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23 March 2023 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Stephen Collett
From left: Hanlie Grobler, Senior Officer at the CFM; Prof Koos Terblans, Head of the Physics Department; Nonkululeko Phili, Assistant Officer at the CFM; and Edward Lee, Junior Lecturer and Researcher at the CFM. Photo: Stephen Collett

The Centre for Microscopy (CFM) in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS) unveiled a sophisticated JEOL High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HRTEM) during a two-day microscopy conference on 14 and 15 March 2023. The microscope is part of a larger investment into research equipment worth R65 million. 

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Prof Corli Witthuhn, out-going Vice-Rector: Research and Internationalisation, said the microscope purchase “is a significant milestone in the university’s bid for cutting-edge research”. The HRTEM is part of a larger consignment of JEOL equipment at the UFS and, according to Dr Sarah Harper from JEOL UK, it places the UFS in a unique position.  

UFS at the forefront in using electron microscopes  

The HRTEM microscope can be utilised across disciplines and will give the UFS an advantage in uncovering new solutions and creating national and international interdisciplinary research collaborations. “The UFS is at the forefront in this field in SA and continues to push the boundaries,” Prof Witthuhn said. This move will also positively impact the training of honours, master’s, and doctoral students. 

Prof Danie Vermeulen, Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, reiterated Prof Witthuhn’s sentiments by saying that this equipment will set the faculty apart from its competitors. “The faculty already reached the goals of Vision 130 by being proactive,” he said. In the past seven years more than R300 million worth of equipment was acquired by the faculty, but he added that to be the best is not just about the best equipment – “the data coming from using this equipment is what will make the real difference”.

Prof Koos Terblans
Prof Koos Terblans opens the conference on 14 March 2023. Photo: Stephen Collett .

Road to the JEOL HRTEM started in 2018

The process of acquiring a HRTEM microscope started in 2018 and was concluded with the purchasing of the JOEL microscopes in March 2020, a few weeks before the first COVID-19 lockdown. The purchase was made possible through the collaboration between the faculties of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and Health Sciences. Thanks to the dedication of staff members in the Centre for Microscopy and Physics, it was possible to accept delivery of the new HRTEM in June 2021. Prof Koos Terblans, Head of the Physics Department and the Centre for Microscopy, who led the entire project, said this was one of the “proudest moments in my career”.  

Installing the equipment involved various university resources, including the University Estates Department, which had to make additional structural changes to the room where the equipment is housed. This included digging two metres into the existing floor and placing the HRTEM on a 70-tonne solid concrete block, to ensure that the equipment was secure and vibration free.

Prof Terblans said now that the HRTEM from JEOL and its supporting equipment – the final piece of the R65 million research investment puzzle – is part of the faculty’s resources, it is up to the scientists and academics to utilise it for innovative research, enhance research productivity, and foster new collaborations. 

Edward Lee
Edward Lee shows the new HRTEM electron microscope to colleagues and conference attendees.Photo: Stephen Collett 

News Archive

UV Voices Kamerkoor by die KKNK
2005-03-10

Membra Jesu nostri – Buxtehude (1637 – 1707)
 

Membra Jesu nostri patientis sanctissima (Die allerheilige liggaam van die lydende Jesus aan die kruis) deur Buxtehude het die Kruisiging van Jesus as tema.

Die uurlange werk word in Latyn gesing en handel in elk van die sewe dele oor ‘n deel van Jesus se liggaam aan die kruis: voete, knië, hande, die sy, bolyf, hart en gesig. Voices Inc – Kovsie kamerkoor word bygestaan deur die Odeion Strykkwartet met Francois Henkins, Abrie de Wet, John Wille en Michaela Haller. Die kontrabas word deur Alba Henkins-Molller bespeel en Jan Beukes is die orrelis.

Die woorde in Latyn wat buitengewoon was vir ‘n werk deur Buxtehude, is geneem uit die Latynse Bybel (Vulgate) en van die Rhytmica Oratio Sancti Bernadi, ‘n strofiese gedig deur St Bernard van Claivaux (c1090 – 1153).

Die wyse waarop Jesus se pyn aan die kruis uitgebeeld word asook die gebed en uitroep van versoening tussen God en die mensdom was deel van die Piëtiste se oortuigings van die tyd.

Die werk is saamgestel uit sewe afsonderlike dele wat telkens deur ‘n instrumentale sonate aangekondig word. Die koor lui die vokale bydrae in en sluit elke deel ook af. Die res van die werk bestaan uit verskillende groeperings van solo’s en trio’. Interessante vokale kombinasies kan gehoor word, bv. twee soprane en bas asook sopraan, alt en tenoor.

Hierdie opwindende aanbieding van Membra Jesu nostri, ‘n juweel uit die Baroktydperk, word aangebied deur ‘n groep energieke studente van Kovsies. Die jeugdige klank van die soliste – almal studente aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat - dra by tot die egtheid van die Barok-klank. Die koor staan onder leiding van Leona Geldenhuys, dosent in Koorleiding aan die UV.

Optreedatums in die Moederkerk op Oudtshoorn. is:

 

  • Vrydag 25 Maart om 19:00
  • Saterdag 26 Maart om 13:00
  • Sondag 27 Maart om 19:00
  • Maandag 28 Maart om 16:00
  • Dinsdag 29 Maart om 10:00

Toegang is R50,00

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