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University of the Free State students triumph in SDG Challenge 2023

03 November 2023 | Story André Damons | Photo SUPPLIED

SDG Competition 2023 — From left: Dr Brandon van Rooyen, Dr Anathi Makamane, Dr Yolandi Schoeman and Daniel Naudé participated and won the SDG Challenge South Africa. Pieter Bruwer is absent from the photo.

A team of exceptional students from the University of the Free State (UFS) has claimed victory in the prestigious SDG Challenge South Africa, a global competition that unites students and organisations to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). This remarkable achievement not only underscores the skill and dedication of UFS students but also reinforces their commitment to forging a more sustainable and equitable world.

The group of students from different disciplines within the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS), came up with an interdisciplinary and forward-thinking approach which contributed significantly to their victory. The team members, including Pieter Bruwer, Dr Anathi Makamane, Dr Brandon van Rooyen (all from Sustainable Food Systems and Development), Daniel Naudé (Department of Agriculture Economics), as well as Dr Yolandi Schoeman (a postdoctoral fellow in the Centre for Environmental Management (CEM) from the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, each brought their unique expertise to the challenge.

Prof Jan Willem Swanepoel, Associate Professor in the Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development within the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, provided invaluable mentorship to the team. The students were also supported by Robyn Mellett from OMI Solutions.

Dr Schoeman says the SDG Challenge, designed to confront global challenges, connects students and organisations from across the globe, fostering collaboration towards achieving the UNSDGs, which encompass critical issues such as climate change and the reduction of global inequalities. Teams from South African universities, including the University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, partnered with leading companies to address specific challenges tied to their corporate missions.

Develop a waste management strategy

Team UFS joined forces with Ivanhoe Mines, a prominent mining company operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo to develop a waste management strategy for the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex. This endeavour was laden with complexities due to the limited waste management options available in the area. The challenge was not just about managing multiple waste streams from the mining complex, but also about addressing socioeconomic and biodiversity challenges stemming from the burgeoning population in the region, which led to a range of environmental concerns.

“In response, the UFS team innovatively conceived ÉcoFlotille, a solution that not only tackled essential waste management issues but also promoted biodiversity net gain. The plan extended its reach to support local agribusinesses and small and micro-enterprises through the repurposing and reuse of waste materials, while presenting a unique biofinancing opportunity. The EcoFlotille solution represents a distinctive aspect of their triumphant journey.

“ÉcoFlotille not only aligns with the SDGs but also plays a crucial role in realising the vision of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which emphasises the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Additionally, it aligns with the goals of Agenda 2063 for Africa, striving to advance the continent’s development objectives and create a prosperous and harmonious future for the region,” says Dr Schoeman.

The scalability of ÉcoFlotille across Africa holds great promise. Its innovative waste management approach and biofinancing potential could serve as a model for addressing similar challenges in diverse regions of the continent. This opens up opportunities for wider adoption and positive impacts throughout Africa.

Creating a more sustainable and equitable world

The SDG Challenge South Africa is an integral part of Soapbox’s global mission to mobilise university students and organisations in working collaboratively toward the UNSDG. These goals aim to address the world’s most pressing challenges, requiring collective efforts to achieve sustainable economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion by 2030.

The UFS’s remarkable success in the SDG Challenge not only highlights the university’s dedication to fostering global citizenship and sustainability but also underscores the remarkable potential of its students in driving positive change in Africa and the world.

According to Dr Schoeman, the UFS team’s victory in the SDG Challenge stands as a testament to their unwavering commitment to creating a more sustainable and equitable world. Their innovative solution, ÉcoFlotille, serves as a beacon of hope, illustrating how the vigour and ingenuity of the younger generation can propel us closer to realising the UNSDG by 2030, effectively ticking all 17 SDG boxes.

Solving a real-world problem

Prof Swanepoel says the SDG Challenge is a global competition that unites students and organisations to address the UNSDGs. These goals encompass some of the most pressing challenges facing our world today, such as climate change, poverty, and inequality.

According to him, by participating in the SDG Challenge, the UFS students had the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to solve a real-world problem experienced by one of the biggest mining houses in the world. They gained valuable experience in collaborating with the private sector.

“I am immensely proud of the students' achievement in the prestigious Soapbox SDG Challenge South Africa. Their interdisciplinary approach and forward-thinking mindset are a testament to the calibre of education and mentorship they receive at the UFS,” Prof Swanepoel says.

“Furthermore, I am confident that the skills and experience gained through the SDG Challenge will help the students to make a positive impact on the world. They are the next generation of leaders who will be responsible for addressing the complex social and environmental challenges Africa face. I also believe that coming out as victors in this competition would open more doors for them and the university in the private sector.”

News Archive

State-of-the-art physics equipment and investment in students result in academic success

2017-09-26

At the recent nanotechnology facility tour at the UFS,
were, from the left, Dr Mthuthuzeli Zamxaka, SAASTA;
Prof Hendrik Swart, Sarchi Chair in the Department of Physics;
and Xolani Makhoba, Department of Science and Technology.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

Nanoscience, which is revealing new properties of very small arrangements of atoms, called nanoparticles, is opening a new world of possibilities. The Department of Physics at the University of the Free State is undertaking fundamental research with potential commercial applications. Its equipment and expertise is giving solid state physics research the edge in South Africa.

The UFS team of researchers and students are passionate about studying planets and atoms, all under one roof. Recently, the department, in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA), hosted a nanotechnology facility tour to give the public, learners and the media the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the science of nanotechnology, its origins, potential applications and risks.

Successes of the department
According to Prof Hendrik Swart, Senior Professor in the Department of Physics, the increase in resources since 2008 is playing a big role in the success rate of its research outputs. The Sarchi Chair awarded to Prof Swart in 2012 (bringing with it funding for equipment and bursaries) also contributed to the successes in the department.

The UFS Directorate Research Development also availed funding that was used for bursaries. These bursaries made it possible for the department to appoint 10 post-doctoral fellows, not one of them originally from South Africa.

The investment in people and equipment resulted in researchers and students publishing some 80 articles in 2016. Their work was also cited more than 900 times by other researchers in that year.

Another highlight in terms of the department’s growth in the past 10 years is the new wing of the Physics Building. Physics at the UFS is the only place in sub-Saharan Africa where state-of-the art equipment is found under one roof.

Antonie Fourie, Junior Lecturer in the UFS Department of
Physics, explained to a group of delegates and
members of the media the workings of an electron beam
evaporation system.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

Application of research
The department is a unique research facility with equipment that includes the X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (for the study of atoms), the Scanning Auger Microscope, as well as the Ion Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (revealing the chemical bonds in a sample, and drawing maps of the positions of atoms).

One of the areas on which the department is focusing its research, is phosphors. Researchers are exploring light emitting diodes (LEDs) which use less energy, are brighter and provide a wider viewing field. They are also looking into LED displays (LCDs) which are used in flat screens – the phosphors create the different colours and backlighting.

The research on solar cells reveals that phosphors can increase their efficiency by increasing the range of light frequencies which can be converted into electricity. Glow-in-the-dark coatings absorb light in the day and emit it later so cells can charge at night. As glow-in-the-dark phosphors become cheaper and more effective, they can be used as a lighting substitute on the walls of houses, street numbers and stop signs.

Video production of the Department of Physics research and equipment

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