ATC130128: Report of the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology: Visits to the iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator-Based Sciences (iThemba LABS) in Faure, the Department of Science and Technology (DST)/Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) low-cost housing project in Kleinmond, and the South African National Space Agency’s (SANSA) Space Science Directorate in Hermanus on 4 and 5 September 2012, dated 14 November 2012

Science and Technology

Report of the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology: Visits to the iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator-Based Sciences (iThemba LABS) in Faure, the Department of Science and Technology (DST)/Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) low-

Report of the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology: Visits to the iThemba L aboratory for A ccelerator- B ased S ciences ( iThemba LABS) in Faure , the Department of Science and Technology (DST)/Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) low-cost housing project in Kleinmond , and the South African National Space Agency’s (SANSA) Space Science Directorate in Hermanus on 4 and 5 September 2012, dated 14 November 2012.

1. Introduction

The Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology visited iThemba LABS, the Kleinmond low-cost housing project and the Space Science Directorate on 4 and 5 September 2012.

Delegation:

Ms L Dunjwa (Acting Chairperson - ANC)

Ms P Mocumi (ANC)

Ms H Line (ANC)

Ms Z Ndlazi (ANC)

Ms S Plaatjie (COPE)

Dr J Kloppers-Lourens (DA)

Accompanied by:

Ms Shanaaz Isaacs (Committee Secretary)

Dr Renée Osborne-Mullins (Committee Researcher)

Mr Sydwell Mahlabela (Committee Assistant)

2. iThemba LABS Visit:

The Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology visited iThemba LABS, which is a unique national facility, and business unit of the National Research Foundation (NRF).

iThemba LABS’ vision is to be the leading African organisation for research, training and expertise in accelerator-based sciences and technologies. Its mission is to provide state of the art facilities and programmes for high quality research, training and services in the nuclear sciences and its applications for the benefit of the people of South Africa and the continent in general.

The laboratories provide facilities for the following activities:

  • Basic and applied research using particle beams;
  • Particle radiotherapy for the treatment of cancer; and
  • The supply of accelerator-produced radioactive isotopes for nuclear medicine and research.

As a national research facility it is the intention of iThemba LABS to achieve the following strategic objectives:

  • Grow the research facilities to increase training, human resource development, international collaborations (especially with Africa) and the science and technology (S&T) profile of South Africa; and
  • To develop economic units that are self-sustaining and benefit from the skills, sciences and technologies available at iThemba LABS.

As part of the visit, Members were shown the major research and development platforms, which included:

  • A variable energy Separated Sector Cyclotron (SSC), which produces a wide variety of high-energy particle beams. Proton energies of up to 200 MeV can be produced. The SSC is augmented by two additional injector cyclotrons and supplemented by the (HMI) ECR Ion Source.
  • A 6 MV Van de Graaff Accelerator with a Nuclear Microprobe, used primarily for Materials Research and supplemented by an X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) unit as well as an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and a Physical Properties Measurement System (PPMS).
  • A dedicated 11 MeV cyclotron for the production of 18 F, used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
  • Specialized Particle Therapy facilities, which include a 66 MeV Neutron Gantry, a 6 MV Medical Linear Accelerator, a 200 MeV Proton Therapy nozzle, and a Multi-slice wide-bore Computed Tomographic Scanner. Patients undergoing particle therapy can be accommodated in a 27-bed on-site hospital.
  • Production facilities for the manufacture of radionuclides for both the local nuclear medicine community and the export market (Hot Cells, Targetry Stations, Clean Rooms).
  • Specialized detectors and spectrometers for experimental nuclear physics experiments.
  • Laboratories for research in radiobiology, mainly in support of the particle therapy programme.

Officials briefed Members on:

· The internationally approved in-house research programmes

· Local and international research collaborations

· Training partnerships with higher education institutions

· Role as supplier of accelerator-produced radioisotopes and radio-pharmaceuticals; and

· Capabilities and expertise in particle therapy

The long term strategy of iThemba LABS is to investigate and vigorously pursue all possible means of expanding the current accelerator and research facilities in order to revitalize all the core activities with the view of ensuring a vibrant and internationally competitive research and development platform that will be sustainable for at least a further 20 years.

The visit illustrated iThemba LABS present and future role in the NSI through presenting the status of and future strategies for research, development and training at iThemba LABS.

3. Kleinmond Housing Project

The DST, recognising that sustainable, quality low-income housing is a national priority, commissioned the CSIR to investigate technology possibilities for improved low-income housing. The CSIR produced a demonstration house, which was more comfortable, durable, faster to build, easily extendable and less dependent on municipal services than the standard low-income houses provided by the Government.

The CSIR demonstration house has been certified by Agrément South Africa , the internationally acknowledged body that provides assurance through technical approvals of non-standardised or unconventional construction products and processes. The house also adheres to the National Building Regulations and the requirements of the National Home Builders Registration Council.

The Committee visited the 440 pilot units, which were built in Kleinmond and which, incorporated many features of the CSIR-developed low-income demonstration house. Local authorities of the Overstrand Municipality collaborated with the CSIR and the DST on this pilot project within the local community.

Members went on a walk-about and interacted with the occupants of these units.

4. The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Space Science Directorate

On 1 April 2011, the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory (HMO) changed its name to SANSA Space Science and migrated from the National Research Foundation (NRF) to the SANSA.

The SANSA Space Science Directorate is the primary division for Space Science within SANSA and is responsible for basic and applied Space Science research, human capacity development, science advancement and public engagement. It functions as an active participant in the International Real-time Magnetic Observatory Network (INTERMAGNET), which monitor and model variations of the Earth’s magnetic field (also known as the geomagnetic field). SANSA Space Science is also one of 13 Regional Warning Centres globally that forms part of the International Space Environment Service (ISES) network. Specifically, SANSA Space Science is appointed as the Regional Warning Centre for Space Weather in Africa .

SANSA Space Science consists of the following four operational groups:

  • Space Physics;
  • Geomagnetism;
  • Technology; and
  • Science Outreach.

A key goal of SANSA Space Science is human capacity development in the earth-space science area and the creation of a pool of South Africans with transferable skills in electronics, radar technology, instrumentation and measurement, signal processing, software development and data management. This is accomplished through training schools for Space Physics, supervision of postgraduate students, and lecturing at Universities that have Space Science programmes.

SANSA Space Science also aims to advance science literacy in general and earth-space science literacy in particular among learners, educators, young people, the general public and policy-makers. The majority of activities are hosted within SANSA Space Science’s Science Centre.

5. Conclusions and Recommendations

iThemba LABS

  • The Committee welcomed the improvements of the governance structure at iThemba LABS, which resulted in good audit outcomes and findings.
  • The Committee was pleased to learn about programmes in place for outreach, though for practical reasons, only the surrounding local communities were targeted.
  • The Committee was satisfied with the role SAASTA played in promoting the activities at iThemba LABS, to the extent that at research level, the visibility of the facility was very high.
  • The Committee would like to see more female nuclear experts/physicists as part of the new generation of scientists.
  • The Committee encouraged the collaboration iThemba LABS had with the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (NECSA).
  • iThemba LABS houses a 27-bed hospital where cancer patients are treated using proton and neutron beams. The Committee hopes that with the intervention of the DST these services can be extended.

Kleinmond Housing Pilot

  • With the huge backlog and poor quality of government subsidised housing provision, the CSIR-developed alternative technology for low-cost housing proves to be a solution.
  • The Committee undertook to work with its counterparts in Parliament to encourage the Department of Human Settlements to replicate the model, which could effectively address the challenges experienced in the provision of decent housing.
  • In the same manner, the Committee would be working towards encouraging the Department of Co-operative Government and Traditional Affairs to promote similarly the CSIR housing model within their local government structures.
  • These houses, which have a solar geyser, a photovoltaic panel for indoor LED lights, a rainwater harvesting tank and insulated materials used for the roof, thus controlling temperature, can be viable housing options in areas where there is a lack or absence of municipal services. Technology was in effect used to assist municipal infra-structure in Kleinmond .
  • The Committee is pleased that the DST has commissioned the CSIR to do follow-up monitoring and evaluation of the pilot houses in Kleinmond to assess the viability of the building standard and the impact these houses may have on the quality of life of the occupants.

SANSA Space Science

  • The Committee was generally satisfied with the briefings they received on the SANSA overview and the Space Science’s strategic programmes.
  • The major part of the visit was to view the facilities and meet with the scientists, whom through using their knowledge and capabilities, inspire innovation in an attempt to respond to national priorities.

Documents

No related documents