National Research Foundation

20 years ago South Africa had 40 qualified astronomers – all white. How it’s opened space science and developed skills since then

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 16, 2024

They add to the South African Astronomical Observatory and Hartebeesthoek Radio Observatory which existed already.

Key Points: 
  • They add to the South African Astronomical Observatory and Hartebeesthoek Radio Observatory which existed already.
  • The National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme has played a vital role in ensuring that these facilities were not simply operated for the benefit of international partners.

The history


South Africa’s astronomical history, spanning over 200 years, took a leap in 2000 with the cabinet’s approval for the construction of the Southern African Large Telescope. Beyond its scientific impact, the idea was to attract and nurture young talent, addressing shortages in scientific and engineering fields in South Africa.

  • This was the result of the racially skewed education system during the apartheid era.
  • Unfortunately the shortage of South African astronomers posed a threat to the success of the two projects, and to Africa’s participation.

Developing a pipeline

  • At that time fewer than 1% of black school leavers qualified to study for a BSc in physics or astronomy.
  • It became clear that universities needed to start co-operating if the landscape was to change.
  • This collaboration, including the organisation that became the South African National Space Agency, focused on guiding students through honours and master’s degrees.


attract students post-Bachelor of Science
recruit from other countries in Africa
entice school leavers into BSc physics programmes
make participation in the programme a selling point for all participating universities.

  • Funding from private foundations, particularly from the Ford Foundation, the Mellon Foundation and the Canon Collins Trust, added to very basic grants from the National Research Foundation.
  • Nevertheless, students have developed successful careers through the programme, transforming astronomy and space science in South Africa and beyond.
  • giving us exposure to the leading astronomers in the country … This was extremely helpful in assessing astronomy as a career.

Track record

  • Another 27 honours and 21 master’s students are set to graduate shortly, and similar numbers of students will complete their degrees in 2024.
  • A 2023 survey of programme graduates had 230 respondents, including 53 graduates from 19 other African countries.

Impact

  • The impact of the programme’s graduates extends far beyond academia.
  • South Africa now has over 200 qualified astronomers, not all of them from the National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme.
  • The National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme can only ever be part of the solution to these complex systemic problems.

Future directions

  • Students now have to navigate extensive volumes of intricate data of different kinds, from various sources.
  • Students must know what these tools can and cannot do as they push the boundaries of our comprehension.
  • This requires senior administrators to understand that inter-university collaborations are an investment in their own institutions as well as in the advancement of South African science.
  • Patricia Ann Whitelock receives research funding from the National Research Foundation and the University of Cape Town.. Daniel Cunnama receives funding from the National Research Foundation.
  • He works for the South African Astronomical Observatory, a business unit of the National Research Foundation.

POSCO Holdings and QC Ware Revolutionize Battery Simulation with Quantum Computing

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 7, 2023

POSCO Holdings and QC Ware revolutionize battery simulation with quantum computing.

Key Points: 
  • POSCO Holdings and QC Ware revolutionize battery simulation with quantum computing.
  • POSCO Holdings and QC Ware have joined forces on a grant from the Korean government to quantify the utility and advantage of quantum computers for the accurate and efficient simulation of candidate battery materials.
  • Earlier in the year, POSCO Holdings applied for the 'Quantum Advantage Challenge Research based on Quantum Computing' grant under the project titled 'Development of Simulation Technology for Eco-Friendly Material Based on Quantum Computing'.
  • With specialization in machine learning and chemistry simulation applications, QC Ware develops for both near-term quantum and state-of-the-art classical computing hardware.

Meet Kuushy: Sit your way to better health

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 28, 2023

SINGAPORE, Aug. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Poor posture can lead to a whole range of problems – from neck and back pains to even heartburn and constipation[1] – one Singaporean startup is aiming to help working adults alleviate these problems by adopting healthier sitting habits. TACNIQ, a pioneering technology company that specialises in advanced tactile sensor technology, today unveiled Kuushy, a smart cushion with an AI-enabled Posture Coach designed to improve posture habits and promote a healthier lifestyle.

Key Points: 
  • Kuushy addresses the growing issue of poor posture and its impact on physical health by offering real-time posture monitoring and personalised posture correction coaching.
  • Kuushy's 3 steps to better back health:
    Intervene: Sensors detect and analyse the user's posture in real-time.
  • "Kuushy allows working adults to improve health habits without making major changes to our lifestyle, by turning work hours into 'back health hours'.
  • This in turn enables us to maintain an active lifestyle and cultivate good health habits in the long term."

Rznomics Presents Its Own Circular RNA Platform Technology

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 3, 2023

SEONGNAM, South Korea, Aug. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rznomics developed a novel platform technology termed 'self-circularized RNA structure' that can efficiently and simply generate circular RNA and overcome the limitations of existing technology.

Key Points: 
  • SEONGNAM, South Korea, Aug. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rznomics developed a novel platform technology termed 'self-circularized RNA structure' that can efficiently and simply generate circular RNA and overcome the limitations of existing technology.
  • To overcome the drawbacks of the conventional linear RNAs mentioned above, circular RNA structure technology has recently attracted attention.
  • Rznomics has developed a new circular RNA manufacturing technology that uses group I intron ribozyme as well.
  • Rznomics applied its unique Tetrahymena trans-splicing ribozyme platform technology to effectively convert linear RNA into circular RNA by designing end-to-end self-targeting and splicing (STS) reaction.

Rznomics Presents Its Own Circular RNA Platform Technology

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 3, 2023

SEONGNAM, South Korea, Aug. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rznomics developed a novel platform technology termed 'self-circularized RNA structure' that can efficiently and simply generate circular RNA and overcome the limitations of existing technology.

Key Points: 
  • SEONGNAM, South Korea, Aug. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rznomics developed a novel platform technology termed 'self-circularized RNA structure' that can efficiently and simply generate circular RNA and overcome the limitations of existing technology.
  • To overcome the drawbacks of the conventional linear RNAs mentioned above, circular RNA structure technology has recently attracted attention.
  • Rznomics has developed a new circular RNA manufacturing technology that uses group I intron ribozyme as well.
  • Rznomics applied its unique Tetrahymena trans-splicing ribozyme platform technology to effectively convert linear RNA into circular RNA by designing end-to-end self-targeting and splicing (STS) reaction.

Run:ai and AI Singapore partner to propel AI adoption across the ecosystem

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, June 13, 2023

This collaboration aims to deliver scalable infrastructure solutions for a wide range of AI projects and help AI Singapore in its mission to accelerate the adoption of AI by the industry.

Key Points: 
  • This collaboration aims to deliver scalable infrastructure solutions for a wide range of AI projects and help AI Singapore in its mission to accelerate the adoption of AI by the industry.
  • As the national AI programme, AI Singapore plays a central role in helping organizations adopt AI solutions.
  • "Effectively managing resources and infrastructure is vital to supporting our diverse portfolio of AI projects," said Laurence Liew, Director of AI Innovation, AI Singapore.
  • "We believe that our solution will play a pivotal role in enabling AI Singapore to meet the AI development needs of their community, including startups, universities, and businesses looking to embark on AI projects."

NTU Singapore and Delta Electronics set up S$24 million corporate lab for advanced robotic technologies

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 7, 2023

TAIPEI, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) and Delta Electronics, global provider of IoT-based Smart Green Solutions, have established the S$24 million Delta-NTU Corporate Lab for Advanced Robotics, continuing their close collaboration in research & development for advanced technologies.

Key Points: 
  • TAIPEI, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) and Delta Electronics, global provider of IoT-based Smart Green Solutions, have established the S$24 million Delta-NTU Corporate Lab for Advanced Robotics, continuing their close collaboration in research & development for advanced technologies.
  • Professor Ho said: "This corporate lab with Delta Electronics proves that NTU's research activities are industry relevant.
  • The establishment of the joint lab marks a new phase of the partnership between NTU and Delta Electronics.
  • Tzi-cker Chiueh, General Director of the Delta Research Centre, said: "We have secured various patents through our collaboration with NTU Singapore.

Lucence Launches LucenceINSIGHT to Detect Cancer Earlier

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Asia’s aging population is confronted with a growing cancer crisis, with nearly 10 million new cancer cases annually.

Key Points: 
  • Asia’s aging population is confronted with a growing cancer crisis, with nearly 10 million new cancer cases annually.
  • Early cancer detection when it is most treatable can prevent unnecessary cancer deaths.
  • Lucence is launching LucenceINSIGHT™, an MCED test first internationally and with a follow-up U.S. launch in Q3 2023.
  • Our mission is early cancer detection through a single blood test, when cancer is most treatable hopefully for cure.

Fortinet to Support Singapore’s Quest for Quantum-Safe Future

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 15, 2022

SINGAPORE, June 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortinet, a global leader in broad, integrated and automated cybersecurity solutions, has announced a collaboration with Singapore's Quantum Engineering Programme (QEP) to support Singapore's National Quantum-Safe Network (NQSN) project.

Key Points: 
  • SINGAPORE, June 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortinet, a global leader in broad, integrated and automated cybersecurity solutions, has announced a collaboration with Singapore's Quantum Engineering Programme (QEP) to support Singapore's National Quantum-Safe Network (NQSN) project.
  • Fortinets work with NQSN will support QEP in proof of concepts and jointly explore use cases for quantum-safe communications.
  • Fortinet will provide resources in network security including prototypes that can interface to quantum devices for trials within the NQSN.
  • Through this collaboration, Fortinet will support Singapores ongoing transition into a trusted digital innovation hub.

Transformer Global Market Report 2022: Market is Expected to Reach $220.40 Billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 23.3% - Long-term Forecast to 2031 - ResearchAndMarkets.com

Retrieved on: 
Friday, May 20, 2022

The "Transformer Global Market Report 2022, By Transformer Type, By Type, By End User" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Key Points: 
  • The "Transformer Global Market Report 2022, By Transformer Type, By Type, By End User" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
  • The transformers market consists of sales of transformers and related services which are used in manufacturing of power, distribution and specialty transformers.
  • The power transformer is a type of transformer that is used to transfer electrical energy between the generator and the distribution primary circuits.
  • Favorable government policies to increase electrification will contribute to the growth of the transformers market in the forecast period.