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Looking ahead: UFS unveils cutting-edge electron microscopy equipment

23 March 2023 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Stephen Collett

Microscopy read more — 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 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 shows the new HRTEM electron microscope to colleagues and conference attendees.Photo: Stephen Collett

In front from the left; Dr Molapo Qhobela, Vice-Rector: Institutional Change, Strategic Partnerships, and Societal Impact; Prof Corli Witthuhn; Prof Koos Terblans. Back from the left; Prof Jannie Swarts, and Prof Danie Vermeulen.

From the left; Prof Jannie Swarts, Prof Danie Vermeulen and Prof Koos Terblans.

Ribbon cutting: Prof Corli Witthuhn together with Prof Koos Terblans,left, and Prof Danie Vermeulen

News Archive

Verslag: SA studente atletiek (Afrikaans)

2005-04-28

Absa-kovsieatletiek
SA studente atletiekkampioenskap - 22 en 23 April 2005 Johannesburg Universiteit

Weereens baie goed!!! Dit is hoe ons die Kovsieatlete se vertonings op en af van die baan af kan beskryf. Die 22 medaljes vanjaar teenoor die 25 van 2004, die 14 van 2003 en die 10 van 2002 spreek boekdele, veral as ons in ag neem dat ons in die laaste week 4 van ons top atlete weens beserings verloor het (Antonie Rossouw, Nico Oosthuizen, Jaco Claasen en Renè Kalmer).

Ons het op 20 April om 09:00 vanaf Pelliespark per bus na Johannesburg vertrek en tuisgegaan in die Randburg Road Lodge hotel.

'n Totaal van 43 atlete – 18 vroue en 25 mans het die Kovsies verteenwoordig (spanlys aangeheg).

Die bestuurspan het bestaan uit Danie Cronjé bestuurder mans, Sarina Cronjé bestuurder vroue, Bertus Pretorius afrigter mans, Ans Botha afrigter vroue, Hendrik Cronjé (Video), Jan du Toit, Sidney van Biljon, DB Prinsloo sportbestuurder.

Die mediese span het bestaan uit Dr. Org Strauss en Daleen Lamprecht(bio).

Die volgende lede van die ABSA KOVSIESPAN het medaljes verwerf.

GOUD

Jan vd Merwe	400	46,37

Johan Cronjé	1500 mans	3:50.20

Boy Soke	10000	30:23,40

Charlene Henning	Driesprong vroue	12.62m

Francois Potgieter	Tienkamp	6862 punte

Magdel Venter	Diskusgooi vroue	46.94m

Kovsiespan mans	4x400 Aflos	3:10,17

(Dirk Roets, Francois Lötter, Johan Cronjé, Jan van der Merwe)


SILWER

Charlene Henning	Verspring vroue	6,16m

Magdel Venter	Gewigstoot vroue	13,21m

Sanè du Preez	Hamergooi vroue	44,71m

Boy Soke	5000m	14:36,60

Francois Potgieter	110 Hekkies mans	14,00sek

Christine Kalmer	1500m vroue	4:35,40

Cobus Marais	3000m hindernis	9:32,80


BRONS

Gustav Kukkuk	110 Hekkies mans	14.00sek

Mariana Banting	Driesprong vroue	12.36m

Helen-Joan Lombaard	Sewekamp vroue	3354 punte

Clive Wessels	Paalspring	4,05m

Johan Cronjé	800m	1:52,01

Kovsiespan vroue	4x100 Aflos	47,56

(Denise Polson, Elmie Hugo, Carlene Henning, Minette Albertse)

Kovsiespan mans	4x100 Aflos	42,21

( Tiaan Pretorius, Gustav Kukkuk, Marno Meyer, Wiaan Kriel)


Kovsies wat ook onder die eerste 8 geëindig het sien as volg daaruit:


4de Plek

Mariana Banting	Hoogspring vroue	1.70m

Stefan van Heerden	Driesprong	15,12m

Elmie Hugo	200m	24,12sek

Ronè Reynecke	400m	57,31sek


5de Plek

Jackie Kriel	100 Hekkies	13,90sek

Jackie Kriel	400 Hekkies	65,40sek

Riana Rossouw	Gewigstoot	10,59m

Kenny Jooste	Verspring	7,23m

Elmie Hugo	100m	11,86sek

Helen-Joan Lombard	Paalspring	3,25m

Ronè Reynecke	800m	2:17,58

Christine Kalmer	5000m	17:38,32


6de Plek

Tiaan Pretorius	Verspring	7,21m

Francois Pretorius	800m	1:52,67

Riana Rossouw	Spiesgooi	38,12m

Kovsiespan vroue	4x400 Aflos	4:06,56

(Ronè Reynecke, Denise Polson, Lise du Toit, Elmie Hugo)


7de Plek

Gerda Rust	Hamergooi	36,37m

Schalk Roestoff	1500m	3:55,80

Francois Lotter	400m	47,94

Pienaar j v Rensburg	10000m	32:12,21

Kovsie mans ”A” en B span 4x400		3:15,44


8ste Plek

Charles le Roux	Verspring	7,06m

Tiaan Pretorius	Driesprong	14,06m

In die spankompetisie het die Vroue 4de geëindig en die mans 4de. In die algehele kompetisie het die Kovsies ook die 4de plek behaal (aangeheg).

Die gees en gedrag van die toergroep was uitstekend en was die atlete goeie ambassadeurs vir die Kovsies.

Danie Cronjé	Sarina Cronjé
Spanbestuurder Mans	Spanbestuurder Vroue

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