The Minister of Science and Technology in South Africa, Naledi Pandor, believes that South Africa has to boost support in innovation and funding for research.In her Budget Vote in Parliament, she pointed out that the government was hoping to create opportunities for the private sector investments in research. She went on to say that South Africa should take lessons from successful developing countries namely China, Brazil and India. On the Square Kilometer Aray (SKA) project , she said that she was hping to inform the MPs of the final site decision on the location of the SKA. Among the items that the Minister raised was that the country’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) was becoming a competitive advantage and that government was targeting partnerships with the likes of Microsoft, Nokia and SAP. The department will be spending a further R110 million on internship programmes over the next three years… Good news for new graduates.

Via All Africa
http://allafrica.com/stories/201205160015.html

The Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor recently said that South Africa will insist on a decision to be taken on the site for the SKA telescope at the next meeting of the SKA organizations. She also pointed out that the other bidding country, Australia, also wanted to know where they stood. The next meeting is set for the 25th of May 2012 and South Africa’s representative at that meeting will make it clear that the country wanted a decision before June. SA has an excellent bid and has partnered with a couple of countries including Botswana, Zambia and Namibia to host the 3000 antennas that will make up SKA. Should SA win the bid, which is one of the world’s biggest science projects, it will provide a BIG boost in the country’s economy. Its crunch time… Lets hope that SA does win the bid.
Read more on http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/sa-to-push-for-ska-decision-this-month-2012-05-15

South Africa has joined the international JIVE radio astronomy research institute, the National Research Foundation (NRF) said on Sunday the 13th of May 2012. The Joint Institute for Very Long Baseline Interferometry (JIVE) is an international institute and works in various fields of space science and radio astronomy.
South Africa has been providing JIVE with data for a very long time through the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory. JIVE recognized the data provided by South Africa to Europe from Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory and the new KAT-7 in the Karoo. Read more on http://www.jive.nl/european-radio-astronomy-transcends-borders-south-africas-national-research-foundation-joins-jive

LADIES!!! South African Women in Science and Engineering is offering scholarship opportunities for 4th year (honours degree) female students who are in the fields of engineering and science (including health sciences). For more information on how to apply and should you have any enquiries please visit http://web.uct.ac.za/org/sawise/scholarships.htm

Bursaries open to current university students studying in the following fields in Science: BSc (Microbiology), BSc (Zoology), BSc (Actuarial Science) and MB BCh (Medicine and Surgery). For more information and any enquiries regarding this bursary visit The Registrar of the university concerned. Application forms available at your university’s career office. Applications close on the 15th of December.

Four women in Information Communication Technology (ICT) were honoured at an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Development Forum in Kigali. The award recognizes the significant contributions of women in the ICT industry and is part of the ITU’s campaign to attract more girls into the sector. Those awarded included Akaliza Keza Gara, the Managing Director of Shaking Sun, a multimedia company; Paula Saphir Helene, the Senior Network Security Engineer at Rwanda Development Board (RDB); Immaculate Bugingo, the Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Gateway Limited; and Dr Marie-Christine Gasingirwa, the Director General of Science and Technology at the Ministry of Education. They were awarded for using ICT to provide new opportunities for the Rwandan community. More on this story on http://allafrica.com/stories/201205120145.html
via: All Africa

A Kenyan scientist, Frederick Ochanda, and Gambian, Matilda Ceesay, designer have developed a stylish purple-and-gold hooded bodysuit which has contains insecticides at the Nano level. This innovative design is made to repel malaria infected mosquitoes, a disease which is estimated to kill over half a million people in Africa year. It is better than the traditional insecticide – treated nets as it can be worn throughout the day and, unlike repellants applied directly on skin which are easily worn off, the molecular bonds in the fabric are impossible to break. Frederick, a postdoctoral student at the Cornell University’s Department of Fiber Science and Apparel Design, and Matilda who studies apparel design have both witnessed some family members battle malaria. The two are planning a fabric that releases repellant in response to changes in temperature or light, allowing users increased protection at night, when mosquitoes like to hunt. Read more on http://www.ecouterre.com/african-scientist-designer-create-anti-malaria-bodysuit-that-wards-off-mosquitos/

Bursaries offered by the Palaborwa Mining Company through its bursary scheme for students who wish to study in various fields in engineering. Applications close on the 31st of August

http://www.palabora.co.za/careers/training.php

Nanotechnology holds great promise for medical applications that could change the nature of diagnosis and recovery. At the CSIR researchers demonstrated technologies that will have a huge impact in our daily lives.

At the Nano scale, materials can move easily between biological structures and because of the properties of nanoparticles, they can be like “taxis” that deliver exactly the right drug, in exactly the right dosage to the exactly right place. CSIR researcher, Ntombi Mathe, says that this will enable doctors to identify specific areas they need to target during radiation or surgery. South Africa, though, is still a long way off from advancing to these methods, adds Ntombi. New methods to deliver drugs will help solve some problems with the treatment of illnesses and could provide lower costs for treatment.

In the future, we could witness tiny robots that can travel through the bloodstream, tracking down viruses and even performing surgery on individual cells.

Read more
http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53065:dr-nano-i-presume&catid=116&Itemid=81

via ITWEB

Women students majoring in science and technology related subject remains low due to gender stereotype, a universal problem especially in developing countries.

A principal at a College (University) in Tanzania said that most girls were not ready to specialize in science related subjects due to the negative attitude, girls were interested in their stereotypical roles in their communities such as catering, hotel management etc. The principal went on to say that more education is needed to change people’s attitude especially among rural communities that think that science belongs to men. The College runs awareness programmes to parents and students before admission to encourage more girls to join science courses. More on http://allafrica.com/stories/201205070140.html