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10 June 2024 | Story Precious Shamase | Photo Supplied
Prof Richard Ocaya
Prof Richard Ocaya, Associate Professor from the Physics Department.

Prof Richard Ocaya from the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS) Qwaqwa  Campus has achieved a significant milestone with a newly patented invention. This patent, developed in collaboration with researchers from Turkey and Saudi Arabia, is the result of work that began in 2017, focusing on a special material known as graphitic carbon nitride.

This breakthrough in temperature measurement technology aligns perfectly with the university's Vision 130 commitment to innovation and addressing global challenges. The new device offers a unique solution to a longstanding issue in the field, providing accurate temperature measurements across an extremely wide range. Existing solutions often require multiple devices, leading to increased costs and reduced accuracy, but this invention simplifies the process.

The device, based on a combination of graphitic carbon nitride and silicon, can measure temperatures from -250°C to 250°C with exceptional consistency and linearity. This range and accuracy set it apart from current technologies, making it suitable for various applications, from standard temperature measurement to specialized settings involving extreme temperatures. It could be especially valuable in deep-space exploration, where equipment faces drastic temperature fluctuations.

The patent underscores the university's commitment to fostering collaborative research, a key aspect of Vision 130. Prof Ocaya attributes the success of the invention to the robust nature of the team, established in 2015. The team is now seeking to commercialize the technology by licensing it to a suitable partner, with organizations like NASA expected to show significant interest.

Prof Ocaya advises other academics considering patenting their inventions to ensure the patent solves a real problem uniquely and is based on sound principles. This makes the invention reproducible and protects it from being copied, assigning exclusive rights to the patent holder. Patenting allows for either manufacturing the devices or licensing them to third parties for royalties and profit. He notes that the main consideration is that the innovation must be practical and solve a specific problem in a novel and commercially viable way. He also acknowledges the challenge many academics face, as the "publish or perish" mentality often leads to choosing scientific articles over patents.

Despite securing the patent, Prof Ocaya and his team continue their research efforts, exploring new possibilities while balancing practical research with academic pursuits. He believes the invention will significantly impact the field of temperature measurement, being integrated into many new designs requiring such measurements.

The university proudly supports this innovative research and anticipates its real-world impact, furthering Vision 130's commitment to increasing UFS's research capacity and capability.

News Archive

UFS appoints Extraordinary Professor in Patristics
2010-05-26

Prof. Erik De Boer
The University of the Free State (UFS) has appointed Prof. Erik De Boer as Extraordinary Professor in Patristics (the study of the early church and the church fathers, as well as their writings and theology).

Prof. De Boer will work in collaboration with Prof. Dolf Britz, Head of the Division: Programme Design and Director of the Jonathan Edwards Centre in the Institute for Classical en Reformatory Studies at the UFS. The objective of the institute is to train young ministers of religion and researchers in Africa in the field of Patristics. The university also has partners in Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia.

According to Prof. De Boer, this discipline is regarded of great importance for the development of theology in Southern Africa.

Currently he is, amongst others, a lecturer in Classical Languages at the Theological University of Kampen and Extraordinary Professor in Reformation History at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam.

He will deliver his inaugural lecture in August 2010 at the UFS.

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