Category Archives: research

research

Making the case for clean soil

Posted on by

Extended Curriculum Programme coordinator for the Environmental Management programme Dr Elie Itoba Tombo can’t tell what he likes more, teaching or research.

He especially loves the challenge of training previously disadvantaged students to embrace science: “Empowering them through the vocation of science to be scientists or researchers, that is what I am passionate about,” says Tombo.

The lecturer speaks proudly of supervising one of his earliest pupils, from when he started teaching at CPUT in 2007, to complete his Master’s degree earlier his year: “It is quite encouraging to see my passion is paying off.”

His research into cassava plants though fascinates him in equal measure.

Originally from Brazzaville in the Republic of the Congo where he graduated with a BSc in Physical Geography before moving to Cape Town in 2000, Tombo grew up with cassava as a staple food. Today it is still a staple food source for much of Western and Central Africa as well as a source of bio-energy research in Asia and South America.

“Why can’t we investigate such a crop and see if we can establish it here in this country,” was the question that started his research line. Today his research is rare – he looks at the effect of the plant on the environment, rather than the possible uses of the plant.

Tombo’s recent PhD thesis “Cyanogen and Mycotoxin reduction for cassava (manihotesculata crantz) in cultivated soil” looked at identifying a novel isolate that could help decompose cassava in a safer way.

Previous studies have shown that decomposing cassava tubers deposits toxic hydrogen cyanide into soil and he investigated an environmentally benign approach to long term remediation of soil. He wanted to know whether introducing a particular microorganism into the soil would mitigate or reduce the presence of the toxic compound (hydrogen cyanide).

He discovered a particular fungi (Cunninghamamella bertholletiae) that did resist and degrade the cyanide as well as produce a mycotoxin.

“Basically we also assessed the pathogenicity of that fungi on the soil biota or micro-organisms.”

Tombo also investigated what green approach could be used to keep the mycotoxin in check, figuring out that the juice of a particular carnivorous plant, nepentheses mirabiles, fulfilled this function.

Next he wants to investigate how to advocate for the implementation or establishment of genetically modified cassava to reduce the amount of hydrogen cyanide in the environment in general.

“The second thing would be to assess the removal of cyanide from a cassava decomposing environment. This is part of a project we have in mind to get to a rehabilitation or reduction method on a big scale to help people in remote areas.

“A third research line would be to investigate possible plants with similar properties such as the carnivorous plant we used in order to be able to use plants in the remediation or control process,” said Tombo.

FOOD SOURCE: The Cassava tuber.

Written by Theresa Smith

Sharing best practice in design

Posted on by

Gender and design was the focus of a presentation delivered by the University of Leeds’ Dr Lisa-Dionne Morris who visited the Faculty of Informatics and Design recently.

The presentation was one of several activities Morris participated in while visiting CPUT as part of the Participatory Tools for Human Development with the Youth project.

The partners in the project are theUniversity of Lapland, the University of Leeds, PACO Design Collaborators, Italy, the Namibia University of Science and Technology, CPUT and the SA San Institute.

Lecturer Vikki Eriksson, said Morris, who is the Head of Industrial Design at the University of Leeds, had worked with CPUT students from all levels – first years to postgraduates – “to expand their horizons, to share practice and to inspire”.

“The real benefit of research projects is the ability to bring academics and professionals from all over the world into our studios and classrooms. Prof Morris, who recently engaged with students form the Faculty of Informatics and Design, embodies this. As the Head of Industrial Design, at the University of Leeds, Prof Morris provided postgraduate students with interesting discussion points and contributed to the growing scholarship with the design research field,” said Eriksson.

“The practical and ‘hand-on’ sessions with other students focused on learning through prototyping and play. Although the engagement was fun and interactive, the elements explored spoke to global, real-world challenges,” she added.

Asked what she had taken out of the experience Morris said: An understanding of the cultural differences and the significance of cultural differences and diversity when it comes to product development, to establish what the priorities are to different students and to different people.

Research workshop a success

Posted on by

More than 20 Masters students benefited from a successful research workshop by the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, which introduced them to key topics in research.

The four-day workshop was presented by academics from across the faculty’s various departments, and covered a wide range of topics.

Faculty Research Coordinator Dr Dirk Bester said the research module that was presented over the course of the workshop would not only help to get students going with their research but could contribute to a better throughput rate.

“Traditionally we know that the throughput at postgraduate level is not what it should be and this is one of the ways we plan to boost that.”

All Masters students in the Faculty were invited with a focus on new enrolments.

“We had quite a nice uptake with 23 students attending. We kept it informal and gave students the opportunity to engage.”

The topics covered ranged from identifying a research topic to proposal writing and research ethics.

“The workshop also helped us to identify problems that students had, for example with IT, and we’ve been able to sort it all out.”

Bester said the attendees included the Faculty’s first two students who entered their postgraduate studies at CPUT via the RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) route.

Blast from the Past

Posted on by

Established in 2012 under the office of the Registrar, the Archives section identifies, preserves, arranges, describes and makes archives available for research purposes.

The Archives section accepts institutional records through the university’s Records Management Centre, as well as from administrative and academic departments from all CPUT campuses, including academics and private collectors. The university’s business units produce a large number of institutional records on paper and electronically. The records need to be retained or managed till they cease to be useful.

The section is continuously selecting archival materials such as meeting minutes, strategic plans, correspondence, building plans, photographs, posters, audio visuals and reports. These records support the functions of the institution, namely, teaching, learning, research and community engagement.

“It is important to note that only a small percentage of records will be selected for permanent archival preservation (approximately five to ten percent), and we are responsible for making this institutional memory available to the entire CPUT community and the public at large,” says Archivist Zolile Myeko.

Users are welcome to view archival material in the reading room which houses the Archive’s Main Reference Collection with nine seats and a big trestle table.

The Archives section is located on the ground floor of the Administration Building on the Bellville Campus.

Archives staff are available to assist researchers with their queries and to guide them through our collection and finding aids. Operation time is between 08:00 and 16:00.

For enquiries contact the section via e-mail on archives@cput.ac.za or by phone on 021 959 5607/6832.