December 2011

The December issue contains a mixed bag of content as usual. I do hope you will find some time during the upcoming holidays to read through it as I am certain there is something there for everyone!

Some very good news came my way late last week: three up-and-coming scientists from South Africa distinguished as "Green Talents" 2011 in Berlin.

Three South African researchers were awarded the renowned "Green Talents" sustainability prize on Thursday 15 December 2011. "Climate change, water shortages, a loss of biodiversity and a lack of raw materials - all urgent social challenges which the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research aims to draw to the attention of science, business and politics in Germany in its second program supporting "Research on sustainable development.

Green Talents Award Ceremony in Berlin: Thomas Rachel, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (second from right), with (from left to right) Owen Horwood, Alanna Jane Rebelo and Dyllon Garth Randall.

(Photo © German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF))

"Achieving sustainability, however, is a global undertaking. Schemes like Green Talents help to promote that cultural plurality and creativity which encourages the development of global solutions. That is why we intend to intensify global exchange between young researchers in the field of environmental and sustainability research," explained the Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Thomas Rachel, Member of the German Bundestag at the award ceremony in Berlin.

The year 2011 was the third time that the BMBF had organized the international competition, which is aimed at exceptional young scientists active in the field of sustainable development. A total of 331 young researchers from 58 different countries entered. A jury made up of high-ranking German experts including Professor Dr Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director of the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam, Professor Dr Achim Bachem, Chairman of Forschungszentrum Jülich, and Professor Dr Jürgen Schmid, Director of the Fraunhofer IWES, selected the 20 prizewinners.

The jury sought out research projects that have the potential to contend with global threats such as global warming, energy shortages and massive environmental contamination. These new Green Talents bring the number of young sustainability researchers in the BMBF's global network up to 55 award-winners from 19 different countries.

No less than three of the prize-winners came from South Africa. Dr Dyllon Garth Randall of the University of Cape Town is examining potential ways of processing wastewater from mines, and has developed a completely new technology which allows the saline solutions produced there to be processed. The jury highlighted the global significance of his research work which contributes towards a sustainable solution to urgent problems such as water contamination and water shortages.

Dr Owen Horwood is studying for a PhD at the University of Oxford, and impressed the jury with his significant expertise in the field of water management and by his publications on the subject.

Alanna Rebelo, who is studying for a masters at Stellenbosch University, was distinguished for her interdisciplinary research work in which she is seeking solutions towards the preservation of biological diversity in the face of global development.

Over the coming year the prize-winners will be able to stay in Germany for several months for research purposes, the intention being to deepen a global exchange in sustainability research.

The January issue of ‘Chemical Technology' will feature more about all the talent young people from around the world who were awarded this prize.

Best wishes for the festive season and may 2012 bring us all happiness, peace and success, with enough prosperity to keep us comfortable.

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