Editorial: Our moment of reckoning is now (Photo Archive)
UKZN’s College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science (CAES) (http://caes.ukzn.ac.za) represents the largest group of scientists, engineers and technologists under one structure in Africa, with over 1 000 academics, administrative staff, specialist technical support staff, tutors, demonstrators and research support staff.
The college enjoys a long tradition of excellence in the areas of teaching, research and community outreach. Our lecturers, many of whom have received “excellence in teaching” awards, enjoy international recognition and are committed teachers dedicated to their students. Senior academics take pride in the mentorship provided to postgraduate students, encouraging them to develop their skills in critical appraisal and independent thought. Research centres operate at the cutting edge of technology and enjoy support from external organisations and funders.
The college boasts the highest research output of the entire university, with a number of National Research Foundation “A” and “B”-rated scientists and seven National Research Foundation chairs. Success in the area of community work is largely owing to staff and students’ diplomatic approach, altruism and philosophy of mutual benefit.
The college operates on the Pietermaritzburg, Westville and Howard College campuses and comprises five schools:
School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences (http://saees.ukzn.ac.za)
School of Chemistry and Physics (http://scp.ukzn.ac.za)
School of Engineering (http://engineering.ukzn.ac.za)
School of Life Sciences (http://sls.ukzn.ac.za); and
School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science (http://smscs.ukzn.ac.za)
The college has over 8 500 students, of whom approximately 21% are postgraduate, and 8% international.
Postgraduate study in CAES
Knowledge leaders are essential in the rapidly changing and information-rich world of today. CAES is actively growing its postgraduate study programme to meet this need. The college provides a vibrant environment for basic and applied research, and offers internationally recognised postgraduate research degrees in many disciplines.
Currently, 21% of its student body is engaged in postgraduate research. For the dedicated and ambitious student, a number of postgraduate degree options are available.
Bachelor of Science (honours): A one-year specialist programme leading to a Bachelor of Science (honours). A minimum of 55% must be achieved at BSc level to be eligible for admittance to honours. The closing date for applications is September 30, although late applications may be considered.
Master of Science: All schools within the college offer a Master of Science programme, whereby students engage in research under the supervision of an academic staff member. Entrance is decided by the track record of the student and the availability of a suitable supervisor. This research degree takes a minimum of one year. The application date is open.
In addition, some schools offer coursework master’s degrees. See the College Handbook for details. (http://caes.ukzn.ac.za)
Doctor of Philosophy: A Doctor of Philosophy programme is offered where students engage in new and original research supervised by academic members of staff. This is typically three years of study and normally follows on from a Master of Science degree. The application date is open.
Postdoctoral study: Remunerated, postdoctoral research positions are available on application. The application date is open.
Postgraduate diplomas: Apart from degrees, CAES offers one-year postgraduate diplomas in Community Nutrition, in Dietetics, and in Food Security.
The selection of students for postgraduate study is at the discretion of the relevant dean and head of school, or the college dean of research, who will require a particular standard of previous attainment. The College Research Office assists postgraduate students with applications and related administrative matters.
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN CAES
UKZN prides itself as being a research-led institution and CAES has a world-wide reputation for academic excellence in research. The college has formal links, exchange programmes and collaborative teaching and research programmes with many other universities around the globe, and its degrees enjoy international standing.
Within UKZN, the college boasts the highest research output of the entire university and produces the most research publications. It consistently leads the university in the output of postgraduate students. Research grants annually exceed R200-million.
The college boasts a high number of National Research Foundation (NRF) rated researchers: 3 A (leading international researchers); 24 B (internationally acclaimed researchers); 55 C (established researchers); 13 Y (young researchers with potential); and 1 P (young researcher with exceptional leader potential). Our P-rated researcher is one of only two in the country.
Of UKZN’s 11 department of science and technology/NRF research chairs, seven reside in the college, namely: Evolutionary Biology; Gravitating Systems; Quantum Information Processing and Communication; Fluorine Process Engineering and Separation Technology; Land Use Planning and Management; Rural Agronomy and Development; and Intelligent Real Time Power Systems.
In an effort to encourage and nurture postgraduate research, the college hosts an annual Postgraduate Research Day. This challenging and competitive forum provides an opportunity for postgraduate students to present their scholarly work, via posters and presentations, to an academic and supportive audience, while simultaneously disseminating knowledge. Visit http://caes.ukzn.ac.za.
Research Centres and Units
Research centres and units within CAES operate at the cutting edge of technology and enjoy support from external organisations and funders. Some of our world-renowned research centres and units include:
The African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI) (http://www.acci.org.za), established in 2002, trains African plant breeders in sub-Saharan Africa in the applied breeding of African crops using conventional and biotechnological breeding tools. The centre receives support from the Rockefeller and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations.
The African Centre for Food Security (http://acfs.ukzn.ac.za) is the only facility in the world offering transdisciplinary training and named degrees in the field of Food Security. It has been appointed by the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development as the lead agency in the food security activities of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme. In addition, it is formally recognised as the Southern African Development Community Regional Centre of Excellence in Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis.
The Astrophysics and Cosmology Research Unit (ACRU) (http://www.acru.ukzn.ac.za), headed up by Professor Sunil Maharaj, SARChI Chair of Gravitating Systems, aims to promote research in astrophysics and cosmology, thereby advancing our understanding of the universe and the diverse range of structures that it contains.
It runs a strong research programme centred around academic staff, postdoctoral researchers, postgraduate students, affiliated researchers and visitors. Research focus areas include the evolution of galaxies and galaxy clusters, the cosmic microwave background, large-scale structure, mathematical relativity and geometry, and relativistic astrophysics.
ACRU identifies strongly with the recognition of astronomy as a focus area of research. South Africa recently won the bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). ACRU aims to make a significant scientific contribution to these facilities.
The Centre for Plant Growth and Development (http://biology.ukzn.ac.za) is associated with the School of Life Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Pietermaritzburg. A major function of the research centre is to foster high quality research and excellence in: Tissue Culture, Plant Physiology, Plant Molecular Biology, Seed Germination and Ethnobotany. The driving force is to extend Postgraduate Research and Training at the MSc and PhD levels on an interactive basis between plant-based disciplines. The Centre is directed by Professor Johannes van Staden.
The Centre for Quantum Technology (http://www.quantum.ukzn.ac.za): The miniaturisation of technological devices necessitates the manipulation of objects at the nanoscale level at which coherent quantum mechanical processes start to dominate the physical properties. The unavoidable interaction of these systems with their environment gives rise to dissipative mechanisms and a strong loss of quantum coherence, i.e. decoherence. Since perfect isolation of quantum systems is not possible, it is of central importance to incorporate the methods and tools of the theory of quantum systems in the exploration of quantum technologies. Under Professor Francesco Petruccione, the Centre for Quantum Technology has contributed to the development of the theory of open quantum systems, which is at the basis of recent quantum information technological applications.
The Centre for Radio Access and Rural Technologies (http://engineering.ukzn.ac.za) is a significant research group within the School of Engineering. It was formed from the merger of two Centres of Excellence: the Radio Access Technologies Centre from the University of Natal and The Rural Access Technology Centre from the University of Durban Westville. The two legacy centres were both established in 1997 as part of the Telkom Centres of Excellence Programme. The Centre focuses on future wireless networks, which will see the merging of computing and communication in the true spirit of the ICT era. Topics under research include wireless sensor networks, high-speed digital communications, co-operative communication networks, network protocol design and radio propagation.
The Centre for Research on Environmental, Coastal and Hydrological Engineering (CRECHE) (http://engineering.ukzn.ac.za): Research on water and environmental engineering issues are areas of strength within UKZN. CRECHE is an active research centre that promotes sustainable practice, and deals with the interaction between engineering and the natural environment. Current active projects include the management of hazardous emissions; the dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere and coastal waters; spatial rainfall modelling; estuary biohydrodynamics; climate change; control of greenhouse emissions and production of energy from renewable resources.
Centre for Water Resources Research (http://saees.ukzn.ac.za): The newly established Centre for Water Resources Research has grown out of the disciplines of Agricultural Engineering and Hydrology and operates across the Schools of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Engineering. The Centre undertakes research and postgraduate training, which is focused on improving our understanding of the functioning of the hydrological cycle, its sensitivity to human influences and the development of tools through which this knowledge can be applied for effective water resources management and planning. Within this context, research is conducted within the following areas: hydrology process studies; agricultural water use and innovation in irrigation practices; water quantity and quality related aspects of global change, including the dynamics of land use change; climate change and forecasting; hydrological model and database design and development; and water resources management and governance.
Development of tools and practices to assist in the implementation of South Africa’s National Water Act and the management of the country’s water resources is an outcome of these studies, but the Research Centre is also active in regional, continental and global initiatives.
Research Centre for African Parrot Conservation (http://sls.ukzn.ac.za): The parrot family contains the largest number of threatened and endangered species of birds in the world. While their ecology and conservation biology has been relatively well studied in Australia and South America, and less so in Asia, they have been virtually ignored in Africa. Under Professor Mike Perrin, registered postgraduate students have studied the biology of and threats to African parrots and lovebirds, not only in South Africa, but also in Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia and Uganda. In addition to field studies, laboratory research has addressed issues of eco-physiology, behaviour and systematics, leading to many scientific publications and conference presentations.
• The Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum Research Unit (http://saees.ukzn.ac.za): Investigations are conducted into the energy and water balances between the soil, plants and atmosphere through the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum Research Unit, which specialises in micrometeorology and agrometeorology. This internationally-recognised research unit has a major research thrust in the investigation of energy and water balances, and emphasises the use of and development of methods for the measurement of evaporation, sensible heat and, more recently, carbon dioxide fluxes above land surfaces. Most of this research is funded by the Water Research Commission.
• The Thermodynamics Research Unit (http://engineering.ukzn.ac.za) resides in the School of Engineering and is a Sasol Centre of Excellence in Chemical Thermodynamics. Director of the unit, Professor Deresh Ramjugernath leads a large team of postgraduate students and researchers — arguably one of the leading research groups in its field globally — which undertakes cutting-edge research contributing towards chemical process development and optimisation in South Africa and abroad. The group actively contributes to the government’s Fluorochemical Expansion Initiative (FEI) by researching and developing South Africa’s fluorinated products. Its activities are integral to the development of a fluorochemicals industry in the country and directly linked to the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation and Sasol.
Postgraduate scholarship opportunities
The College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science is one of the largest centres for research in South Africa and recruits postgraduate students throughout the year.
The university offers a one-year fee remission for fulltime master’s study, and three years’ fee remission for fulltime PhD study.
In addition to UKZN’s generous fee remission policy, a number of bursaries at a minimum of R50 000 for master’s and R70 000 for PhD are available to high calibre students. These scholarships are offered to cover living and research expenses. Postdoctoral scholarships are also available.
Applications remain open permanently for further college postgraduate scholarships.
By joining us you’ll become part of the thriving intellectual community of more than 400 academic staff in the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, most of whom have international qualifications and are international leaders in their chosen field of research. As you shape your future career, you will have access to some of the best researchers and to state-of-the-art facilities that place us at the cutting edge of research and technology.