January / February 2005 - CSIR

24Fifth RochaAwardfor CSIRCSIRresearcherto representSouth Africaon IUGGDr Lindsay Linzer, senior researcherat CSIR Mining Technology, hasbeen appointed as the South Africanrepresentative on the InternationalUnion of Geodesy and Geophysics(IUGG). Linzer was the recipient ofthe prestigious Rocha Medal in2003 and was presented with theCSIR Research Excellence awardin the same year.Established in 1919, the IUGG is aninternational, non-governmental,non-profit scientific organisationwith the objective to promote andcoordinate studies of physical,chemical and mathematicalproperties of the Earth and itsenvironment in space. The IUGGis one of the 27 scientific unionsgrouped within the InternationalCouncil for Science, providing aglobal forum for scientists toexchange ideas and informationand to develop standard methodsand procedures for all fields ofresearch.Dr LindsayLinzer,SouthAfricanrepresentativeonthe IUGGDr Mark Hildyard from CSIR MiningTechnology was awarded the 2005Rocha Medal by the InternationalSociety for Rock Mechanics for theworld's best PhD thesis in this field.Hildyard’s thesis, titled ‘Wave interactionwith underground openings infractured rock’, implemented novelnumerical and theoretical developmentsto address the problem ofrockbursts in mining and the interpretationof fracturing in rock.This is the fifth time in 15 years thata CSIR scientist at the unit hasreceived this prestigious award,making it a unique achievement.Previous Rocha medal winners fromthe unit include Dr Lindsay Linzer(2003), Dr Francois Malan (2001),Dr Arno Daehnke (1999) andDr Richard Brummer (1990).CSIR paper onfranchising of waterservices winsinternational awardToward the end of 2004, Kevin Wall from CSIRBuilding and Construction Technology won a jointaward for the best paper presented at the Water,Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC)Conference in Vientiane, Laos, South East Asia.Wall’s paper is titled An investigation of the franchisingoptions for water services in South Africa.Pictured at the award ceremony are (left to right)Mr Bouathong Vong Lorkham (South East AsianActing Minister of Communications, Transport,Ports and Construction); Kevin Wall (CSIR) andMr Somphone Dethoudom (South East Asian Director-General of the Department of Housing and Planning).T H E C S I R ’ S B U S I N E S S U N I T S , S P E C I A L I S T C E N T R E S A N D I N I T I A T I V E S■ Building and Construction Technology: Pretoria (012) 841-3871 ■ Defence Technology: (012) 841-2780 ■ Food, Biological and Chemical Technologies: Pretoria (012)841-3260 Modderfontein (011) 605-2615 Cape Town (021) 689-9341 Durban (031) 261-8161 ■ Manufacturing and Materials Technology: Pretoria (012) 841-2411; 841-4392Port Elizabeth (041) 508-3200 Johannesburg (011) 482-1300 Cape Town (021) 685-4306 Richards Bay (035) 797-3136 ■ Mining Technology: (011) 358-0000 ■ Roads andTransport Technology: Pretoria (012) 841-2905 Stellenbosch (021) 888-2508 Durban (031) 242 2300 ■ Water, Environment and Forestry Technology: Pretoria(012) 841-2674; 841-2682 Stellenbosch (021) 888-2400 Durban (031) 242-2300 Pietermaritzburg (033) 260-5446 ■ Crime Prevention Centre (012) 841-2441 ■ InformationSociety Technologies Centre (012) 841-3300/3165 ■ Centre for Logistics and Decision Support (012) 841-3051 ■ National Laser Centre (012) 841-4188■ National Metrology Laboratory (012) 841-4152 ■ Open Source Centre (012) 841-3728 ■ Satellite Applications Centre (012) 334-5000 ■ Sports Technology Centre (012)841-3370 ■ Technology for Development (012) 841-4511 ■ Editor: Eunice da Conceicao CSIR Communications Tel: (012) 841-4652 Fax: (012) 841-3924 Email:edaconceicao@csir.co.za ■ CSIR Internet: http://www.csir.co.za ISSN 1017-4966 Enquiries: (012) 841-2000 ■ Design: Loretta Steyn Graphic Design Studio,Pretoria Tel: (012) 804-1674