagements with the ways museums and heritage sites represent pasts and histories,” Prof. Witz says.

34 NRFimpact report 2008/09There are many proposed solutions to the human settlement question.But how many of them are sustainable?a new kind ofneighbourhood watch“The best-laid plans of mice and men go oft awry,” according to poet Robert Burns, but it is the goal ofProfessor Mark Swilling of the Sustainability Institute at Stellenbosch University to ensure that the bridgebetween government’s strategic intentions for housing and development are translated into practicalsolutions for housing in South Africa.Prof. Swillings’ research approaches the various challenges of sustainable human settlements with aparticular focus on the Western Cape, although the solutions that have emerged from the various projectscan be applied in urban development throughout South Africa and abroad.There are few, if any, real examples of sustainable development in South Africa, even though the notionhas been supported by government policies in recent years. A report generated by the SustainabilityInstitute ascribes this to a “continued predominance of old approaches to township planning, infrastructureand housing design and a lack of cross-sector integration and collaboration. Planners seldom designneighbourhoods with a view to their long-term environmental, social and economic sustainability andapartheid spatial constructs and financial constraints mostly overrule integrated approaches to holisticallydesigned settlements”.“It is the Sustainability Institute’s mission to implement sustainable design in human settlements, totransform how neighbourhoods are designed and how they operate,” says Prof. Swilling. “We work directlywith community-based housing movements and groups of the urban poor to find out what it is they reallyneed.” While there are various similar research projects, Prof. Swillings’ team is paying particular attentionto energy efficiency and renewable energy and alternative building materials, especially unfired bricks.“We’re starting at the very beginning of design, with looking at the size of pavements, which give adirect indication of the importance of pedestrians in an urban environment,” he says. Next under theproverbial microscope is the design of infrastructure such as sewage and effluent, how it can be treatedto minimise water consumption – and how structures can be designed to capture rainwater.

35Photovoltaic roof tiles are one of the sustainable housing products thatProfessor Mark Swilling (centre) and his team are testing for South Africa.The tiles, once imported from California, could soonbe made out of recycled plastic!

36 NRFimpact report 2008/09The orientation of the dwellings is also vital, in order to maximisethe benefits of solar energy.The aboveground structure is next up for review, with the “old”Rural Development Programme (RDP) houses having beenrevealed as expensive to build, with relatively short lifespanscharacterised by excessive maintenance requirements. “We’renow looking towards double- or triple-storey structures thatare properly oriented, with appropriate overhangs, gas cookingand proper ventilation outputs,” says Prof. Swilling. “Thesefactors must all govern the way you think about a dwelling toachieve maximum human health and comfort.”By applying these principles and the national treasury guidelinesthat demand a full lifecycle analysis, Prof. Swilling and his team havecreated a more sustainable housing product for the South African context.Theteam’s findingsare already in actionat a site near the Spierwine estate in Stellenbosch,where 42 plots have beenset aside for developmentin line with the project’srecommendations.The team’s findings are already in action at a site near the Spier wine estate in Stellenbosch, where42 plots have been set aside for development in line with the project’s recommendations. A 4 000m 2public area, crèche facilities and various other public amenities complement the sustainably designedhomes. The social structures are centred around children. For example, the primary school is at the centreof the community rather than at its edge. Even though the plots are relatively small, only allowing smallgardens, public space has been maximised to encourage community interaction.Two further projects, designed on the principles determined by the team’s research, have beenproposed for Oude Molen near Pinelands, and on a site near the old cement factory in Philippi in theWestern Cape.But wait, there’s more…It’s all very well to design a structure that is energy efficient – but what of the materials that are used tobuild these structures? Prof. Swillings’ team has investigated various building materials, including adobebrick, sandbags, wood and recycled bricks, which are made out reclaimed and crushed building rubble.However, perhaps the most exciting outcome of the Institute’s research is the testing of photovoltaicroof tiles.“We imported photovoltaic roof tiles that have been produced in California“Itis ourmission to implementsustainable design in humansettlements, to transform howneighbourhoods are designedand how they operate.”Professor Mark Swillingand set them up on a test site in the Lynedoch EcoVillage. We’ve beenworking with a research and development company to emulate thetechnology using local materials. However, we’ve taken it one stepfurther in the sustainability stakes – the roof tiles into which thephotovoltaic cells are embedded could be manufactured fromrecycled plastic,” says Prof. Swilling.The private sector partner with which the Sustainability Instituteworks realised that most other researchers in the photovoltaic fieldwere focusing on making the cell itself more efficient – when it hasbecome apparent that there is not much more that can be done todo so. The alternative approach is to look at the other costs associatedwith the cells, such as the frame and roof materials. This could cut costsby as much as a third.

37The photovoltaic roof tile could also have an impact on Eskom’s requirements to build new powerstations in the near future. A Master’s student supervised by Prof. Swilling, and sponsored by the Centrefor Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies with additional funding from the NRF, is currently buildinga model to investigate the impact of installing the roof tile on 1 000 000 homes. The project assumesthat the energy from these tiles would power all household appliances and lighting, but solar hot watergeysers would supply hot water and stoves would be powered by gas. The Institute is anticipating that theoutcome of this research will tip the balance in favour of South Africans being able to generate their ownenergy, with the excess being sold back to Eskom via a feed-in tariff.Turning policy into processThe Department of Human Settlements has recognised the value of the work being done by theSustainability Institute, and has signed a three-year contract with the team to advise it on policy and theimplementation of its findings in government housing developments across South Africa.Several international research funding bodies have also seen the value of the work being done at theInstitute, committing further funds to this research, which will surely make a tangible difference to the livesof South Africans who need the very best possible housing solution – the construction of a sustainablehuman environment, rather than just the erection of basic shelters.The research team has experimented with various building materials, including adobe brick and recycled bricks.

38 NRFimpact report 2008/09An ancient fish rediscovered in modern times has inspired South Africa’slargest marine ecosystem research programme. In the same way that thecoelacanth has captivated global scientific imagination, the programme bearingits name is building a network of scientists working together to pull marineecosystems back from the brink of disaster.plumbing the depths ofmarine understandingScientists estimate that more than 50% of marine species have not yet been discovered, let alonedescribed. Existing data are based largely on fragmented shallow-water surveys. Beyond the 30mgradient little is known about species diversity and population densities, and within the 30m gradientmuch remains to be described.But why would we want to know more? The answer is that millions of people in many countries, includingour own, depend on the oceans for food and employment. It is therefore imperative for us to manage theseprecious resources properly. This can only be done by better understanding the secrets of the deep.The processes and ecosystem functions of the ocean environment have a major influence on thesocieties and economies of coastal areas. Governments cannot possibly manage fish and other marineresources without understanding the ocean-atmosphere, trophic and biogeochemical dynamics thatcharacterise the ocean environment. Better prediction of climatic and oceanographic variability (essential,for example, in the context of rainfed agriculture, watershed welfare and the management of sustainablemarine resources use) urgently requires the gathering of baseline information and developing coordinatedmonitoring and observation systems.This is why the African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme (ACEP) is so important.ACEP IAfter the first coelacanth was discovered in 1938, we waited 62 years for another sighting in SouthAfrican waters. This happened in 2000 off Sodwana Bay. Reminded again by how little we know aboutthe oceans, the first ACEP was established in April 2002 to fill a void in oceanographic and marineecological sampling on the continental shelves of the east coast of southern Africa and the southwesternIndian Ocean. The ACEP is a joint project between the DST and the Department of Water andEnvironmental Affairs (DWEA). The NRF acts as the implementing agency for DST with Marine andCoastal Management (MCM) playing a similar role for DWEA.

39There is a wealth of knowledge still to be gleaned about marine species diversityand population density. And we should want to know about the secrets of the deepas millions of people depend on the oceans for food and employment.

40 NRFimpact report 2008/09ACEP I successfully set up a regional marine database,stimulated public awareness and improved environmentaleducation. The programme adopted an ecosystemapproach to better understand the relationshipbetween coelacanths and their physical, chemical andbiological environment in order to develop an informedmanagement and conservation strategy. It focusedon several sub-projects and organised 10 ship-basedresearch expeditions on the RS Algoa, including threededicated Jago (manned submersible) cruises. Expeditionsincluded cruises along the east coast of southern Africa andthe rest of the south-western Indian Ocean.At the close of ACEP I, an extensive data inventory was compiled toScientists increasinglyrealise that nature is notlimited by national boundariesor territorial waters.Research collaborationopens the door for ecosystembasedmanagementand conservationprogrammes.document the primary products of the numerous multidisciplinary research activities funded by theprogramme. It has been used to ensure that proper archives are kept, that data collected withinthe Exclusive Economic Zones of each country are made available to those countries, and thatspecimens and samples are tracked. The scene was set for increased international cooperation and moreextensive research.ACEP IIThe second phase of ACEP started in 2007 and has developed into South Africa’s flagship marineresearch initiative.One of the key features of ACEP II is its approach to funding. The NRF issued an open research callin late 2007, allowing any researcher or research consortium to submit a bid for funding. The result is awide variety of projects currently running under the ACEP II banner. Furthermore, unlike the block grantsprovided to ACEP I, the vast majority of funding is now managed through the NRF and is made up ofstudent bursaries and individual programme running costs. This results in more funding security whichencourages MSc and PhD students to enrol.Following the open call for ACEP II projects, eight proposals involving more than 30 scientists from10 research institutions received funding. Projects range from coelacanth-specific research to marineconservation planning, environmental education, marine ecosystems studies, biodiversity research andclimate change.The outcomes of oceanic research in the Western Indian Oceanl National fisheries management strategies to promote sustainable and responsible fisheries development.l Integrated ecosystem conservation and management by controlling coastal pollution, expanding thenetwork of marine protection areas, monitoring and controlling coastal development and the generalmonitoring of the coastal environment (including coral reefs and ecotoxicology).l Coastal communities that use marine resources in a fair and equitable manner that is also socially andeconomically sustainable.l Sustainable development and economic recovery plans linked to the protection and maintenance ofecosystem functions.

41A total of 50 postgraduate and postdoctoral students will be involved in the eight research projectsover the five years of ACEP II funding. This amounts to R4,5 million worth of student bursaries, whichmakes up a significant component of the total research funding allocated. ACEP II management activelyintroduced project leaders to potential students through a national recruitment drive targeting previouslydisadvantaged students. The details of the 46 applicants were captured in a database and provided to theprincipal investigators to select suitable and appropriate students.ACEP II is also in the process of acquiring a fully equipped 13m ski-boat, which will serve as a coastalresearch platform, as well as a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Both vessels will be available to ACEP IIand Agulhas and Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystems (ASCLME)-supported research and trainingprojects throughout South Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. The ROV, which could be deployed frommultiple platforms, can be easily transported to different sites, ships and countries as required.International collaborationACEP II is becoming increasingly involved in internationally-funded research projects requiring its expertise.Funding and running the coastal research boat and submersible (ROV) has the potential to place DST, theSouth African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) (NRF), MCM (DWEA), ACEP II and ASCLME atthe forefront of deep-water marine physical and biodiversity sciences regionally and globally by generatingcutting-edge knowledge of the largely unexplored and unknown offshore marine environment.ACEP II is a key contributor to three international projects currently researching the oceans aroundsouthern Africa. The most important of these is the five-year ASCLME project funded by the GlobalEnvironment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).ASCLME started as ACEP I came to a close and, to some extent, evolved as a result of the activitiesand networking the latter created. ACEP II is now South Africa’s key in-kind co-funding contribution tothe project. The involvement includes hosting the ASCLME management team, planning, funding andexecuting research on the Agulhas Current; funding the ACEP II scientists who participate in ACEPrelatedresearch; and managing and archiving data through the South African Environmental ObservationNetwork (SAEON), the South African Data Centre for Oceanography (SADCO) and SAIAB.In 2008, 32 South African scientists participated in ASCLME cruises, eight South African or SouthAfrican-led projects were supported and seven South African-based students received training during thefour cruises. ACEP II benefits directly from the ASCLME cruises through training and capacity building,cruise and data reports, conferences and peer-reviewed publications.ASCLME is an extension of ACEP and pursues the same objective of using science to managethe critically important marine resources of the Western Indian Ocean. Arguably its most importantcontribution, however, is its philosophy that ocean resources should be managed as physical, chemicaland biologically defined ecosystems rather than political entities belonging to different countries.Welcome to our worldThe first “modern” coelacanth was discovered close to East London in 1938. Known to scientists only from thefossil record, this ancient fish was believed to have been extinct for millions of years. Thanks to the passion anddedication of the then-curator of East London’s small museum and a Rhodes University Chemistry Professorwho was passionate about fish, an unusual catch in a fisherman’s net unlocked a wealth of scientific knowledge.Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer recognised the fish for what it was and Professor JLB Smith spread the word. Thissparked a concerted research effort into the species and South African fish in general.

42 NRFimpact report 2008/09acronymsACEP African Coelacanth EcosystemProgrammeARC Agricultural Research CouncilASCLME Agulhas and Somali Currents LargeMarine EcosystemBCI Brain Computer InterfacesBRAD Black Researchers/AcademicsDevelopmentCDMA 2000 Code Division Multiple Accesscm 3 Cubic CentimetersCPUT Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyCSIR Council for Scientific and IndustrialResearchDECT Digital Enhanced CodelessCommunicationsDST Department of Science and TechnologyDWEA Department of Water and EnvironmentalAffairsEDGE Enhanced Data GSM EnvironmentESIEE Ecole Supérieure d’Ingénieurs enElectronique et ElectrotechniqueEUSA European Union Space AgencyF’SATIE Franco-South African Technology Institutein ElectronicsGEF Global Environment FacilityGMSA Grant Management and SystemsAdministrationGPS Global Positioning SystemGSM Global System for Mobile CommunicationHartRAOHEIHESSHMOIAUICTIPISIiThembaLABSHartebeesthoek Radio AstronomyObservatoryHigher Education InstitutionHigh-Energy Stereoscopic SystemHermanus Magnetic ObservatoryInternational Astronomical UnionInformation Communication TechnologyInternet ProtocolInstitute for Scientific InformationiThemba Laboratory forAccelerator Based SciencesIYA2009 International Year of Astronomy 2009KATKPAKPIMCMKaroo Array TelescopeKey Performance AreaKey Performance IndicatorMarine and Costal ManagementMP3 MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3MScNASANASSPNRFNSBPNZGOSCPhDRMaster of ScienceNational Aeronautics and SpaceAdministrationNational Astrophysics and Space ScienceProgrammeNational Research FoundationNational Society of Black PhysicistsNational Zoological Gardens of SouthAfricaOperations and Science CentreDoctor of PhilosophyRand

43RDPROVSASAAOSAASTASADCOSAEONSAIABSALTSANSASETSKASPIESSETESPTHRIPTUTUCTUMTSUNUNDPRural Development ProgrammeRemotely Operated VehicleSouth AfricaSouth African Astronomical ObservatorySouth African Agency for Science andTechnology AdvancementSouth African Data Centre forOceanographySouth African Environmental ObservationNetworkSouth African Institute for AquaticBiodiversitySouthern African Large TelescopeSouth African National Space AgencyScience, Engineering and TechnologySquare Kilometre ArraySociety of Photo-optical InstrumentationEngineersSatellite Systems EngineeringTertiary Education Support ProgrammeTechnology and Human Resources forIndustry ProgrammeTshwane University of TechnologyUniversity of Cape TownUniversal Data TelecommunicationsSystemUnited NationsUnited Nations Development ProgrammeUNESCO United Nations Educational Scientific andCultural OrganisationUSA United States of AmericaUWC University of Western CapeUZ University of ZululandVoIP Voice Over Internet ProtocolWALT World Association of Laser TherapyWiMax Worldwide Interoperability for MicrowaveAccessWits University of the Witwatersrand3G Third Generation4G Fourth Generation$ Dollar€ Euro% Percentage