In a follow-up engagement on potential collaboration projects, a CPUT delegation recently hosted South African Weather Service (SAWS) delegates at the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre.
The meteorological service delegation was led by the Executive Director, Dr Jonas Mphepya while the CPUT delegation was led by Dr David Phaho, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships. This was a follow up from a virtual preliminary engagement, which took place in February 2022, between SAWS, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) and Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships (SIP).
In his brief welcoming speech, Phaho, expressed the Institution’s eagerness to have an “engaging conversation” and SIP Director, Prof Judy Peter provided the background with reference to the February engagement. Dr Nelisiwe Maleka, Manager Research Uptake at SIP, said the purpose of the engagement was to explore potential research collaborations, student development and training with regard to skills enhancement. All representatives agreed to first look at the current Memorandum of Agreement and identify further potential research collaboration projects.
Mphepya indicated that the work at SAWS cut across all sectors. Furthermore, SAWS values the input of academics in the South Africa Value Chain which includes observations, numerical weather prediction, generating forecasts, issuing official warnings, tailored services, and business data integration. “There is a need to expand on value chain and strengthen capacity building in meteorology, aviation, and marine,” said Mpheypha. He also highlighted the importance of partnership in “global front and African countries”. In addition, Director: Technology Transfer Office, Dr Revel Iyer, emphasised the importance of translating research solutions to the market and ensuring there will be uptake.
Potential research collaboration projects identified during the first engagement are:
- Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) to explore the development of genuine Apps for big data
- Use of ICT for experimental learning
- Sensor development (low-cost sensors) and satellite development, where we can conduct collaborations and capacity building.
- a key component of the ocean economy for ocean gathering, relates about reacting to and building risk modeling
- Student development (select three or four career-studentship Masters and Doctoral programmes where they will work and be supported by SAWS)
- Create opportunities for an exchange programmes for staff and students
Below are possible areas of collaboration that were explored and consolidated.
SAWS
- Observations/Met Equipment
- Infrastructure/Software Development & Applications
- Weather & climate knowledge value chain
- Training (RTC)
- Product/Services/Research
- Opportunities – Student opportunities
Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment
- Satellite for weather monitoring and sensor development
Faculty of Applied Sciences
- Marine Sciences, Ocean Economy
- Student development (bottom-up approach from undergraduate to postgraduate)
These should be aligned to CPUT V2030