UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (U2ACN2)
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Aligned with the UNESCO’s priorities as defined in its Medium-Term Strategy for 2008-2013, and fitting with the UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks platforms, this Africa chair implements & cements of implementing and cementing the trilateral partnership between UNESCO, UNISA, and iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation of South Africa in the multidisciplinary field of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology.
Statements
– UNESCO “Priority Africa” program and UNESCO “2008-2013 Medium Term Strategy”:
"This UNESCO award is recognition of the tremendous benefits of progress in the fields of nanoscience and nanotechnologies on our societies, our economies, and on all of us. This new branch of science works at the frontiers of knowledge. It is fast-moving, and it is exciting. UNESCO is committed to supporting the development of this new knowledge base for its potential in assisting countries and societies, including and especially developing countries."
Hon. Mme I. Bukova, Director-General, UNESCO/Paris, 2 Nov. 2010.
– African Union’s strategy “Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action”:
"The human capital and mobility within the continent that the Nanosciences African Network has put into action since its birth stage is of an exemplary status if one considers the achieved R&D joint outputs. Hence, the commission wishes to add its voice to the ICTP-Abdus Salam and TWAS, …and support to the NANOAFNET."
Hon. Prof. J.P. Ezin, Commissioner, African Union/Addis Ababa, 28 Sept. 2010.
– South African vision for Africa of the Department of Science & Technology:
"My department also endorsed the establishment of the Nano centre for Africa at iThemba LABS, which began following the deliberations of the ICS-UNIDO workshop held in August last year. The centre is the continental platform for nanoscience and nanotechnology, and its aim is to produce solutions to pressing socio-economic problems related to health, water, and energy."
Hon. Dr. M. Mangena, South Africa, Minister, Science/Technology, Pretoria, 1 Feb. 2009.
– Launch of the UNESCO UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences & Nanotechnology:
"There is no doubt that Nanotechnology will drive the industrial revolution in the 21st century and we, at UNISA, are determined to join the quest for advanced international competitiveness that Nanoscience and Nanotechnology can provide."
Prof. T. Meyiwa, Vice-Principal: Research & Innovation, Pretoria, 19 Nov. 2018.
CHAIR’S MISSIONS & VISIONS
• While the previous decades of the contemporary era were mainly steered by macro/micron-scale science, technology, and innovation, current human society is being shaped, among others, by the modern trends driven by nanosciences and nanotechnology in view of the quest for miniaturization and societal prerogatives. Aligned with the UNESCO’s priorities as defined in its Medium-Term Strategy for 2008-2013, and fitting with the UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks platforms, this Africa chair implements & cements of implementing and cementing the trilateral partnership between UNESCO, UNISA, and iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation of South Africa in the multidisciplinary field of Nanosciences & Nanotechnology. This joint chair, the UNESCO UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences & Nanotechnology (U2ACN2), aims to be the official vehicle and sustainable catalyst of the currently operational academic continental network, the NANOsciences AFrican NETwork (NANOAFNET) which is an Abdus Salam ICTP network in Nanosciences (ICTP Network nº63).
• Headquartered at UNISA main campus in Pretoria-South Africa, the mission and vision of the U2ACN2 chair is to instigate and coordinate a continental dynamic in nanosciences and nanotechnology through a significant capacity-building and robust continental human capital mobility programs involving several HEIs in Africa and key partner institutions in the north including the UNESCO-AIEA Abdus Salam ICTP and the International Organization of Women in Sciences (OWSDW) as well as the Academy of Science for the Developing World (TWAS) among others. The multi-disciplinary approach of the U2ACN2 chair, not only cements the several fragmented Africa national efforts in nanosciences and nanotechnology but addresses urgent societal needs in the water, energy, and health sectors in Africa. In accord with the UNESCO UNITWIN strategic orientations, the primary objectives of this continental trans-discipline joint UNESCO chair initiative are:
(i) to implement & steer a continental capacity building and a dual-based postgraduate diploma in the multi-disciplinary area of nanosciences with the chair’s host institution as the driving force,
(ii) to further the human capital mobility of both junior and senior scientists within the continent and enhance their scientific visibility in the cross-border landscape of nanosciences & nanotechnology with UNISA as the central platform,
(ii) to implement targeted applied research & development programs to address specific urgent societal needs common within the continent such as cost-effective solar energy and water purification based nanotechnologies for rural areas,
(iv) to foster the E-learning platform of the operational Nanosciences African Network and sustain the nano-synergies within the continent via regular series of webinars and teleconferences in partnership with key continental and international actors,
(v) to promote information sharing and facilitate E-literature access in the various scientific disciplines as the host high education institution has the largest electronic database in the continent,
(vi) to promote and optimize the resources and R&D infrastructure sharing in the continent,
(vii) to encourage downstream nanomaterials engineering and value-adding activities in Africa, and training in acquiring entrepreneurship skills.
CHAIR’S TARGETS & DELIVERABLES
By attaining the major milestones of its objectives, it is expected that this joint UNESCO-UNISA-iThemba LABS NRF chair would contribute to shaping the current Science, Technology & Innovation cooperation, and dynamic between Africa and the rest of the world. Indeed, due to the lack of official operational platforms, the scientific exchanges are mainly with the North. By its multi-sectorial nature, a multi-disciplinary platform such as the current U2ACN2 chair would induce an intra-continental synergy. This UNESCO-UNISA Africa joint Chair will benefit from several long standing accomplishments:
(i) a sustainable 11 years' comprehensive experience of the fully operational Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), a network recognized and supported by various international organizations including the UNESCO-AIEA Abdus Salam ICTP, ICSU and the AU,
(ii) the management’s know-how and management capabilities acquired within numerous national, continental and international programs since 1999,
(iii) the established global partnership/network with funding agencies and high profile education institutions with whom the chair has firm delivery performances and reliable track records,
(iv) the higher education expertise of the host institution UNISA and its R&D infrastructure with that of its major partner institution; iThemba LABS including the several channels of its mother institution; the National Research Foundation of South Africa,
(v) the established robust ties with UN agencies including UNESCO, AIEA, UNIDO, WHO, and UNECA.
The mid- and long- term deliverables of the multi-disciplinary nano-programs of the U2ACN2 are:
(i) Implementation of a postgraduate human capital development,
(ii) Implementation of an inclusive continental human capital mobility,
(iii) Sustainable technical training within a postgraduate nano-diploma,
(iv) Strategic partnerships with international cooperation agencies,
(v) Proactive bilateral & multilateral cooperation programs,
(vii) Joint and co-diploma both within Africa and internationally,
(viii) Access to large R&D facilities/infrastructure within/out of the continent,
(ix) Fundraising & top-up for non-South African junior fellows,
(x) Access to UNISA e-library (The largest and most diverse library in Africa),
(xi) Implementation of public awareness nano-programs,
(xi) Implementation of specific nano-projects with a direct societal focus:
• “Adopt a learner flagship project” with SAASTA,
• “Girls in science and technology” with l’Oréal-UNESCO,
(xii) Implementation of an entrepreneurial nano-program/training,
(xiii) Multi-institutional co-authorship of ISI peer-reviewed publications,
(ixv) Multi-institutional books’ co-edition,
(xv) Organization & joint participation in international/regional nano-events,
(xvi) Regular webinars and video-conferencing,
(xvii) Global visibility via an updated chair website,
(xviii) Contributions in standard media, marketing brochures & annual reports.
CHAIR’S INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMMITTEE
Following the approval by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the University of South Africa (UNISA) and iThemba Laboratories-National Research Foundation of South Africa (iThemba LABS), the UNESCO UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences & Nanotechnology (U2ACN2) was launched in March 2013 in Pretoria-South Africa in the presence of the Chairperson of the UNESCO National Commission, and dignitaries from several African and European diplomatic missions as well as major stakeholders and policymakers. The launch ceremony was led by the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor MAKHANYA. The U2ACN2 chair is based in the College of Graduate Studies (CGS-UNISA) under the direct administration of the Vice-Principal: Research, Postgraduate, Studies, Innovation and Commercialisation, Prof. T. MEYIWA and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, Prof. T. LESSIBA
(Previously Prof. G. CUTHBERTSON) from UNISA and Dr. R. NEMUTUDI, iThemba LABS’NRF Deputy Director. The international advisory council consists of:
• Prof. Tenjiwe MEYIWA
Vice-Principal: Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation & Commercialisation, UNISA, South Africa
• Dr. Rudzani NEMUTUDI
Deputy Director, iThemba LABS-NRF, Faure - South Africa.
• Dr. Sonia BAHRI
UNESCO, Executive Secretary, L’Oreal-UNESCO Awards, Paris - France
• Mr. Carlton MUKWEVHO
Acting Secretary-General: National Commission for UNESCO, Pretoria - South Africa
• Prof. Joseph NIEMELA
Director, Office of External Activities, Abdus Salam ICTP, Trieste - Italy
• Prof. Mohamed HENINI,
Nottingham University Nanotechnology &Nanoscience Centre, Nottingham - UK
• Prof. Alfred Z. MSEZANE
Director, CTSPS, Clark Atlanta University, Georgia - USA
• Dr. Lionel VAYSSIERES
Director, Int. Research Center for Renewable Energy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an - China
• Dr. Romilla MAHARAJ
Executive Director, Human Capacity Prog., NRF, Pretoria - South Africa
• Her Excellency Prof. Ameenah GURIB - FAKIM
Honorable 6th President of the Republic of Mauritius, Ebene - Mauritius
• Ms. Mmampei CHABA
Director, Emerging Research Areas, Dept. Science and Technology, South Africa
• Prof. Arun P. KULSHRESHTA
Director, UN NAM S&T, New Delhi - India
• Prof. Greg CUTHBERTSON/• Prof.M. HAVENGA /• Prof. Lesiba TEFFO
Executive Dean-CGS-UNISA, Pretoria - South Africa
• Prof. Hugo LOTRIET
Director SIRGS-CGS-UNISA, Pretoria - South Africa
CHAIR’S MANAGEMENT ORGANOGRAM
SUMMARY & METRICS
• Human Capital Development: Nº-Trained Postdocs/young Scientists:26
• Human Capital Development: Nº-Trained MSCs: 26
• Human Capital Development: Nº- Trained PhDs: 34
• Human Capital Development: Nº-Trained Postdocs: 14
• Gender Ratio: Nº-Trained Females: 28 51% Female to Male ratio
• Research Outputs/H-index: Nº-:45(2018) 41(2013)
• Research Outputs/Index-10: Nº-:173(2018) 147(2013)
• Research Outputs/ISI Publications: Nº-:256
• Research Outputs/Proceeding Publications: Nº-:26
• Research Outputs/Book Chapter Publications: Nº-:6
• Research Outputs/Research Translation & Ip: Nº-:01
• Research Outputs/Awards & Recognitions: Nº-: 28
• Research Outputs/Organized international Conferences: Nº: 10 (1687 participants)
• Research Outputs/Conferences Participation: Nº:61
• Research Outputs/Skills Enhancement & Training: Nº:14
• Research Outputs/Seminars & Webinars: Nº: 74
• Know-How Transfer & Advanced Trainings to/for Junior Fellows: Nº: 32
• Human Capital Mobility/Junior Visiting Fellows: Nº: 80
• New Partnership & Implemented Collaborations: Nº: 37
• Fundraising/Internal/External/Total: ~17,439,000.00R
CONTACT DETAILS:
Institutional manager (UNISA)
• Prof. Thenjiwe MEYIWA
Vice-Principal: Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation & Commercialisation, University of South Africa
• Prof. Michelle HAVENGA: Executive Dean, College of Graduate Studies
• Prof. Hugo LOTRIET: Director, School of Interdisciplinary Research & Graduate Studies. Preller Street, Muckleneuk Ridge, City of Tshwane, South Africa
• Tel : +27 (0)12 429 2851
• Fax: +27 86 659 6806
• PA: Ms. Cynthia Ngwenya (Ngwencb@unisa.ac.za)
Institutional manager (iThemba LABS-NRF)
• Dr. Faical AZAIEZ
Director
• Dr. Rudzani NEMUTUDI
Deputy Director
iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation of South Africa PO Box 722, Somerset West 7129, Western Cape Province, South Africa
• Tel : +27 (0) 21 843 1215
• Fax: +27 (0) 21 843 3543
• PA: Ms. Natalie Oliver (Director@tlabs.ac.za)
Chair-holder
• Prof. Malik MAAZA
Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences
Fellow of the Royal Society-London
Fellow of the Islamic Academy of Sciences
Fellow of the New York Academy of Sciences
Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences of India
Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences
Nanosciences African Network (Chairman)
Materials Research Department, iThemba LABS, National Research Foundation of South Africa
PO Box 722, Somerset West 7129, Western Cape Province, South Africa
• Tel: +27 (0) 21 843 1149
• Fax: +27 (0) 21 843 3543
• PA: Ms. Cheryl ERASMUS (u2acn2@unisa.ac.za, u2acn2@tlabs.ac.za)
• Email: Maaza@tlabs.ac.za, Maazam@unisa.ac.za
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