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www.thevillagenews.co.za
10 March 2021
Space Weather Centre to be expanded T
he Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, visited the SANSA Space Weather Centre in Hermanus on Tuesday, 9 March as work begins to expand the centre into a multimillion rand 24-hour state-of-the-art facility. For the past 10 years, the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), an entity of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), has been operating the centre with limited research focus and capacity, and the expansion is a significant development in South Africa's space weather research. SANSA has appointed a Research Chair to ensure advanced space weather research capabilities, growth in human capacity, maximum exploitation of data outputs for enhanced research outputs, and the development of new knowledge. The DSI has to date invested R40 million in the project and will transfer a further R30 million in the next financial year. Over the three-year establishment period, approximately R15 million has been committed for the creation of jobs and development of the necessary scarce skills to ensure service and product excellence. It is expected that the Space Weather Centre will be fully operational as a 24/7 full-service centre from 1 October 2022. Tuesday's sod-turning event also coincided with SANSA's 10-year anniversary, including 80 years of magnetic operations by this partic-
ular facility of SANSA. The space weather station is SANSA's leading space science programme, with several ongoing space science and space weather related projects in Antarctica. South Africa, through SANSA, was selected as an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) designated Regional Space Weather Centre in 2018. This designation means that a fully operational capability that meets the ICAO requirements must be in place by 2024, along with advanced research capabilities in the space weather field. So far, development work has started on new space weather products to increase the suite of available impact information, and the SARChI Chair in Space Weather, specialising in Solar Physics, has been appointed and will officially start on 1 April 2021. Members of the media were invited to attend the event as the Minister, joined by the Executive Mayor of the Overstrand, Ald. Dudley Coetzee, captains of industry and students toured the facility. Two students were given an opportunity to talk about their exciting projects at SANSA. The Minister concluded his visit at the Houwteq site near Grabouw to assess technological operations in the areas of defence, security, aerospace and related technology solutions at the facility operated by Denel.
Hacking volunteers needed for Cliff Path
A group of volunteers, coordinated by Paula Combrink, met last week to clear aliens on the Cliff Path. They tackled the all-invasive kikuyu grass. “There is a certain satisfaction in ripping it out by the roots and freeing the indigenous vegetation of its stranglehold,” said Anina Lee, chair of the Cliff Path Management Group (CPMG). In just one hour they uprooted enough kikuyu to fill a bakkie with blue trash bags full of the invasive grass. “But that's just a start – kikuyu is everywhere,” says Anina.
This group will meet for just an hour once a month to make a difference on the Cliff Path. Many more volunteers are needed. If you enjoy walking on the cliff path, imagine how much more you would enjoy it knowing you helped to keep it beautiful. If you would like to join the jolly band of hackers, please email hermanuscliffpath@gmail.com with your name and cell number. Every pair of hands make a difference. No-one is too old or too young to join.
