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Research and Innovation Accelerating Transformation towards Global Sustainability

06 February 2023 | Story Edzani Nephalela | Photo FVH Productions

Happy Khambule, a former commissioner of President Cyril Ramaphosa's Climate Change Commission and the Environment and Energy Manager at Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), emphasised that consensus could be the key to global transformation. He highlights the 2030 National Development Plan's 'Just Transition', which aims for environmental sustainability, decent work, social inclusiveness, and poverty elimination.

A unified effort from multiple stakeholders is needed to effectively address the effects of global warming on agriculture, food security, electricity outages, and infrastructure damage caused by natural disasters. These were some key observations from speakers during the Fifth National Global Change Conference (GCC5) at the University of the Free State (UFS) from 30 January to 2 February 2023.

The conference, hosted by the UFS, the Department of Science and Innovation, and the National Research Foundation (NRF), saw academics, government officials, and other stakeholders from across the country gather on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus.

Topics discussed during the four-day conference included climate change and biodiversity, alternative energy, ocean monitoring, resilient cities and communities, technologies for global change, etc.

Consensus decision-making strategy

Looking at South Africa's current energy crisis, Prof Dawid Serfontein, Professor in the Renewable Energy Research Group at North-West University (NWU), told delegates that power outages could be managed more effectively if role players in the coal and solar sectors and communities work together to address this problem.

“The prospects of electricity generation in South Africa are clouded by disagreements and competing ideas among those with access to resources. The market has been transformed – while cheap and high-quality coal and labour were readily available in the past, all the top-notch coal has been depleted. The coal that is used today is 40% lower in quality and is causing harm to power plants. Nuclear energy, on the other hand, has become an unaffordable option due to stringent regulations. This poses challenges for those who need access. However, by collaborating, we can improve access and affordability of renewable resources such as solar panels, despite the coal shortage," said Dr Serfontein.

Happy Khambule, Manager of Environment and Energy at Business Unity South Africa and former adviser to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Climate Change Commission, echoed similar sentiments and said that addressing the effect of global warming requires a unified effort from multiple stakeholders to ensure the success of these strategies.

“To tackle the impact of global warming on food security and agriculture, it is important to be practical and consider all relevant factors. This necessitates collaboration among multiple stakeholders for effective implementation of these strategies," Khambule indicated, referring to the 2030 National Development Plan and the Climate Change Policy.

Expectations and outcomes

Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, also spoke about the effects of climate change in his welcoming address at the start of the conference. He told delegates that high temperatures, extreme weather, droughts, floods, the depletion of water resources and biodiversity, soil erosion, and decreased subsistence economies could impact human health and safety, food and water security, and socio-economic development.

The attendees also conducted a tree-planting ceremony in honour of the late Profs Maarten de Wit, Earth Stewardship Professor at Nelson Mandela University (NMU) and founder Director of the African Earth Observatory Network (AEON), and Bob Scholes, former Professor of Systems Ecology, a Director of the Global Change Institute (GCI) and a Distinguished Professor at Wits, recognising their significant contributions to climate-change research.

Prof Francis Petersen, UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor speaking at the opening ceremony of GCC5 on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus

Prof Francois Engelbrecht speaks during the GCCS.

Delegates attending the GCC5 at the UFS.

Prof Tshilidzi Marwala, outgoing Vice-Chancellor and Principal at UJ delivered the GCC5 keynote address

A delegate listening to one of speakers during GCC5

The opening ceremony in the Wynand Mouton Theatre on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus

From the left; Prof Thilidizi Marwala; Mr Shonisani Munzhedzi; Dr Phil Mjwara; Prof Francis Petersen; Mr Thembeni Nxangisa; Mr Imraan Patel and Prof Fulufhelo Nelwamondo

A plaque honouring the late Prof Maarten de Wit was installed during a tree planting ceremony at GCC5.

Another plaque honouring the late Prof Bob Scholes was installed during a tree planting ceremony at GCC5.

News Archive

UFS gives recognition to excellent researchers

2004-11-16

p>The University of the Free State will give recognition to excellent researchers at UFS on Tuesday 16 November 2004. “This recognition function will also serve as the first annual lecture in research excellence,” says Prof Frans Swanepoel, Director of Research Development Division at the UFS.

This is the first occasion of its kind in the UFS. It coincides with the university’s centenary celebrations. The recognition of excellent research shows the UFS’s commitment and innovative focus on research as one of its core functions,” says Prof. Swanepoel.

Recognition will be given in different categories. They are female researchers, black researchers, young researchers, C- and L-Rated researchers, researchers with significant research outputs, B-Rated researchers and distinguished professors in research.

The promotion of equity and development of research capacity of designated groups is one of the objectives of the UFS’s research strategy therefore the university is recognising the research achievements of 21 women and 16 black persons. Amongst these are Prof. Margaret Raftery (English and Classical Languages), Dr Liesl van As (Zoology and Entomology), Prof. Peter Mbati (head of the Qwaqwa campus) and Prof. Charles Ngwena (Constitutional Law and Philosophy of Law).

The UFS is also recognising nine young researchers. They must hold a doctorate and have the potential to establish themselves as researchers within a five-year period based on their performance and productivity as researchers during their doctoral studies and/or early post-doctoral careers. Amongst them are Dr Esta van Heerden (Microbial Biochemical and Food Biotechnology) and Prof. André Jooste (Agricultural Economics).

Fifty-eight established researchers with a sustained recent record of productivity are receiving recognition in the C- and L-rated researchers’ category. Amongst them were Prof. Hennie van Coller (Afrikaans, Dutch, German and French) and Prof. Gert Erasmus (Animal- and Wildlife- and Grassland Sciences).

Prof. Francois Tolmie (New Testament) and Prof. Gina Joubert (Biostatistics) are two of the twelve researchers that are receiving recognition for having excelled in research outputs during recent years.

Nine researchers are acknowledged in the B-category for the international recognition they receive from their peers for the high quality and impact of their recent research outputs. Amongst them were Prof. Johan Grobbelaar (Plant Sciences) and Prof. Hendrik Swart (Physics). Prof. Grobbelaar focused in his research on limnology, algal biotechnology, plant stress and Prof. Swart focused on solid state physics and degradation mechanisms that are responsible for the degradation of field emission and TV displays.

Seven individuals are recognised for their exceptional achievements as researchers. Prof. Frederick Fourie, Rector, but previously in the Department of Economics, is recognised for his research in two policy areas: Political Economics, Government Finance and Fiscal Policy, and Industrial Economics, in particular analysis of the South African industrial structure and competition policy, where his research contributions played a key role in reforming South Africa’s competition policy.

Prof. Lodewyk Kock (Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology) focuses in his research mainly on pure and oxidised edible oil where yeasts are used as a study model. He obtained national as well as international recognition for this research program.

The UFS is also awarding the S2A3 Bronze Medal to recognise a Master’s degree student who has delivered outstanding research in one of the sciences. Mr Pieter Taljaard and Ms Tania Venter are recognised in this category.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
16 November 2004

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