NEWS

‘Biophysical scientists uncovered the potentially existential risks of human-caused climate change and ozone depletion,’ says Prof Guy Midgley, a prominent scientist in the field of global change and biodiversity.

Exciting work is emerging at the intersection of machine learning/artificial intelligence and physics. Last year’s Nobel Prize was given for works in ML that was inspired by physics,’ says Prof Hugo Touchette (SU).

Abbas (Omid) Hassasfar, member of QSUN, participated in the 13th annual NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) Hackathon in April 2025. The hackathon highlighted the transformative potential of quantum technology.

‘The idea of studying an interdisciplinary subject that draws from mathematics and other areas of science has always appealed to me. The questions I find most interesting are those that consider our own planet…’

One of my aims during my visit to South Africa is to initiate collaboration with Prof Francesco Petruccione’s group to advance research at the intersection of quantum computing and AI.

Quantum computing lies at the intersection of theoretical computer science, physics, mathematics, and engineering. Its progress has been driven by interdisciplinary collaboration across these fields.

‘When machine learning is used in predictive modelling, it should be combined with a statistical basis and business knowledge. This will ensure that machine learning becomes a powerful tool,’ says Prof Verster.

What we need are people who can think deeply about complex questions, people who are technologically savvy and understand the value of the scientific method, and people who have a desire to make a difference.

The two big game-changers in materials science will be AI and quantum computing. Both should allow us to develop new materials faster and more efficiently, so we need to harness these technologies…

A new book, co-authored by Prof Guy Midgley (SU), offers critical insights into the climate change challenges facing Southern Africa and the science-based interventions needed to safeguard its unique ecosystems.

The behaviour of gravitational waves has been mostly understood through classical physics. But do they also possess a quantum dimension? Dr Nandi talks about this topic in an important co-authored article.

It is exciting to be able to apply our training in the sciences to solve real-world problems and use our scientific research findings to inform policies and decision-making, says Prof Regina Maphanga.

Scientists from the University of the Western Cape (UWC) are over the moon, following an invitation to participate in an international mission funded by Nasa, says Prof Nico Orce from UWC.

“My main research focus is about discovering the human genes that influence TB and I use the diverse genetic ancestry of South Africans to find new genes and pathways involved in the disease.”

‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) is going to change everything. For some, that’s an exciting prospect. For others, it’s terrifying. Whatever you feel about AI, there’s no escaping it,’ says Dr Mark Nasila.

‘My research revolves around understanding the universe and the forces that drive and affect it. For me, being a scientist means delving into the unknown through my research,’ says Prof Soebur Razzaque.

‘Work hard but follow your dreams. If an environment is not conducive to continuous learning, move on and find a new challenge.’ So says Prof Renette Blignaut of the University of the Western Cape.

Scientists are the ones that change the world. Scientists and researchers develop the tools and systems that advance the human population and improve our understanding of the universe.

The inaugural NITheCS-QFW2024 workshop, with three days of discussions, presentations, and roundtable sessions, marked a significant milestone in advancing Quantitative Finance in South Africa.

In the pursuit of knowledge and a future we can be proud of, let curiosity be your compass, determination your fuel, and passion your guiding star,’ says research fellow Dr Adriana Marais.

‘I was very lucky to get a seat on the small plane that goes out to site once a week shortly after I started the job. Seeing the telescopes from the sky for the first time was very exciting,’ says Dr Marisa Geyer.

One of the largest summer schools in coding and the fundamentals of theoretical and computational science is taking place across 30 academic institutions in South Africa and Kenya for the next two weeks.

“Physical cosmology is a young field – barely a century old. But it is also rapidly evolving with much to explore,” says Prof Amare Abebe, Research Director at the Centre for Space Research at North-West University.

NITheCS Associate and lecturer Dr Mesias Alfeus (Stellenbosch University), together with two Honours students, has co-authored a paper that looks at an investment model for fine wine in SA.

“You are capable of so much more than you or those around you can ever imagine. It will take hard work and sacrifice, but when you look back and see all that has been accomplished, you’ll be surprised!”

The future of the mathematical sciences in South Africa rests on the shoulders of young scientists. They are the future professors, leading researchers, and supervisors of the next generation of students.

Prof Inger Fabris-Rotelli, an associate professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of Pretoria, says that being in a STEM field is incredibly rewarding. It is fast-paced and growing.

‘We’re not going to have the rest of the world providing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that are applicable to Africa. For that reason, we need to have home-grown research coming out of our own labs.’

The DSI and NRF have accepted the application for Stellenbosch University (SU) and its consortium partners to host the SU-led National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences​ (NITheCS).

‘There is a recognised and urgent need for investment to develop and train African biostatisticians to provide statistical leadership in clinical studies conducted in Africa,’ says Assoc Prof Freedom Gumedze.

Congratulations to NITheCS bursary holder Bertus van Heerden of the University of Pretoria on being awarded an NRF Research Excellence Award for Next Generation Researchers.

NITheCS participated in the launch of National Science Week at the University of Venda in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, on 21 and 22 July 2023, growing local pupils’ and teachers’ interest in science.

‘I believe my research on indigenous and underutilised crops has a role to play in moving towards a more sustainable, diverse, and inclusive agricultural system,’ says Dr Ethel Phiri.

Researchers, industry professionals and students celebrated the phenomenal achievements in Machine Learning within the vibrant SA Machine Learning community at Deep Learning IndabaX South Africa.

The first cohort of STEM MentHER learners from the Western Cape recently met their mentors at Stellenbosch University. This initiative aims to guide Grade 12 female learners into the STEM fields.

By 2040, there will be more than 300 vacancies for mathematics academics in higher education in South Africa. Where will the people come from to fill these positions, asks Prof Loyiso Nongxa.

Deputy Director of NITheCS Prof Sunil Maharaj has been awarded this year’s Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship. He hopes the award will serve as inspiration for young scientists.

Dr Alfeus says discipline is key to his academic success and that one should hold on to the basic sciences with a ‘sense of “dissatisfaction”, discipline and determination.

The first QBronze Quantum Programming Workshop to be held in SA, will take place online in July 2023. Participants will learn the basics of quantum computing and simple quantum programmes.

NITheCS Interim Director Prof Francesco Petruccione has received a prestigious honour recognising his work in theoretical physics and as a testament to the power of scientific exploration.

Six Stellenbosch University students attended the ICTP Quantinuum Quantum Hackathon at the ICTP in Trieste, Italy. The event brought 90 students together from 23 countries.

A PhD student from Stellenbosch University and his team won third place in the 11th Annual NYUAD International Hackathon for Social Good, held in the United Arab Emirates in April 2023.

‘We need to bridge the gap between scientist, communities and politicians, get better policies and improve society’s understanding of science without creating false hope,’ says Dr Lungile Sitole.

The first cohort of STEM MentHER learners from the Western Cape met their mentors at a special ceremony at Stellenbosch University on 4 April. This initiative aims to guide female learners into the STEM fields.

NITheCS is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Daniel Adams and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. We pay tribute to Dr Adams for contributing…’

Entomology student from the University of Pretoria, Goratileone Oepeng, was selected as the winner of the 2023 NITheCS heat of FameLab SA. His research interest is in honeybee pheromones.

The 11th edition of ‘Tastes of Nuclear Physics’ celebrated the commissioning of the Modern African Nuclear DEtector LAboratories (MANDELAB) at UWC and the University of Zululand in March.

“There is a tendency to assume that as machines become more intelligent, it will inevitably lead to consciousness. … The relevant case is the one where machines are highly intelligent, but not conscious.”

Some 800 postgraduate students from 29 research institutes attended the CHPC / NITheCS Coding Summer School in 2023, which took place for the first time in hybrid form.

The SKA will look deeper into the Universe and further back in time than any other telescope that probes the distribution of galaxies. It is expected to revolutionise our understanding of the Universe.

A team of undergraduates with experience in competition mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), ran a training camp in Stellenbosch for SA’s top 15 high school mathletes.

The World Science Forum 2022 was a platform for more than 900 scientists, decision-makers and the media to express their views on the new challenges facing science in the 21st century.

NITheCS and ICTP have signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the World Science Forum to strengthen their collaboration and support of basic and computational science in South Africa.

AI has made it easier for cybercriminals to scale up their attacks and make them more effective. Businesses have thus had to employ their own AI-powered defence mechanisms to combat these threats.

Any and all strategies to combat climate change or mitigate its effects are worth exploring, including artificial intelligence (AI), which will probably be critical in Africa’s climate action strategies.

Climate change affects everyone everywhere, but it’s potentially even more devastating for those in emerging markets who are less prepared for calamities and ill-equipped to rebuild after them.

‘The role of abstract mathematics in solving problems is usually not perceived by most. But when you build abstract mathematics, you construct a new way of perceiving and solving problems.’

There has been very positive feedback on fundamano, a project that presents maths concepts in an entertaining show and celebrates the International Year for Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development

Dr Uljana Hesse’s Medicinal Plants Genomics Programme at UWC paves the way for large-scale plant transcriptome and genome analyses in South Africa. Rooibos was chosen as the pilot plant species.

Seven postgraduate students from the Physics Department at Stellenbosch University undertook an outreach road trip to the Eastern Cape in September 2022 to inform students about careers in science.

The Nobel in Africa Symposia Series kicked off at the University of the Western Cape with Prof Yin-Zhe Ma’s inspiring lecture on ‘Cosmology: A Golden Era’ on 18 October 2022.

Congratulations to Onesimo Mtintsilana (WITS/CERN), winner of the NITheCS heat of the FameLab competition, who has made it to the final round of the competition which takes place on 18 October 2022.

Data is used to derive insights that assist in crucial decision making in various spheres of life. Some therefore consider data to be the ‘new gold’, emphasising the significance of data in current times.

The use of digital approaches and software in the digital humanities has led to insightful research outputs and collaborative research with other scientists. This is something rare in the humanities.

Nurturing the basic sciences has become a priority. The continent-wide development of science can help grow economies, such as by transforming resources into products, services and processes.

We interviewed the winners of NITheCS-sponsored prizes following the South African Institute of Physics (SAIP) annual conference, and here are their impressions and feedback.

NITheCS Associate Dephney Mathebula, Associate Professor in the Department of Decision Sciences at UNISA, aspires to be an established researcher and publish more articles.

Some 500 teachers attended an online Teacher Training Workshop on 6 July 2022 presented by the University of Johannesburg (UJ), NITheCS, UJ Soweto Science Centre and other partners.

NITheCS endorses the approach, as well as the activities locally and internationally to mark the UN International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development that launched on 8 July 2022.

The next decade will be ambitious and exciting for astrophysics and cosmology, with cutting-edge telescopes like the SKA on the horizon, says Prof Roger Deane. I expect we will see breakthroughs…

We have reached a milestone of 200 NITheCS Associates. This reflects the belief of the scientific community in our young Institute and we are convinced this number will continue to grow.

NITheCS Associate Dr Cerene Rathilal was named as one of the 2022 Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans in the Science and Technology category at a M&G event on 30 June 2022.

Internationally esteemed quantum scientist and NITheCS Interim Director Prof Francesco Petruccione has been appointed as Professor in Quantum Computing at Stellenbosch University.

Time magazine has listed NITheCS Associate Prof Tulio de Oliveira as one of the 100 most influential people in 2022 for identifying and reporting the emergence of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Dr Kingsley Obodo is a computational condensed matter/physics researcher. He holds a degree in physics and electronics technology, a Master’s degree in Materials Science and a PhD in Physics.

The Q2 issue of Africa’s only Artificial Intelligence & Data Science Publication, Synapse magazine, has been published. A NITheCS advertisement appears on page 10.

NITheCS Associate Prof Roger Deane (WITS) was part of the team that made the first image of the supermassive black hole known as Sagittarius A* at the centre of our own Milky Way galaxy.

Dr Egieyeh is a seasoned pharmacist whose research focuses on computational drug discovery and design, as well as data science for predictive drug development for infectious diseases and precision medicine.

The SKA and MeerKAT telescopes, projects at the forefront of data-intensive processing, are recognised as drivers for the human capital and technological development that results in economic gains.

South African educational institutions have joined forces to host virtual learning programmes this week, to mark International Day of Mathematics (IDM) – aka, Pi Day, which takes place on 14 March every year.

Prof Irvy (Igle) Gledhill, the Visiting Adjunct Professor in Flow Physics at the University of the Witwatersrand who played a leading role in the planning of NITheCS, is our featured scientist of the month.

Two of the 11 free courses for postgraduate students offered by NITheCS’ South African Theory and Computational School (SATACS) this year have already started. Prospective students should act quickly to enrol!

NewAfrican has identified NITheCS Associate and Senior Research Manager at the South African Weather Service, Dr Mary-Jane Bopape, as one of the top 100 ‘Changemakers’. 

Congratulations to NITheCS Associate Prof Tulio de Oliviera (SU and UKZN), whom Nature has named as one of the 10 people who have played an important part in scientific developments in 2021. 

Computational sciences expert Dr Happy Sithole has been elected as Chair of the Steering Committee of NITheCS. He elaborates on the goals of the organisation and how to evaluate its success.

NITheCS and the Jagiellonian University, Poland, co-hosted a two-day virtual workshop devoted to new frontiers in the research in open quantum systems and entanglement.

A local research paper addresses a method to assess the representativeness of external or pooled data that banks use internationally in regulatory model development and calibration.

NITheCS and The Carpentries, an open global community that teaches students how to turn data into knowledge, have signed a one-year agreement to cooperate for mutual benefit.

The first paper with a National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS) affiliation has been published under the title ‘Quantum-enhanced analysis of discrete stochastic processes.’

Prof Frans Pretorius, a member of NITheCS’ Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), is one of the four recipients of the 2021 Dirac Medal awarded by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP).

Theoretical physicist and NITheCS SAB member Jim Gates has won the 2021 Andrew Germant Award. This award is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions…

To inform the business community about the presence of NITheCS, we have placed an advertisement in the 3rd quarter issue of Synapse, Africa’s 4IR Trade and Innovation magazine.

The first paper with the NITheCS affiliation has been published. The paper, ‘Quantum-enhanced analysis of discrete stochastic processes’, is by Carsten Blank, Daniel K. Park and Francesco Petruccione.

The Interim Director of the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS) has expressed gratification about the agreement signed with the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP).

I wish to comment on Dr Eric Maluta’s talk at the NITheCS colloquim of 16 August 2021. I was in attendance and listened with much joy and upliftment as he made an excellent presentation.