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News and Events – archive 2007Girl learners transformed into Fab Kids
Kgomotso Rammebe and Selina Rampou of Bakwena High School hard at work
It took only two hours for 15 Girl Learners in Mathematics and Science (a project of the Platinum Development Trust initiative), sponsored by ABSA, to fall hook, line and sinker for the magic of the FabLab. The girls are the final 2007 group (of 60 learners) from the North West province who have participated in the Meraka Institute's Fab Kids initiative. The Department of Science and Technology-sponsored Fab Kids project is part of the Meraka Institute's Young Engineers of South Africa (YESA) programme, which promotes learning in mathematics, science, engineering and technology through specific interventions geared at different age groups. The Meraka Institute is a national research centre managed by the CSIR. Manager of the Girl Learners project David Semela has been responsible for arranging visits to the FabLab by several groups for Fab Kids sessions. As an incentive to learning, participation in Fab Kids is proving to be a winner. He notes, “Learners are selected on merit for participation in this programme. With each visit, enthusiasm has been growing and I am swamped with requests from learners to become Fab Kids.” FabLab activities appear to be virtuously addictive, as learners cannot be easily persuaded to take a break from their given tasks! 
Meraka Institute’s Ron Beyers with ABSA’s Beatrice Mushazhirwa and Sue Vermaak and David Semela of the Platinum Development Trust
The Meraka Institute's Ron Beyers is responsible for running the Fab Kids project. During a session, learners are required to form groups of four to tackle a given challenge, in this case, the design and manufacturing of a desk tidy. Each team member has a distinct but complementary role in the process, from design to construction, electronics, team management and media elements. Sue Vermaak, programme manager of the Platinum Development Trust, is enthusiastic about the synergies between the two projects, Girls Learners and Fab Kids. Grade 11 girls from North West province achieving in mathematics and science are selected to participate in the Girl Learners project. Sue is adamant that girls should be encouraged in this way to become confident of their ability to tackle careers historically dominated by males, such as engineering and architecture. This emboldening effect is borne out by comments from Bakwena High School learners Selina Rampou and Kgomotso Rammebe, who now see the world as their oyster, “We have lots of career options to consider when we leave school.” Rebaona Tlhapi and Refilwe Matjabe of Lerothodi High School found their first experience of the FabLab to be both educational and fun, “We have a challenging and exciting task to finish, but we don't mind doing it!” 
Refilwe Matjabe and Rebaona Tlhapi of Lerothodi High School in conversation with a FabLab facilitator.
Beatrice Mushazhirwa of ABSA, whose company is sponsoring the Girl Learners project through its corporate social investment programme, also paid a visit to the FabLab to meet the learners. She was delighted with the evidence at hand of girls enjoying themselves. “Girls must realise that they can do mathematics and science,” she stresses. “Gone are the days when they had only a limited number of career options to consider.” Ron is confident that Fab Kids provides a unique experience, which will play a significant role in the lives of these girls as they start making important career decisions. The FabLabs project is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology's Advanced Manufacturing Technology Strategy (AMTS), which is managed by CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing. FabLab, an abbreviation for Fabrication Laboratory, is a hands-on laboratory that provides science, engineering and technology platforms for social development, while enhancing competitiveness and growth in the private sector. First Mile, First Inch concludes round of dissemination meetings
High-performance computing takes its place at SC07
Signing of SAFIPA agreement heralds new era of ICT activity
EuroAfrica-ICT continues to forge ICT R&D links
MobilED goes global: South African ICT research outcomes intrigue UNICEF
National research cyberinfrastructure to be implemented
Accolades for Meraka Institute researchers
Computer Olympiad finalists get a taste of high performance computing
Computer scientist scoops best poster award at SSSW07
Support for ICT curriculum development at FET colleges
Meraka Institute signs agreement with LinkNet of Zambia
Mesh networking work on patch for OLSR recognised
EuroAfrica-ICT workshop draws large contingent
Implementation of national research cyberinfrastructure takes another stepThe South African National Research Network (SANReN), a major research infrastructure initiative of the Department of Science and Technology, is commencing with its national implementation phase after detailed planning and subsequent proof of concept phases. SANReN was announced by the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, in the 2006 budget speech. It forms a key pillar of the DST-driven national cyberinfrastructure initiative together with the recently established Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC). The Meraka Institute is responsible for the implementation and management of both SANReN and the CHPC. The institute is a national research centre managed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. “These two major information and communications technology initiatives play a key role in putting South Africa on the brink of an exciting chapter in research infrastructures that enable relevant, cutting-edge science for the enhancement of our global competitiveness and quality of life,„ explains Johan Eksteen, Technology Research Programme Manager at the Meraka Institute. “We see infrastructure as an integral ingredient towards the development of a world-class science and technology landscape,” he comments. The network design is done in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Network (TENET), key technology providers and telecommunications operators. Input is obtained from the research community, relevant metropolitan councils and provincial and national government departments. Guidance from international bodies, such as the Delivery of Advanced network Technology to Europe (DANTE) - which is responsible to the European Commission for the implementation of the pan-European research network (GeANT) - has proved to be invaluable. The design is based on the establishment of an overall national network linking core nodes in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Each of the main centres will be provided with local ring networks. These ring networks have been designed to allow easy access to the core network by all SANReN and TENET sites as well as many potential sites. Other sites will be connected to these core sites. “In contrast to most commodity or commercial networks currently implemented, this public-good research network is based on the provision of lit fibre (lambdas or wave lengths) obtained from licensed telecommunications operators, supplemented by fibre cable installed directly by SANReN or obtained from relevant metropolitan authorities,” says Eksteen. “This approach is necessary to provide the gigabit per second and higher speeds required for research networking that is essential to empower our science community,” he says. A formal Request For Proposal (RFP) will be issued to telecommunications providers in the following weeks for the provision of the national connectivity (lambdas) required for the national backbone. While a number of national research sites will not have a dedicated connection to SANReN immediately, the network design allows for an easy extension to the main core network to be installed as and when required. The first phase of the SANReN roll-out requires that the Johannesburg nodes and in particular, the collocated node at the Johannesburg Internet exchange (JINX), is installed and working by 31 March 2008 with most major research institutions connected by the end of 2008. A small number of sites require significant fibre installations to be connected to the network; the projected completion of the national SANReN network is in 2009. “We have already commenced with Interactions with individual research institutions and these discussions will continue,” Eksteen concludes. Contact details:
Meraka Institute
CSIR Communication
Lest we forget 16 June 197615 June 2007Tomorrow, 16 June, South Africa commemorates the courage of young people, the stand they took for a fair and better life, against oppression and the system of apartheid, the sacrifice they made with their lives and the change for the better in the education system and for the rest of the nation. Their actions contributed towards bringing into sharper focus the importance of intellectual liberation and in particular, the imperative of being equipped with skills that contribute to this country's future. The Meraka Institute salutes the youth of South Africa and the class of ’76. The fourth EuroAfrica-ICT awareness workshop14 June 2007The fourth EuroAfrica-ICT awareness workshop will be held on July 26 & 27 at the Hilton Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. This 2 day event is a key component of the EuroAfrica-ICT initiative http://www.euroafrica-ict.org/ aims at connecting sub-Saharan African and European organisations for ICT partnerships in the European Union’s framework programme, FP7 and to develop scientific and technological cooperation between the two regions. Workshop attendees will be able to:
The event will gather the main stakeholders in the field (universities, ICT entrepreneurs, public stakeholders, NGOs, EC representatives, international or regional organisations dealing with ICT, etc.), both from sub-Saharan African and European Union countries, and all interested in Research and Development in ICT or involved in S&T cooperation between the two regions. This workshop is supported by the African e-Development Resource Centre (AeDRC) in Kenya and the consortium partners of ST-EAP (Science and Technology - Europe Africa Project), the Council for Industrial and Scientific Research (CSIR) South Africa and the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) in Kenya. W3C launches first sub-saharan office at Meraka Institute28 May 2007The first sub-Saharan African office of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) was launched at the Meraka Institute on 14 May 2007. The launch workshop was attended by a broad spectrum of representatives from government, industry and academia and included delegates from South Africa, Botswana, France and Australia. It hosted a number of prestigious speakers including: Dr Daniel Dardailler, W3C associate chairman; Dr Danie Smit, SAP Research SA; Professor Johannes Cronje, University of Pretoria; Phil Hendriks, executive director for national research centres at the CSIR; Kagiso Chikane, Meraka centre manager; Kobus Roux of the Meraka Institute Wireless Africa and Stephane Boyera, W3C team contact for the Mobile Web Initiative. Supercomputing now a reality for SA researchers24 May 2007South African researchers now have the advantage of using massive computing power in their quest for new knowledge and application. The Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) is the first of its kind in South Africa. Initiated by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), hosted by the University of Cape Town (UCT) and managed by the Meraka Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the CHPC is making scientific 'supercomputing' a reality for South Africa. South Africa's Meraka Institute named host organisation for world's biggest ICT standardisation body W3C office launched in South Africa7 May 2007The Meraka Institute - Africa’s advanced institute for information and communication technology - has been awarded the rights to host the second Africa office of the world’s biggest ICT standardisation body, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), in Africa. The office will be officially launched in South Africa on 14 May 2007. The Meraka Institute is a national research centre managed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Innovations in education come under the spotlight at Meraka INNOVATE ConferenceWhen the Meraka INNOVATE Conference got underway in Pretoria on Wednesday 18 April 2007, some 150 educators from all over South Africa had the opportunity to share knowledge, experience, lessons learnt and good practice from each other for the following three days. The conference has been organised by the research group on ICT in Education, Youth and Gender, takes place on 18-20 April 2007. Meraka Institute becomes new Linux Professional Institute (LPI) Affiliate in South AfricaThe Meraka Institute has been appointed as the new South African Master Affiliate of the Linux Professional Institute (LPI), taking over from the Shuttleworth Foundation. The Meraka Institute (a national research centre managed by the CSIR) concluded a Master Affiliate agreement with the LPI's head office in Canada at the end of February 2007 and will be facilitating the LPI certification and examination activities in South Africa in future. Meraka Institute organises first EuroAfrica-ICT (START) Awareness Workshop in Pretoria, South Africa22 March 2007
The first EuroAfrica-ICT (START) Awareness Workshop, which takes place on 28-29 March 2007, in Pretoria at the CSIR International Convention Centre, will be organised by the Meraka Institute (a national research centre managed by the CSIR). This two-day event is a key component of the EuroAfrica-ICT initiative, which aims to connect sub-Saharan African and European organisations for information and communications technology (ICT) partnerships. The Meraka Institute joins consortium leader Sigma Consultants and fellow African consortium member, the Panos Institute West Africa of Senegal, in this project. The initiative takes place in the context of the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) for Research and Technological Development to develop and strengthen scientific and technological cooperation between the two regions. Another three Awareness Workshops have been planned for the coming months. Deputy Minister of Science and Technology opens Digital Doorway project in Mpumalanga23 February 2007Computer literacy in Barberton, Mpumalanga, is set to improve even further with the opening of another information and technology facility at eMjindini Public Library. Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom, opened the Digital Doorway project in Mpumalanga, on 19 February 2007. The Digital Doorway is a joint initiative between the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Meraka Institute (a national research centre managed by the CSIR). Bursaries available for postgraduate study in geo-informatics23 February 2007Science graduates with a strong interest in information and communications technology and the environment are invited to apply for a postgraduate bursary in geo-informatics. This bursary scheme is a joint initiative by the CSIR, the Department of Science and Technology, the Innovation Hub, the Meraka Institute (managed by the CSIR) and the University of the Western Cape. More details regarding the application process are available at http://g-i-blog.blogspot.com/2007/02/merakabursaries.html. Applications should be sent to MUmlaw@csir.co.za by 15 March 2007 to be considered. CSIR's contribution acknowledged at relaunch of A-Z (Afrikaans to Zulu) languages software22 February 2007In a joint project funded by the Department of Communications (DOC) and administered by the CSIR, Translate.org.za has delivered OpenOffice.org and the Mozilla Firefox web browser in all 11 official languages. In celebration of Mother-Tongue Language Day, the DoC, the CSIR and Translate.org.za are proud to announce an agreement that will see OpenOffice.org, Mozilla Firefox and Mozilla Thunderbird updated and maintained for three years. This will ensure that all South Africans are now empowered to create documents, spreadsheets, email and browse the web in their home languages. Meraka Institute's Fab Kids learners continue to delight in FabLab opportunities16 February 2007
Meraka Institute and partners host GEO Sensor Web Enablement Task Team in Cape Town7 February 2007On February 7 2007, delegates at the second South African International Workshop on Sensor Web Enablement in Cape Town gather for a side-meeting of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Sensor Web Enablement Task Team. This is the outcome of a work plan put forward by Andre Terhorst of the Meraka Institute's ICT for Earth Observation research group at the Third Plenary Session of the GEO, which took place in Bonn, Germany from 28 - 29 November 2006. The Meraka Institute is a national research centre managed by the CSIR. CSIR experts join peers to discuss latest developments in sensor web enablement5 February 2007Exploring ways to keep a finger on the pulse of our environment is one of the goals of the second South African International Workshop on Sensor Web Enablement taking place in Cape Town from 5 to 7 February 2007. CSIR experts will join local and international delegates at this event, which is organised by the Meraka Institute and its various partners, the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC); the Geo-Information Society of South Africa (GISSA) ; the University of Cape Town ; the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc (IEEE) and the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON). The event is hosted by the Sensor Web Alliance. Meraka Institute's Fab Kids learners continue to delight in FabLab opportunities16 February 2007For 16-year-old Delisile Khumalo of Gatang Comprehensive in Mamelodi, the FabLab with its hi-tech look and limitless possibilities is like a dream come true. "I would like to work here one day," says Delisile, a Grade 10 learner and a member of the latest group of 10 Fab Kids inspired by a day at the Pretoria-based FabLab on 8 February 2007. Meraka Institute researcher, Ron Beyers, is delighted with the benefits offered to learners through this experience. Beyers, who is responsible for the Fab Kids project, is a member of the ICT for Education research group within the Meraka Institute (a national research centre managed by the CSIR). CSIR experts join peers to discuss latest developments in sensor web enablement5 February 2007Exploring ways to keep a finger on the pulse of our environment is one of the goals of the second South African International Workshop on Sensor Web Enablement taking place in Cape Town from 5 to 7 February 2007. CSIR experts will join local and international delegates at this event, which is organised by the Meraka Institute and its various partners, the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC); the Geo-Information Society of South Africa (GISSA) ; the University of Cape Town ; the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc (IEEE) and the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) . The event is hosted by the Sensor Web Alliance . Meraka Institute announces new appointments to management team27 January 2007The start of 2007 heralded in a number of changes to the management team of the Meraka Institute (a national research centre managed by the CSIR). Cell phones in schools: From zero to hero30 January 2007Amidst debates on whether or not to allow the use of cell phones in schools, the Meraka Institute has put its expertise in information and communications technology (ICT) to work in an effort to use these devices positively in a teaching and learning environment. Meraka Institute announces new appointments to management team27 January 2007The start of 2007 heralded in a number of changes to the management team of the Meraka Institute (a national research centre managed by the CSIR). |
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Members of the First Mile, First Inch (FMFI) project have just returned to South Africa after a dissemination workshop held in Maputo, Mozambique. The purpose of the workshop was not only to disseminate research results but also to strengthen linkages between scientific research and evidence-based policy-making.
In an Africa-first, the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) participated in the 19th SC07 event on 10-16 November 2007, which took place at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada.
South Africa has received a boost in becoming an inclusive knowledge society through the signing of an intergovernmental agreement with Finland. This bodes well for a national information and communications technology (ICT) brand, which reflects research excellence and demonstrated improvements in quality of life and economic competitiveness.
Presenting opportunities for research and development (R&D) cooperation in information and communications technology (ICT) between Africa and Europe in the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), was the aim of the successful 5th FP7 EuroAfrica-ICT Awareness Workshop.
The potential of utilising the Meraka Institute's MobilED (mobile education) platform to achieve digital inclusion in the developing world is one of the outcomes of a visit by researchers to New York earlier this year.
The South African National Research Network (SANReN), a major research infrastructure initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), is commencing with its national implementation phase after detailed planning and subsequent proof of concept phases.
Recent media reports have confirmed recognition by roleplayers in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector for contributions by the Meraka Institute's Dr Ntsika Msimang and Nhlanhla Mabaso.
The Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) in Cape Town hosted a visit recently by the finalists of the Computer Olympiad competition.
Dr Aurona Gerber of the Meraka Institute walked off with the best poster award at the fifth Summer School on Ontological Engineering and the Semantic Web (SSSW07) held in Cercedilla, Madrid, Spain in July 2007.
Public further education and training (FET) colleges are set to benefit from efforts by the Department of Communications (DoC) and the Meraka Institute.
The signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between LinkNet Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society Limited of Zambia and the Meraka Institute on 17 August 2007 is another significant step towards the creation of low-cost, wireless connectivity in Africa.
The contribution by John Hay of the Meraka Institute to broadening the use of the optimised link state routing (OLSR) mesh networking protocol was officially acknowledged by the OLSR mesh protocol development team for the IPv6 patch (or fix) in version 5 of OLSR.
The fourth EuroAfrica-ICT Awareness Workshop was successfully held in Nairobi, Kenya during July 2007. The event was organised by the Meraka Institute of the CSIR (a EuroAfrica-ICT consortium partner).
For 16-year-old Delisile Khumalo of Gatang Comprehensive in Mamelodi, the FabLab with its hi-tech look and limitless possibilities is like a dream come true. “I would like to work here one day,” says Delisile, a Grade 10 learner and a member of the latest group of 10 Fab Kids inspired by a day at the Pretoria-based FabLab on 8 February 2007. Meraka Institute researcher, Ron Beyers, is delighted with the benefits offered to learners through this experience. Beyers, who is responsible for the Fab Kids project, is a member of the ICT for Education research group within the Meraka Institute (a national research centre managed by the CSIR).