The scientific research work of eight young scientists was acknowledged at the recently held 7th Emerging Researchers Symposium (ERS), hosted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). These young scientists were selected to battle it out for the best innovative research solutions to the challenges faced by society. 

The event, which was hosted under the theme “Innovation in Entrepreneurship”, provided 39 young researchers with the platform to demonstrate how their scientific research responds to the needs of industry, small and medium enterprises, and underserved communities, through oral and poster presentations. The ERS was initiated to showcase the work done by emerging researchers at the CSIR, who include candidate researchers, researchers, individuals on the postgraduate bursary programme, students in the studentship programme, as well as postdoctoral programme candidates.

One of the young researchers recognised for having the best poster presentation was Vivey Phasha (35). Her poster presentation highlighted an anti-pigmentation product technology developed by the CSIR and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, which has proven to have a competitive advantage over existing cosmetic products in the market.

“In proving that the developed technology is effective against pigmentation, the CSIR optimised the production of Kojic acid and used it as a starting material to synthesise a stable derivative. A cytotoxicity assay was then conducted on Vero cells to evaluate the safety of the produced compounds. This resulted in novel compounds, which may be used to produce well-tolerated skincare products. These compounds can be incorporated into cosmeceuticals for use by humans. This has a huge impact on the cosmetic industry and will have a significant outcome in low and middle-class-income countries,” said Phasha.

Of four emerging researchers acknowledged for their oral presentations, PhD candidate Khavhatondwi Rinah Netshiheni (30) was selected for her scientific work, which investigates the effect of consuming instant maize porridge fortified with Moringa oleifera leaves and termite powders on the nutritional status of children aged 3 to 5 years in Thulamela Municipality, Limpopo.

“The project contributes to the sustainable development goal to alleviate poverty and hunger as it improves the nutrition of Africans, particularly children. This also encourages African health professionals to leverage indigenous foods for the good health and wellbeing of patients of all ages, reducing medical and food costs and appropriating economic growth,” said Netshiheni.

Other researchers acknowledged for their research presentations are:

• Master’s candidate: Thembela Xaba, microbial detoxification of aflatoxins in food and feeds.
• PhD candidate: Rethabile Makole, development of highly sensitive p-n heterostructures-based sensor for detection of BTEX compounds.
• Candidate researcher: Lucia Motsa, advanced agro-processing technologies in dairy waste beneficiation.
• Master’s candidate: Keletso Monareng, development of machine learning models for predicting the density of sodium-ion battery materials.
• Candidate researcher: Alma Truyts, can Lateral Flow Immunoassays detect low affinity biomarker anti-lipid antibodies in tuberculosis?.
• Research category: Charles Maphanga, optical biosensing of mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) biomarker for TB diagnosis.

While South Africa grapples with the triple challenge of unemployment, inequality and poverty, the CSIR, through initiatives like the ERS, demonstrates its commitment to grooming the next generation of scientists who will not only solve some of these challenges, but will also understand the value of harnessing a culture of science communication and engagement – which plays a huge role in making sure that the impact of scientific knowledge is felt by all.

-ENDS-

Issued by CSIR Strategic Communications

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