With rapidly advancing technology, mobile electronic devices have become must-have and "can't-live-without" items in modern society.
However, these devices require power to operate, making battery power sources vital. Most electronic mobile device users have experienced the frustration of running out of power, which increases the demand for longer lasting battery power sources. This will become even more important as battery-stored energy plays a bigger role in supplying the power needed for transport or domestic consumption.
Fortunately, South Africa has some of the world's largest reserves of a range of metals required to improve power storage devices. The work led by Dr Kenneth Ozoemena will lay the foundation for the development of local industries that will use these metals to meet local and international needs.
On Friday, 17 October, Dr Ozoemena's research in the field of electrochemical energy storage, conversion systems and dye-sensitised solar cells was honoured at the biennal CSIR Excellence Awards. Dr Ozoemena, chief researcher and leader of the CSIR's Electrochemical Energy Technologies research group, was among dozens of CSIR employees who received awards for their outstanding work, which includes research, product development and mentoring.
The Excellence Awards is one of the CSIR's initiatives to help to drive performance and facilitate the retention of key employees by recognising their achievements that are crucial to the sustainability of the organisation. It also inculcates the spirit "research excellence" in the CSIR.
Speaking at the CSIR Excellence Awards, the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Ms Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi, said the CSIR had played a significant role in applying science and technology to solve complex industrial problems, contributing to improved quality of life and appropriate technological solutions to enhance government service delivery. She said that the organisation's performance in this regard was an important contribution to the performance indicators for the broader National System of Innovation in South Africa.
"Award programmes such as these give researchers an incentive to carry on doing the work that is crucial to take our country further on its way to becoming a knowledge economy," said the Deputy Minister, congratulating the recipients of the awards in 14 categories.
Dr Ozoemena achieved top honours, receiving the CEO's Award. His research group, consisting of more than 20 scientists, postdoctoral research fellows and postgraduate research students who carry out both fundamental and applied research, is addressing the fundamental power storage question by developing high-performance electrochemical energy storage systems, including the next generation of lithium-ion batteries, electrochemical capacitors/supercapacitors, and dye-sensitised solar cells.
"The pride one feels is indescribable when the CEO recognises your work and rewards you with such a big award. The CEO's Award is the highest award of all; the decision is based on one's contribution to the organisation," said Dr Ozoemena, who is also an National Research Foundation (NRF)-rated researcher (B-2 category, 2011 – 2015).
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Award for Emerging Researchers was awarded to Dr Gugu Hlengiwe Mhlongo for hersterling work in her PhD studies; she graduated cum laude from the University of the Free State. Owing to high standard of her work in nano-structured materials, she was able to publish articles in prestigious peer-reviewed international journals. She achieved an above-average output of four publications from her PhD work.
"I am so grateful to my colleagues who nominated me for this award. I feel honoured and inspired that the CSIR has given me this opportunity," she said, adding that she was grateful to her mentors, including the NRF, which had funded some of her research.
Among some of the other outstanding researchers was Prof. Suprakas Sinha Ray, who received two awards, namely, the Human Capital Development Excellence Award and the Leadership Excellence Award.
The CEO of the CSIR, Dr Sibusiso Sibisi, said the awards celebrated the people behind the ideas that worked. He said that science was underpinned by people – people were what made things possible.
"Science speaks to a variety of intended outcomes – a world free of crime, a country that is globally competitive and where education is accessible to all. It is clear we will not attain this vision unless we have the people to do the work to reach the kind of vision contained in the National Development Plan," said Dr Sibisi in congratulating all the winners.
