Celebrating excellence in water research
The Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) together with the Water Research Commission (WRC) and the CSIR held the annual Excellence in Water Research Awards on 20 October 2010.
During the event Dr Rivka Kfir, presented the memorial lecture entitled: “In search for water wisdom– from research to application -A tribute to South Africa’s water sector”. The awards were held in honour of Dr Gerrie Stander one of the greatest Aquarians born in South Africa .
WISA, WRC and CSIR hosted this special awards evening in acknowledgment of focused, productive, multi-disciplinary research dedicated to the growth and intellect of the respective research disciplines, betterment of science and ultimately – “in service of our rainbow South Africa”.
This event was made possible by WISA, WRC CSIR, DWA (Department of Water Affairs), Golder Associates, Johannesburg Water and Rand Water sponsorship.
Sarashree Traci Reddy “Eutectic Freeze Crystallisation: From brine to products“
Sarashree Traci Reddy was born in Greytown and matriculated with distinction from Greytown Secondary School in 2000. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town in 2005, where she had received an entrance scholarship based on merit. In 2006, Ms Reddy continued with her studies and obtained a Masters degree in Chemical Engineering which was upgraded to a doctoral degree.
Ms Reddy’s field of expertise is industrial water treatment, hydrometallurgy and aqueous thermodynamic modelling. Her main area of research is Eutectic Freeze Crystallisation (EFC) and its applicability to wastewater treatment. The significance of the research will rest on the development of a unique approach, not only to water recovery from hypersaline wastewater streams but also to minimise brine capacity in South Africa.
This will have an impact on virtually every industry in South Africa that produces wastewater, as it will provide an alternate technology that is energy-and cost-efficient, as well as being environmentally sustainable. The specific focus of her research is on factors that affect the separation of the ice and salt from the mother liquor and each other. Her overarching sustainability approach to issues revolving around water and energy is likely to play a significant role in the development of novel wastewater treatment technologies in the future.
Dr Tobias George Barnard (University of Johannesburg) “The influence of molecular biology techniques on water quality testing”
Tobias George Barnard graduated from the University of the Free State in 2006, with a PhD in Biochemistry. He currently holds the position of Director: Water Health Research Unit, at the University of Johannesburg.
Dr Barnard’s field of expertise is molecular biology detection methods for bacterial pathogens. The introduction of molecular-based technology, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), has not only introduced a faster way of analysing samples but also started focusing our attention on factors that could have an impact on the way we view our water quality. PCR works by amplifying specific genes associated with specific organisms, so that when the target gene is amplified it indicates the presence of the targeted organism.
PCR-based tests have been widely used to study and characterise bacterial isolates, to do source tracking of bacterial pathogens and to study bacterial population shifts in biofilms during treatment processes, to name but a few.
Contact : Hlengiwe Cele Tel : 012 330 9006 hlengiwec@wrc.org.za