eNews

#05 2023

NRF-SAEON in the media

By Staff Writer

An article titled New biodiversity research project launched in SA today was published in Why Africa on October 17. BioSCape is a new biodiversity-focused collaborative research project that has been launched in the Western Cape. The project will link satellite and airborne data with field observations to better understand the biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people of the Greater Cape Floristic Region and associated marine and freshwater ecosystems.

BioSCape is a collaboration between the United States and South Africa, funded by the United States government (NASA) and the South African government through the National Research Foundation (NRF) via the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) and the joint NEOFrontiers funding instrument with the South African National Space Agency (SANSA). The project is led by scientists at the University of Cape Town, the University at Buffalo (NY, USA) and the University of California Merced (CA, USA). More at www.bioscape.io/press

The article also appeared in Cape Argus (18 October), Space in Africa (17 October), Bizcommunity (19 October) and Cape Town etc. (19 October).

SAEON is mentioned in articles in Engineering News online (Hyperspectral radiometric buoy to collect microalgae biodiversity data in Theewaterskloof dam) (17 October) and Cape Times (CSIR deploys Africa’s only hyperspectral radiometric buoy in Theewaterskloof Dam) (17 October). The articles highlight the work done by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) researchers to gain deeper insights into microalgae biodiversity and its significance in supporting the ecosystem health of South Africa’s drinking water dams. The scientists have deployed a buoy equipped with a series of instruments in Theewaterskloof Dam in the Western Cape as part of the BioSCape project.

Science education

An article titled Young environmental enthusiast from Makhanda inspires with marine science project at Eskom Expo ISF was published in Pondoland Times on 18 October. It highlights the achievement of a bright and passionate young scientist from Makhanda in the Eastern Cape, Alutha Botha, who impressed judges at the 43rd Eskom Expo International Science Fair with his remarkable project that delves into the critical subject of habitat use by juvenile fish.

Alutha is cited in the article: “My love for science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation (STEMI) comes from my passion for detail. When I was introduced to the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), I started studying the ocean and researching, which caused my love for marine science to grow.”