The newly-established advisory board of the Faculty of Science at Stellenbosch University met for the first time on Friday 4 March 2016 at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Studies (STIAS).

Prof. Pieter Swart, Vice-Dean: Research, says the aim with the appointment of an advisory board is to foster a closer relationship with industry: “The management team of the Faculty of Science will meet with the advisory board at least twice a year to discuss issues such as skills development and the development of multi-disciplinary approaches to tackle the complex technological challenges of the future.

“We want to get feedback from industry on the skills that we need to develop in our future students to operate and flourish as professional scientists in the modern industrial era.”

Matters to be discussed at the next meeting will include internships for undergraduate and postgraduate students in different industrial sectors, while researchers from the Faculty of Science will present their research focus areas.

Serving on the advisory board for 2016/2017 are:

Dr Shirley Ferris (Managing Director: Whitehead Scientific); Dr Tertius Cilliers (Technical Director Sales: DuPont Nutrition & Health: SSA Danisco SA); Mr Kobus Viljoen (Managing Director: Airbus Defence and Space, AIRBUS DS OPTRONICS); Dr Einar Ronander (Director: Klydon Gas); Prof. Patrick Bouic (Chief Technical Officer: Synexa Life Sciences); Dr Luthando Dziba (CSIR: Natural Resources and the Environment); Mr Willem van Biljon (Chief Executive Officer: Takealot.com); Ms. Karin van Deventer (Chair, Mineral Education Trust Fund); Mr Carlos Costa (Executive Director Technical & Procurement: Kansai Plascon); Dr John Mellor (SASOL – Technical manager, polymers, nitros and solvents); Mr July Ndlovu (Executive Head Process: Anglo Platinum); Dr Thulani Dlamini (Vice-President: Strategic Research and Technology and CIBI, SASOL); Prof Barry Axcell (Advisor to the Board, SABMiller plc); Mr Luke Brouckaert (General Manager – Technical for RCL Foods, Sugar & Milling).

The Faculty was represented by the Dean, Prof. Louise Warnich, Prof. Ingrid Rewitzky (Vice-Dean: Teaching and Learning), Prof. Pieter Swart, Vice-Dean: Research, Ms Mariétta van den Worm (Director: Faculty Management), as well as the departmental heads.

In front, from left to right, Ms. Karin van Deventer, Dr Thulani Dlamini (SASOL), Prof Pieter Swart (SU), Prof Patrick Bouic (Synexa Life Sciences), Prof Louise Warnich (SU) and Dr Luthando Dziba (CSIR). At the back, from left to right, Dr Einar Ronander (Klydon Gas), Mr Carlos Costa (Kansai Plascon), Dr Shirley Ferris (Whitehead Scientific), Prof Ingrid Rewitzky (SU), Dr John Mellor (SASOL), Dr Tertius Cilliers (DuPont Nutrition) and Mr Kobus Viljoen (Airbus DS Optronics). Photo: Anton Jordaan