UNIZULU Hosts Successful International Physics Conference

UNIZULU’s Professor Rob Midgley accepting a copy
of Physics in South Africa from the outgoing SAIP
President, Professor Simon Connell

THE 58th Annual Conference of the South African Institute of Physics (SAIP) has been hailed a success from several quarters of the science industry. The conference held at the University of Zululand’s (UNIZULU) Richards Bay Campus from 08-12 July 2013 was attended by over 400 delegates and provided a platform for scientists to share the latest developments in the field of Physics.

Speaking on behalf of UNIZULU Vice-Chancellor Fikile NM Mazibuko, Professor Rob Midgley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation said: “UNIZULU’s trajectory is focussed on creating an enabling environment to ensure we produce leaders across fields and productive citizens who will contribute to new developments in Africa and the world,” said Midgley.

He said the conference was one of the critical sources of encouragement for UNIZULU. He added that the University was focussed on developing new platforms for exchange of ideas and discussion ‘and we believe that together we can strengthen Africa’s response to global change through research and technology.’

UNIZULU’s Head of Physics, Professor Muzi Ndwandwe thanked all delegates for the fruitful conference. “It was indeed a great honour to host this exciting conference which has provided platform for the exchange of information,” said the ecstatic Ndwandwe.

The conference was preceded by three winter schools covering Biophysics, High Energy Physics and Science at Synchrotrons. Major highlights at this year’s event included the launch of the National Report on Physics Undergraduate Training in South Africa and the book "History of Physics in South Africa”.

As a leading institute of higher learning, UNIZULU is focused on expanding academic interest to build and strengthen research capacity, broadening current offerings, establish new partnerships and create multiple platforms to further the exchange of information and encourage discourse and debate. To ensure a value added experience, eight plenary sessions were held with international speakers who are distinguished leaders in their respective fields of expertise.