Symposium Platforms Postgraduate Student Research

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The College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science hosted its 14^th Postgraduate Research and Innovation Symposium (PRIS) on 29 and 30 October at the Coastlands Hotel, Musgrave - the second off-campus edition of this event.

This year’s theme centred on Energy Sustainability. Approximately 400 delegates attended, and 181 students from all five Schools presented their research in oral or flash presentation sessions, with prizes to the value of R207 000 awarded to the best-performing students.

Welcoming delegates, UKZN Dean of Research, Professor Neil Koorbanally, highlighted the opportunity for students to showcase their research and gain experience in presenting their work.

Koorbanally highlighted the continual improvement of the PRIS event, particularly the sense of an international conference hosting the event off-campus conferred and the high standard of the student presentations and research at UKZN.

Koorbanally encouraged students to seize the opportunity to listen to presentations from different disciplines to their own, engage with industry representatives, and network with academic supervisors.

CAES Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Fhatuwani Mudau, opened proceedings on behalf of Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nana Poku.

‘This annual event serves as a hallmark of our commitment to fostering an environment of innovation and academic excellence at the University of KwaZulu-Natal,’ said Mudau, emphasising the importance of collaboration between academia and industry in shaping the future of research and innovation and showcasing the opportunities available for students as they transition from academia to professional work.

The opening keynote was presented by the Chairman of the Board of Eskom, Dr Mteto Nyati, who focused on what made for a successful turnaround strategy at the embattled power utility.

An alumnus of the University’s Discipline of Mechanical Engineering, Nyati emphasised that challenges like rolling blackouts, and the provision of energy security are what scientists and engineers are there for. He encouraged students to consider the societal impact of their work.

After the opening session, students from the College’s five Schools (Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Science (SAEES); Chemistry and Physics (SCP); Engineering; Life Sciences; and Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science) presented a range of diverse research in parallel sessions.

These presentations were assessed by internal academics and external stakeholders. uMngeni-uThukela Water (UUW) Scientific Services Executive, Dr Ntsapokazi Deppa gave a guest lecture on “Green Initiatives and Skills in the Water Sector”, presenting UUW’s perspective.

Deppa spoke about UUW’s multiple approaches to develop the skills necessary to contribute to the development of an environmentally sustainable, climate-change resilient, low-carbon economy and just South African society.

The gala dinner on the evening of 29 October provided attendees with more chances to engage with one another, enjoy entertainment provided by Drumshack Experience, and hear more about UKZN’s leadership in energy sustainability thanks to a presentation from Professor Andrew Swanson from the Centre for Power and Energy Systems. He focused on the complexities of moving energy in space and time, touching on integrating renewable energy and improving the efficiency of moving energy.

The evening was also enhanced with the presentation of several lucky draw prizes and the acknowledgement of the vital support of sponsors and industry partners.

The industry session on the second day provided the platform for hosting the third UUW Chair in Water Resources Research and Innovation Research Symposium, chaired by incumbent Chair Professor Jeff Smithers.

The session was designed around diverse research themes within the Chair’s ambit, including flood studies and water supply, water governance and citizen science, and water, effluent, and sludge treatment. Dr Deppa presented the keynote address in this session, and 16 presentations were made at the symposium by students and researchers in the Schools of Built Environment and Development Studies, SCP, SAEES, and Engineering.

Seven external sponsors and 54 internal partners contributed to proceedings and student prizes, and eight exhibitors demonstrated what their organisations offer and what services they provide to the University and broader society.

The event concluded with a prize-giving session where the top two presentations from each School in both the oral and flash presentation categories were rewarded, with a special prize in each category, per School, based on voting from the audience for the research that demonstrated the most significant societal impact. Several lucky draw prizes were also awarded by sponsors, including Eskom and UKZN’s ICS division.

Words: Christine Cuénod

Photographs: Yola Ndzabe