Latest news with #BladeNzimande
The Citizen
11-06-2025
- Science
- The Citizen
SA's MeerKAT telescope joins forces with European VLBI Network
This is a new chapter for high-resolution radio astronomy, enabling scientists to study the universe in greater detail than ever before. FILE: Part of the ensemble of dishes forming South Africa's MeerKAT radio telescope is seen in Carnarvon on July 16, 2016. Picture: Mujahid Safodien/ AFP South Africa's MeerKAT telescope has joined forces with the European VLBI Network (EVN), one of the world's most sensitive and advanced very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) systems. Their partnership sets a new standard for global collaboration and significantly enhances both resolution and sensitivity, opening new avenues for scientific exploration and a new era of radio astronomy. Space exploration It is also a new chapter for high-resolution radio astronomy, enabling scientists to study the universe in greater detail than ever before. The collaboration has already delivered impressive results, with EVN researchers capturing enhanced images of energetic plasma jets from the supermassive black hole J0123+3044. This sets the stage for a new wave of scientific breakthroughs in understanding cosmic phenomena. 'Proud moment' Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Blade Nzimande said the achievement is a proud moment for South African science and a powerful demonstration of what international collaboration can accomplish. 'Integrating MeerKAT into the EVN marks a giant leap for precision radio astronomy and lays vital groundwork for the future Square Kilometre Array (SKA)-VLBI era'. The Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe (JIVE), headquartered in the Netherlands, coordinated the EVN's participation and played a central role in data processing and image development, working closely with the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory's (SARAO) engineering and science teams to ensure the mission's success. ALSO READ: Anyone out there? Astronomers find signs of life on distant planet Universe exploration Reflecting on MeerKAT's remarkable capabilities and its collaborative observations with the EVN, SARAO Managing Director Pontsho Maruping said the telescope has been highly successful in its mission to explore the radio sky with unprecedented detail, capturing images of some of the universe's largest-scale structures. 'At the same time, we strongly emphasise collaborating with other instruments as we continue to develop MeerKAT's scientific capabilities before its eventual integration into the SKA-Mid telescope'. 'Great achievement' Jive Council Chair Jessica Dempsey applauded the 'great' achievement by the SARAO team. 'This collaboration not only showcases the power of international partnerships in radio astronomy but also paves the way for transformative scientific discoveries through cutting-edge technological innovation.' The achievement is not just a technological milestone; it is also a powerful example of global scientific unity, with South Africa proudly at the forefront of the world's expanding window on the universe. ALSO READ: SA takes giant leap with Prime telescope to enhance exoplanet discovery [VIDEO]
Business Mayor
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Mayor
Research heavyweights join Nzimande's working group
Professor Blade Nzimande, minister of science, technology and innovation. A 12-person working group will determine the implications of the US withdrawal of funding for key public research and innovation projects in South Africa. Professor Blade Nzimande, minister of science, technology and innovation, appointed the team this week. The move follows US president Donald Trump's decision to halt US funding to SA, amid allegations of a 'white genocide' and that Afrikaner farmers are being deliberately targeted and killed. In February, all US state departments were ordered to suspend aid to SA. The North American nation reportedly allocated nearly $440 million (R7.8 billion) in assistance to SA in 2023. In a statement, the department says the working group on science, technology and innovation (STI) funding will also analyse the current geopolitical risks related to STI and how SA should position itself to deal with the current situation. Additionally, it will propose policy and strategic responses to enhance the long-term security and sustainability of the STI system and the role of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation. 'The working group is expected to provide the minister with its first draft report within four weeks after assumption of the task, and the final report to the minister is expected on 30 June,' it says. The working group comprises: Dr Derrick Swartz: Nelson Mandela University – working group chairperson. Professor Ari Sitas, acting director of the Institute of African Alternatives in Cape Town. Professor Sarah Mosoetsa, CEO of the Human Sciences Research Council. Dr Mlungisi Cele, CEO of the National Advisory Council on Innovation, Professor Francis Petersen, chair of Universities South Africa. Professor Thokozani Majozi, president and chair: Academy of Science of South Africa. Professor Sibusiso Moyo, deputy vice-chancellor for research at Stellenbosch University. Professor Ntobeko Ntusi, CEO, South African Medical Research Council. Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo, CEO, National Research Foundation Professor Sibongile Muthwa, vice-chancellor of Nelson Mandela University SA. Professor Xolisa Mtose, vice-chancellor of the University of Zululand. Dr Thulani Dlamini, CEO of the Council for Industrial and Scientific Research.
IOL News
20-05-2025
- Science
- IOL News
Blade banks on working group on US funding cuts
SCIENCE, Technology and Innovation (STI) Minister Blade Nzimande has announced a 12-member working group to advise him on the implications and impact of the recent withdrawal of funding by the US government from key research and development programmes in South Africa. The group consists of some of the country's prominent names in the sector including Universities' South Africa chairperson Prof Francis Petersen, Stellenbosch University Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Professor Sibusiso Moyo, South African Medical Research Council chief executive Professor Ntobeko Ntusi and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) chief executive Dr Thulani Dlamini. They will help analyse the impact and implications of the US withdrawal of funds to South African public research and innovation; analyse the current geo-political risks related to STI and how South Africa should position itself to deal with the current situation; and propose policy and strategic responses to enhance the long-term security and sustainability of the STI system and the role of the department.
eNCA
03-05-2025
- Science
- eNCA
Nzimande establishes working group
JOHANNESBURG - Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Blade Nzimande is in the process of appointing a Working Group on Science. This is a response to the withdrawal of research funding by the United States government. Dr Nzimande wants the working group to assess the impact this decision will have on research cooperation between teams from South Africa and the US. Blade Nzimande, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, believes that in order to be prepared for future pandemics, the African continent must work together and with true friends from the north who are willing to provide unconditional support.
Zawya
21-02-2025
- Science
- Zawya
Science, Technology and Innovation on presentation of South Africa's National Astro-Tourism Strategy to Parliament
On Tuesday, 18 February, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Blade Nzimande, supported by Ms. Nomalungelo Gina, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, and Ms. Maggie Sotyu, Deputy Minister of Tourism, led the presentation of South Africa's National Astro-Tourism Strategy to Parliament. Last year, the Minister of Tourism, Ms. Patricia De Lille, tabled the National Astro-Tourism Strategy in Cabinet. Subsequent to this, in September last year, Cabinet approved this Strategy and in the same month, Minister De Lille and Minister Nzimande presided over the launch of this Strategy in Carnarvon in the Northern Cape. This past Tuesday, this Strategy was presented at a joint sitting of the Portfolio Committees of Science, Technology and Innovation and Tourism. In highlighting the strategic importance of astronomy and tourism to South Africa, Minister Nzimande stated that 'South Africa is fast becoming one of the leading nations in the discipline of astronomy and this is why in August last year, we hosted the prestigious General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union. This was first time this prestigious gathering was hosted on the African continent. Equally, we also have a very robust tourism sector as a country, which is a major contributor to GDP and is expected to grow significantly over the next 5 to 10 years.' Minister Nzimande also used the briefing to highlight some of South Africa's most notable investments in astronomy infrastructure, during the democratic era, which include the 10-metre Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) in Sutherland, which is the largest optical telescope in the Southern Hemisphere. The MeerKAT telescope in Carnarvon, which is a precursor to the SKA project, which he said was 'going to be South Africa's single biggest scientific infrastructure.' Outlining the benefits of these investments, Minister Nzimande indicated that "the investments in these high calibre scientific instruments in astronomy enabled an exponential increase in the number of South African astronomers from 60 (only 5 of them were radio astronomers) to about 300 in the last 30 years.' The Minister Nzimande also used the opportunity to explain what astro-tourism was and further outlined the objectives of South Africa's Astro-Tourism Strategy. The Minister stated that '… science tourism involves experiences enjoyed when visiting scientific attractions such as scientific landmarks, including museums, laboratories, observatories, and higher educational institutions where research is conducted. It is also important to realise that astro-tourism is built around the traditions inherited from our ancestors by different ethnic cultures in observing the skies from time immemorial. Astro-tourism therefore draws heavily from the vast and untapped reservoirs of our indigenous knowledge systems. Astro-tourism also encompasses all offerings such as observatories, telescopes, museums, planetariums, meteorite sites, visitor centres, amateur astronomy clubs, stargazing, tour-guides, astro-routes, and accommodation establishments, etc.' In outlining the strategic importance of the Astro-Tourism Strategy, Minister Nzimande stated that 'We regard science and tourism as mutually reinforcing and therefore building on our competitive advantages in astronomy and tourism, we seek to use the Astro-Tourism Strategy to achieve the following: Enhance the performance of South Africa's astronomy tourism sector through infrastructure developments and improvements, optimal functioning of various streams of astronomy with tourism offerings and boosting transformation by enhancing the livelihoods of local communities; Position South Africa as a world class Astro tourism destination that will yield sustainable benefit-sharing opportunities by maximising appropriate investments, improving marketing efforts, and enhancing visitor experience in South Africa; Educate communities about the importance of preserving our dark skies and radio silence as this is a geographic advantage that needs to be protected for astrotourism to thrive; and Most importantly, we also seek to use this strategy to drive meaningful socio-economic development within poor and rural communities, through science tourism.' The Strategy is anchored on three pillars, which are: indigenous celestial narratives and human capacity development; infrastructure development; and inclusive tourism growth and partnerships – and requires an estimated budget of over R352 million. The implementation of the Astro-Tourism Strategy is the joint responsibility of the Departments of Science, Technology and Innovation and Tourism, which have established a Steering Committee that comprises officials from both departments, the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism. The DSTI's entity, the National Research Foundation (NRF) and its sub entities the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) and South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), also form part of this Steering Committee. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Science and Innovation, Republic of South Africa.
