Category: Technology

Smarter Mobility Africa signs collaboration deal with Vuka Group

After weathering the storm in the events and exhibition industry over the past eighteen months due to the global pandemic, Smarter Mobility Africa has signed a collaborative deal with Vuka Group to strengthen their industry foothold.

Conference opens to address wind powers role in SA economy and climate change

Chair of the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA), Mercia Grimbeek welcomed local and international wind energy industry members and sector stakeholders to the 10th annual international Wind Industry conference – Windaba 2021, marking a decade of wind power in South Africa. 

Infocus International Announces Online Masterclass on Electricity Economics

Infocus International Group has launched the Electricity Economics in Changing Electricity Markets online course and it will be commencing live on 15 November 2021. Throughout the four sessions, you will understand the new economics of power markets in a low-carbon world.

Cosmic Announces the Launch of Impact Frame, a Framework Helping Artists & Storytellers Boost their Impact & Income

The Cosmic Foundation is officially launching and announcing the Impact Frame, a groundbreaking framework primarily designed for impact-driven artists, influencers and content creators who seek to effortlessly boost recognition and income from their productions and score audience engagement in a way that truly supports systemic change.

Deputy Minister Buti Manamela on launch of Nature Africa

Message of support by South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Buti Manamela on the launch event for Nature Africa

It is a great pleasure and privilege for me to deliver a message of support to you on the occasion of this historic event. For more than 150 years, Nature has been one of the most authoritative voices of global science. The launch of a dedicated platform supported by Nature to communicate news and results from African science to an international audience is, thus, most welcome and in fact long overdue.

The South African Government, through our Department of Science and Innovation, would like to congratulate Nature on this initiative. In Africa, as elsewhere in the world, science has been at the forefront of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, from both a public health and economic recovery perspective. To progress African science requires better communication and enhanced global partnerships, and Nature Africa can play an important role to foster such efforts.

Ladies and gentlemen, over the decades Nature has gained global recognition for the steadfast pursuit of its mission to serve scientists by publishing after rigorous review results of scientific advancement and then disseminating these results to enable science to serve society. This should also be the mission of Nature Africa. I would like to share with you three suggestions of ways through which Nature Africa could contribute to enhancing the role African science plays globally.

Firstly, Nature Africa should assist to raise increased international awareness of the crucial, often essential roles, African scientists are playing to respond to global challenges such as Covid-19, global change and food security. These contributions are often not appreciated or celebrated as they should be. Our world will for example not be able to confront pressing global concerns with regard to poverty, inequality and unemployment without the contributions of African social scientists.

We will not achieve the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals set by global leaders without the contributions of African scientists.  

Nature Africa should help to raise this awareness that support for African science is an investment in a better world for all. There is no lack of material for good news stories to be communicated but what we do need is more communication platforms with global reach, and Nature Africa will help to fill this gap.

As a second action, I would like to recommend that Nature Africa should critically interrogate the existing practices of, and serve as a platform for debate, to find the best modalities for Africa’s participation in global science partnerships. From a South African perspective, it is crucial that values such as co-ownership and shared responsibility underpin international cooperation.  African scientists should be regarded as full and equal partners in global collaboration, and sadly this is at times, not the case.

International funding as important as it is also has the dangerous potential to divert focus away from Africa’s own research priorities. The best response to avoid these pitfalls is for African Governments and bodies such as the African Union to assume our own responsibilities to fund and support African research.  We count on Nature Africa to keep a vigilant eye on the design and implementation of international cooperation instruments, and the honoring of commitments by all concerned, to ensure the full potential of African science to advance equitable and sustainable global development is unleashed.

My third and last call to Nature Africa is to inspire, especially the next generation.  I am delighted to see the participation of many of Africa’s best emerging young researchers in today’s event.

African scientists continue to make us proud on the global stage and their stories must be told to encourage the next generation who will follow in their steps, and awake and sustain general public interest in science.

South Africa is proud to host with Australia the world’s largest radio telescope, the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope, the SKA. Our MeerKAT telescope, a precursor to the SKA, designed and built by African engineers, is already delivering groundbreaking scientific discoveries.  African scientists are, thus, leading the charge to fight pandemic disease and fight hunger, but are also playing their part as leaders in frontier science.

This is the vision for the Africa we want – a better Africa in a better, more just world enabled by science. We look forward to good cooperation with Nature Africa as we continue to pursue this mission, reinforcing global solidarity and partnership. We also look forward to welcome all of you to South Africa for the World Science Forum in 2022, which will be convened under the theme of Science for Social Justice, as well as our annual Science Forum South Africa in 2021. The objective of our Science Forum is to ignite conversations about science, exactly as Nature Africa will be doing. I thank you.

Courtesy: www.gov.za

Salesforce announces sustainability Cloud Scope 3 Hub and new climate commitments to create a more sustainable future

Global CRM company Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) has introduced Salesforce Sustainability Cloud Scope 3 Hub to help companies streamline how they track their supply chain carbon footprint data to effectively engage with suppliers to align on sustainability efforts.  

REN21’s new report shows that cities across Africa demonstrate progressive leadership to deploy renewables

The 2021 edition of REN21’s Renewables in Cities Global Status Report, shows that one billion people live in cities with a renewable energy target or policy.

Enlit Africa revised dates (8-10 June) and format for now digital event in 2021

The organisers of Enlit Africa are pleased to confirm and announce new dates for the 2021 event as 8-10 June 2021, now in digital format.

Sustainable shoes and upcycled bags: Reebok partners with local lifestyle brand, Sealand Gear to reimagine a zero-waste future.

As part of the partnership, Sealand Gear has produced a limited amount of special edition, upcycled tote bags to be given as a gift with the first 300 purchases.

Sustainability does not only come from a product; it comes from the packaging as well. Waste reduction, recycling, upcycling and sustainably sourced material is becoming more of a priority for the lifestyle and fashion sectors. Consumers are actively looking to support brands that take responsibility over their sustainability, adopting ways to reduce their product and packaging waste, and to offer products with a lighter environmental footprint. More brands are starting to realise their responsibility to influence consumers to adopt more environmentally conscious buying habits.

While Reebok has focused its effort on creating their [REE]cycled footwear collection, 90% of Sealand Gear’s product range is sourced from upcycled material. This partnership offers a fully integrated sustainable model from materials sourcing, products, and packaging.

“Sustainability is a part of our story. As a global brand, we have an opportunity to contribute towards a cleaner future and inspire our consumers to start making purchasing decisions more consciously, thinking about their impact on the environment,” says Brian Jackson, brand manager of Reebok South Africa. “The partnership with Sealand is all about local collaboration and partnering with a brand that is in our view, a leader in lifestyle and fashion sustainability.”

“Our intention with Reebok was to align with a well-established global brand, that is taking the necessary steps to improve their environmental responsibility,” says Jasper Eales, founder, and creative director at Sealand Gear.

“The unique tote bag that has been created with Reebok is truly special. It is constructed with a combination of repurposed materials from old yacht sails, previously used advertising banners and outdoor canvas. The strength and durability of these materials give the bags a lifetime warranty; they are designed to be repaired, not replaced or discarded,” says Eales.

Recycling, upcycling, and repurposing gives material a new life. This circular production model prevents waste material from entering the environment or being disposed of in landfill. As a consumer, buying a product that is made from upcycled or recycled material will support a shift to sustainable retail and fashion, where less waste is produced, and less raw virgin material is extracted for new products.

The [REE]Cycled shoe range are available online at reebok.co.za and Reebok Concept Stores: Sandton; Canal Walk; Menlyn and Gateway. The Sealand x Reebok upcycled tote bags will be complimentary with online and in-store purchases while stocks last (only 300 units available).

SunBrush® mobil and Infinity establish service base at Benban, Africa’s largest solar park

SunBrush® mobil, the world market leader for solar cleaning equipment, and Infinity, the Egyptian solar project developer, have opened a service base at Africa’s largest solar power plant. From now on, four Infinity employees will maintain and repair the 24 SunBrush® mobil Compact cleaning devices currently in use at the 1.65 GWp Benban Solar Park near Aswan.