Unisa online - The Department of Physics celebrates its research successes

Prof MS Makhanya (Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor) and Prof I Basson, (Chair of Department: Physics)

The Department of Physics celebrated its 2011 research successes on Thursday 3 May 2012 with a lunch in the Kgorong building. Prof Ilsa Basson, the chairperson of the Department, introduced the staff of the Department to members of Management: Prof Mandla Makhanya (Principal and Vice-Chancellor), Prof Narend Baijnath (Pro-Vice-Chancellor), Prof Mamokgethi Setati (Vice Principal: Research and Innovation), Prof Gugu Moche (Executive Dean: College of Science, Engineering and Technology), Prof Ian Alderton (Deputy Executive Dean: College of Science, Engineering and Technology) and Prof Seithuti Moshokoa (Acting Director: School of Science) and gave an overview of the research context and achievements. It was a proud moment for the Department to alert guests to the fact that all the permanent academic staff members have PhD degrees and that the number of academic assistants has increased from three to seven.

The Department has three main research focus areas; Computational Solid State and Few Body Physics, Experimental Solid State Physics and Material Science as well as Physics Education. During 2011, eight staff members and students contributed to international conferences and eleven to national conferences, three international research visitors were hosted and the Department participated in a national SA-Russia project as well as the Unisa-India initiatives on nanotechnology.

With ten permanent academics, the Department offered service modules and all Physics tuition from first year to PhD, while increasing the research output from 3.23 units in 2010 to 9.5 in 2012. Thirteen individuals including students contributed to this output. Four staff members received research awards:

• Prof Srinivasu Vallabhapurapu received the Chancellor’s award for excellence in research,
• Prof Ilsa Basson received the Women in leadership award,
• Profs Braun and Vallabhapurapu received the NRF C2 rating awards and
• Dr Dhlamini received an NRF Y rating award.

The research highlight of 2011 was the successful hosting of the annual South African Institute of Physics (SAIP) conference in July. The Department hosted 480 participants, 405 presentations, four international and two national plenary speakers of excellence.

The Department also presented the annual pre-conference Winterschool. The theme for 2011 was Computational Physics in research and teaching. Three international speakers from the USA, Spain and Germany presented sessions together with Profs Braun and Lombardi of the Department. The High Performance Computing Centre sponsored the event as well as a student prize.

The Department published the first ever peer-reviewed conference proceedings in the 56-year history of the SAIP. The proceedings contained 145 scientific papers and 141 national as well as international reviewers contributed to the review process. The SAIP Council commended the achievements and efforts of the Department. The President of the SAIP, Prof Simon Connell indicated that Unisa set an all time high standard for the success of the conference.

From left: Prof ML Lekala (Associate Professor: Physics), Prof IW Alderton (Deputy Executive Dean: CSET), Prof N Baijnath (Pro-Vice-Chancellor), Prof RM Setati (Vice-Principal: Research and Innovation), Prof I Basson (Chair of Department: Physics) Prof IOG Moche (Executive Dean: CSET), Prof SP Moshokoa (Acting Director: School of Science) and Prof VS Vallabhapurapu (Professor: Physics)