Science and technology in South Africa

Last updated

The first significant work in astronomy in South Africa was performed by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille between 1751 and 1753, culminating in the measurement of the arc of the southern meridian and a catalog of almost 10 000 southern stars, later published as Coelum Australe Stelliferum. [1] [2]

Contents

The Royal Observatory was established at the Cape of Good Hope in 1820 and opened in 1829. [3] Today, with the main observing site having moved from the Cape of Good Hope to a higher site near Sutherland, it is host to the Southern African Large Telescope as well as numerous other South African and international telescopes.

Notable astronomers who have worked in the country include John Herschel who published Results of astronomical observations made during the years 1834, 5, 6, 7, 8, at the Cape of Good Hope in 1847 [4] and David Gill whose work include the Cape Photographic Durchmusterung .

The Karoo Array Telescope (or MeerKAT) is under construction as a pathfinder for the $2 billion Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project, which will be split between sites in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. South African students and young professionals are involved in the South African SEDS, Students for the Exploration and Development of Space.

Energy

Being rich in coal, South Africa has some of the largest coal-fired power stations in the world.

In 1955 Sasol opened the first commercial Coal liquefaction plant. [5] [6] [7]

Commercialization of copper indium gallium sulphur selenide (CIGSSE) thin film solar cell technology was pioneered by Professor Vivian Alberts at the University of Johannesburg. [8]

The South African Solar Challenge is held bi-annually over a distance of 2,500 miles (4,000 km).

As of 2011 the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station is the only commercial nuclear energy station on the African continent.

Kimberley, was the first city in the Southern Hemisphere and in Africa to have electric street lights – first lit on 1 September 1882 . [9]

Mining

South African companies hold a considerable number of high value patents related to mining. [10] 10% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of South Africa is generated by mining companies such as De Beers, Anglo American and others. They also produce over 50,000 jobs nationally. Mafube Coal Mine near Middelburg, Mpumalanga is one of the largest and is operated by Anglo Coal, a division of Anglo American. Since grassroots stages in September 2004, this project's estimated net worth is at ZAR$16 Billion Africa Mining IQ lists along with project history.

BHP, one of the foremost mining companies in South Africa as well as Sasol, Xstrata and PetroSA are also in large-scale operations.

Nuclear weapons programme

During the 1960s and 1980s South Africa had been pursuing research into the development of nuclear weapons as well as biological and chemical weapons. South Africa was able to acquire Uranium from native ore deposits, and used aerodynamic nozzle enrichment techniques to produce weapons-grade Uranium. Six bombs were constructed, with one still under construction before the termination of its nuclear weapons programme. It is alleged that South Africa had been collaborating with Israel to develop nuclear weapons and that it possibly detonated one of its weapons over the Indian Ocean in a nuclear weapons test. South Africa dismantled its nuclear weapons programme in 1989, the first nation in the world to do so, and became a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1991. [11]

South Africa continues to use its surplus of Uranium as part of its nuclear energy programme, supplying the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station and SAFARI-1 research reactors.

Government policy

Despite government efforts to encourage entrepreneurship in biotechnology, information technology and other high technology fields, not many notable groundbreaking companies have been founded in South Africa. [12] It is the expressed objective of the government to transition the economy to be more reliant on high technology, based on the realisation that South Africa cannot compete with Far Eastern economies in manufacturing, nor can the republic rely on its mineral wealth in perpetuity. [13]

South Africa was ranked 69th in the Global Innovation Index in 2024. [14]

Important advances made in South Africa

Nobel Laureates

Objects named after South Africans

Research institutes and societies

See also

Industry
Military
Computing
Communication
Other

Related Research Articles

Jericho is a general designation given to a loosely-related family of deployed ballistic missiles developed by Israel since the 1960s. The name is taken from the first development contract for the Jericho I signed between Israel and Dassault in 1963, with the codename as a reference to the Biblical city of Jericho. As with some other Israeli high tech weapons systems, exact details are classified, though there are observed test data, public statements by government officials, and details in open literature especially about the Shavit satellite launch vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Edward Islands</span> Two small sub-Antarctic islands belonging to South Africa

The Prince Edward Islands are two small uninhabited volcanic islands in the sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean that are administered by South Africa. They are named Marion Island and Prince Edward Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Astronomical Society of Southern Africa</span> Astronomical society based in South Africa

The Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (ASSA), formed in 1922, is a widespread body consisting of both amateur and professional astronomers. There are eight autonomous centres throughout Southern Africa.

The Vela incident was an unidentified double flash of light detected by an American Vela Hotel satellite on 22 September 1979 near the South African territory of Prince Edward Islands in the Indian Ocean, roughly midway between Africa and Antarctica. Today, most independent researchers believe that the flash was caused by a nuclear explosion—an undeclared joint nuclear test carried out by South Africa and Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Africa and weapons of mass destruction</span>

From the 1960s to the 1990s, South Africa pursued research into weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons under the apartheid government. South Africa’s nuclear weapons doctrine was designed for political leverage rather than actual battlefield use, specifically to induce the United States of America to intervene in any regional conflicts between South Africa and the Soviet Union or its proxies. To achieve a minimum credible deterrence, a total of six nuclear weapons were covertly assembled by the late 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secunda, South Africa</span> Town in the province of Mpumalanga, South Africa

Secunda is a town built amidst the coalfields of the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. It was named for being the second Sasol extraction refinery producing oil from coal, after Sasolburg, some 140 kilometres (87 mi) to the west.

The following lists events that happened during 1993 in South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sasol</span> South African integrated energy and chemical company

Sasol Limited is an integrated energy and chemical company based in Sandton, South Africa. The company was formed in 1950 in Sasolburg, South Africa, and built on processes that German chemists and engineers first developed in the early 1900s. Today, Sasol develops and commercializes technologies, including synthetic fuel technologies, and produces different liquid fuels, chemicals, coal tar, and electricity.

Coal liquefaction is a process of converting coal into liquid hydrocarbons: liquid fuels and petrochemicals. This process is often known as "Coal to X" or "Carbon to X", where X can be many different hydrocarbon-based products. However, the most common process chain is "Coal to Liquid Fuels" (CTL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African Astronomical Observatory</span> Observatory

The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) is the national centre for optical and infrared astronomy in South Africa. It was established in 1972. The observatory is run by the National Research Foundation of South Africa. The facility's function is to conduct research in astronomy and astrophysics. The primary telescopes are located in Sutherland, which is 370 kilometres (230 mi) from Observatory, Cape Town, where the headquarters is located.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Concor</span> South African construction company

Concor Holdings (Proprietary) Limited. is a South African construction and mining services company. It is active throughout Southern Africa, involved in civil engineering, buildings, roads and mining projects. Concor returned as an independent brand in late 2016.

The military history of South Africa chronicles a vast time period and complex events from the dawn of history until the present time. It covers civil wars and wars of aggression and of self-defence both within South Africa and against it. It includes the history of battles fought in the territories of modern South Africa in neighbouring territories, in both world wars and in modern international conflicts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African National Antarctic Programme</span> Government research programme

The South African National Antarctic Programme is the South African government's programme for research in the Antarctic and Subantarctic. Three research stations fall under this programme: the Antarctica research station SANAE IV, and one station each on the subantarctic islands Gough Island and Marion Island. These stations are managed and administered by the Directorate: Antarctic and Islands of the Department of Environmental Affairs. Borga Base was also operated by SANAP from 1969 to 1976.

Michiel Daniel Overbeek, also known as Danie Overbeek, was a South African amateur astronomer and one of the most prolific variable star observers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Africa</span> Country in Southern Africa

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. Its nine provinces are bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres of coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini; and it encloses Lesotho. Covering an area of 1,221,037 square kilometres, the country has over 62 million people. Pretoria is the administrative capital, while Cape Town, as the seat of Parliament, is the legislative capital. Bloemfontein has traditionally been regarded as the judicial capital. The largest and most populous city is Johannesburg, followed by Cape Town and the busiest port city in sub-Saharan Africa, Durban.

<i>S. A. Agulhas</i> South African ice-strengthened training ship and former polar research vessel

S. A. Agulhas is a South African ice-strengthened training ship and former polar research vessel. She was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Shimonoseki, Japan, in 1978. S. A. Agulhas was used to service the three South African National Antarctic Programme research bases, Gough Island, Marion Island in the Southern Ocean and SANAE IV in Antarctica, as well as various research voyages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coal in South Africa</span> Coal mining and consumption in South Africa

As of 2011, South Africa produces in excess of 255 million tonnes of coal and consumes almost three-quarters of that domestically. As of 2018, South Africa was the seventh largest producer and consumer of coal in the world. The industry, as of 2015, employs about 80,000 workers, or .5% of total employment, down from a peak in 1981 of 135,000 workers. The coal industry is South Africa's largest contribution to the greenhouse gases that cause climate change.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in South Africa</span>

South Africa has a large energy sector, being the third-largest economy in Africa. The country consumed 227 TWh of electricity in 2018. The vast majority of South Africa's electricity was produced from coal, with the fuel responsible for 88% of production in 2017. South Africa is the 7th largest coal producer in the world. As of July 2018, South Africa had a coal power generation capacity of 39 gigawatts (GW). South Africa is the world's 14th largest emitter of greenhouse gases. South Africa is planning to shift away from coal in the electricity sector and the country produces the most solar and wind energy by terawatt-hours in Africa. The country aims to decommission 34 GW of coal-fired power capacity by 2050. It also aims to build at least 20 GW of renewable power generation capacity by 2030. South Africa aims to generate 77,834 megawatts (MW) of electricity by 2030, with new capacity coming significantly from renewable sources to meet emission reduction targets. Through its goals stated in the Integrated Resource Plan, it announced the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, which aims to increase renewable power generation through private sector investment.

Siyabulela Lethuxolo Xuza is a South African scientist, energy-engineering expert, entrepreneur and Harvard engineering graduate. He is the founder and managing director of Galactic Energy Ventures, an investment company focused on the energy needs of emerging markets. He is the youngest member of the Africa 2.0 Energy Advisory Panel.

Science tourism is a travel topic grouping scientific attractions. It covers interests in visiting and exploring scientific landmarks, including museums, laboratories, observatories and universities. It also includes visits to see events of scientific interest, such as solar eclipses.

References

  1. Theal, George M'Call (1897). History of South Africa under the administration of the Dutch East India Company, 1652 to 1795. London: S. Sonnenschein & Co., Ltd. pp. 74–75.
  2. Nicolas Louis de La Caille, Thomas Henderson, Francis Baily, John Frederick William Herschel (1847). A catalogue of 9766 stars in the southern hemisphere, for the beginning of the year 1750, from the observations of the Abbe de Lacaille made at the Cape of Good Hope in the years 1751 and 1752. London: R. and J.E. Taylor. Retrieved 12 June 2011.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. Clerke, Agnes M. (1893). A popular history of astronomy during the nineteenth century. p. 8.
  4. Results of astronomical observations made during the years 1834, 5, 6, 7, 8, at the Cape of Good Hope. The Smithsonian/NASA Astrophysics Data System. 1847. Bibcode:1847raom.book.....H.
  5. 1 2 "Sasol produces 1,5 billion barrels of synthetic fuel from coal in fifty years". SASOL . Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  6. 1 2 "Historical Overview of the South African Chemical Industry: 1896 – 1998". Chemistry International. 3. 21. May 1999. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  7. "SASOL: COMMITTED TO GTL SINCE 1947". Sasol takes the technological lead. Reed Business Information Limited. 1 May 2006. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  8. Jäger-Waldau, Arnulf (2008). Joint Research Centre – Renewable Energy Unit – PV Status Report 2008 (PDF). Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. ISBN   978-92-79-10122-9 . Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  9. 1 2 "Timeline of Firsts" . Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  10. Kaplan, David (March 2011). "2. The Evidence for and the measurement of South Africa's advanced technological competencies" (PDF). South African mining equipment and related services: Growth, constraints and policy. University of Cape Town. pp. 8–9. ISBN   978-1-77011-236-0 . Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  11. Von Wielligh, N. & von Wielligh-Steyn, L. (2015). The Bomb – South Africa’s Nuclear Weapons Programme. Pretoria: Litera.
  12. Short, Jeremy C.; Moss, Todd W.; Lumpkin, G. T. (June 2009). "Research in social entrepreneurship: past contributions and future opportunities". Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal. 3 (2): 161–194. doi:10.1002/sej.69. ISSN   1932-4391.
  13. Habib, Adam; Padayachee, Vishnu (February 2000). "Economic Policy and Power Relations in South Africa's Transition to Democracy". World Development. 28 (2): 245–263. doi:10.1016/s0305-750x(99)00130-8. ISSN   0305-750X.
  14. World Intellectual Property Organization (2024). Global Innovation Index 2024. Unlocking the Promise of Social Entrepreneurship. Geneva. p. 18. doi:10.34667/tind.50062. ISBN   978-92-805-3681-2 . Retrieved 22 October 2024.{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  15. C. K. Brain; A. Sillent (1 December 1988). "Evidence from the Swartkrans cave for the earliest use of fire". Nature. 336 (6198): 464–466. Bibcode:1988Natur.336..464B. doi:10.1038/336464a0. S2CID   4318364.
  16. Rincon, Paul (22 March 2004). "Bones hint at first use of fire". BBC. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  17. The thermionic vacuum tube and its applications at the Internet Archive
  18. "Dr H J van der Bijl". South African Institute of Electrical Engineers . Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  19. "Sanae – History". South African National Antarctic Programme . Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  20. "SANAE". Polarconservation. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  21. Dick Lord; Willem Hechter (2000). Vlamgat: The Story of the Mirage F1 in the South African Air Force. 30 Degrees South Publishers. p. 74.
  22. "Speed Record Club". Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  23. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. "Pantograph testing in South Africa".
  25. "SharkShield Testing". Australia's Marine Direct. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  26. "Electrical Shark Repellent". KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  27. "Background on the SUNSAT Experiment". NASA. Archived from the original on 7 September 2004. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  28. Brian Fraser & Brian Marsden (December 2000). "Minor Planet (5038) "Overbeek"". Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of South Africa. 59 (11&12): 101. Bibcode:2000MNSSA..59..101.
  29. Farah Abdurahnam & Steve Rosenburg (June 2011). "South Africa's Unsung Rocket Scientist Superhero. Siyabulela Xuza". Beyond Sustainable Quarterly (11): 48–49. Retrieved 12 April 2013.