2011-NMMU-Research-Report - Research Management - Nelson ...

development R&D projects on behalf of, and in collaboration
with, SME and SMME stakeholders under its technology support
activities. In addition, it provided expert analytical services to 262
clients, involving over 1600 test samples. Financially, InnoVenton has
managed to maintain a sound position despite the undertaking of a
major expansion of its facilities and capabilities (total investment of
>R8 million). The entity is now well positioned to move forward to
the next level.
CENTRES
Telkom Centre of Excellence
Leader: Prof J Wesson
The NMMU/Telkom Centre of Excellence strives to serve the needs
of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry by
developing highly qualified Masters and Doctoral graduates through
applied research in collaboration with its industry partners. It is
housed in the Departments of Computer Science and Information
Systems and Physics in the Faculty of Science.
The Centre comprises of three units. The first one is the Distributed
Multimedia Application Unit (DMA). Its main focus is to investigate
the development of intelligent user interfaces (IUI's) for contact
centre management and coordination. The sub-goals of this project
are inter alia to develop visual interfaces and visual data mining tools
to support the visualisation of customer profiles and history, contact
centre information and trend analysis and demand forecasting.
The second leg of the Centre is the Optical Fibre Research Unit housed
in a modern, well-equipped laboratory and in the Department of
Physics of the Science Faculty. The Unit conducts research on the
factors necessary for upgrading to the Next Generation Network
(NGN) in South Africa. It also investigates the factors necessary for the
deployment of “Fibre-to-the-Neighbourhood” (FTTX) in metropolitan
areas in South Africa. Linked to this it studies the issues limiting highspeed
optical fibre networks.
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Photovoltaics represents the third unit in the Centre. It undertakes a
detailed study of various aspects of solar energy module design and
performance, in order to provide a University research base that will
enable the industrial partners to better utilise energy resources. It aims
to design and build a prototype Laser Beam Induced Current (LBIC)
system for use in characterising solar cells and PV modules and linked to
this to develop a prototype concentrator photovoltaic system for remote
applications. Great emphasis is placed on developing human resources
through the training of skilled graduates with expertise in the technical
aspects of solar energy, for South Africa’s present and future needs.
The Centre, in 2011, produced seven papers presented at international
conferences and twenty-two papers presented at national conferences
of which several were presented by students. There were eleven articles
published of which all were published in ISI and IBSS journals. Five
PhD students and eight research Masters students graduated during
the review period. There were two patents registered and a total of
R1 297 167 grant funding secured during 2011.
Centre for African Conservation Ecology
Leader: Prof G Kerley
The Centre for African Conservation Ecology (ACE) again performed
well in 2011, with significant achievements in terms of research
output, including 23 refereed scientific publications, one book and
27 conference presentations, with two Honours, 17 MSc and 12 PhD
students busy with their degrees. Staff and students of CACE made a
substantial contribution to science management in South Africa and
further afield, and high levels of community service were achieved,
particularly through the Grysbok Environmental Education Trail.
Overall funding remains project-focused, with a broad variety of
funders supporting the Centre. Human resources remain strong and
were boosted in 2011 through two additional academic staff joining
the Centre. Research associates also serve to strengthen this aspect.
The Centre is financially healthy, and has had considerable success in
fulfilling its goals for the period 2007-2011, and has also successfully
set out its strategic framework for the period 2012-2016.