Physics Postgraduate Students Empowered Through SAIP 2023 Winter Schools
The long-awaited South African Institute of Physics conference (SAIP) 2023 commenced on Monday, 3 July, at the University of Zululand’s (UNIZULU) Richards Bay Campus.
According to Professor Thulani Jili who chairs the conference organising committee, SAIP “is the biggest physics conference in the country which attracts physicists across the globe”.
The conference began with the traditional winter school edition, a whole-day segment wherein postgraduate students from various South African universities are imparted knowledge on two identified topical areas of physics. The focus in this year’s conference was on quantum technology and nanotechnology, two fast-growing fields which, in Prof Jili’s opinion, are relevant for the technological demands of this era.
Seasoned scholars in the quantum technology and nanotechnology fields were invited to speak on various topics of interest, with the aim of expanding postgraduate students’ knowledge of the two fields while also piquing their interest in conducting research related to the two fields.
Topics in quantum technology ranged from quantum nonlinear optics to quantum imaging to quantum structured light, among others. Light Mkhumbuza, a first-year master’s student at Wits University’s Structured Light Laboratory, said he found the winter school beneficial as he was exposed to quantum computing, a specialisation he was not familiar with. He was especially intrigued by Stellenbosch University’s Prof Francesco Petruccione’s presentation on quantum computation, where he highlighted the current challenges and opportunities.
Similar to the quantum technology winter school, attendees in the nanotechnology side were greatly impacted by the presentations.
Arnold Mutubuki, a master’s student from Nelson Mandela University, shared: “I am a student researching on the development of titanium dioxide nanostructures with a modified energy bend gap. So, as a student who has research aligned with nanotechnology and nanostructure fabrication, I saw it wise to partake in the nanotechnology winter school and have exposure to what other researchers are working on. Some of them are, in a way, similar to what we are working on at Nelson Mandela – that is semiconductor development material characterisation for functional materials. It was an encouraging session because it was a motivation for me to keep working on my research. It was also an opportunity to interact with people who are directly linked to what I’m doing. I have networked with some colleagues. That’s the start of collaboration. Who knows, maybe in the future we can work on something and get publication.”
For Peter Olagbaju, a North-West University postdoctoral fellow, attending the winter school has been an eye-opener since he is not a nanotechnologist by background, but a nuclear radiation physicist. Having now joined a nano group, he has had to build a new foundation and his attendance has been an opportunity to gain insight into the fundamentals of the field.
The official conference proceedings (plenary and parallel sessions) will begin on Tuesday, 4 July and conclude on Friday, 7 July.
- Naledi Hlefane
Picture by: James Thwala
31 Comments
hi!,I love your writing very so much! proportion we communicate
more approximately your post on AOL? I need an expert in this house to resolve my problem.
May be that’s you! Having a look ahead to peer you.
Hello There. I discovered your weblog using msn. That is a really smartly written article.
I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to learn more of
your helpful info. Thanks for the post. I will definitely
comeback.
Attractive section of content. I simply stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to
assert that I get actually loved account your weblog posts.
Any way I will be subscribing in your feeds or even I success you access constantly quickly.
Look into my website … finishing basement walls on a budget
I go to see each day some web pages and websites to read content, except this web site gives feature based content.
I am regular reader, how are you everybody? This piece of writing posted at this
web page is actually fastidious.
It’s going to be finish of mine day, however before end I am reading this
fantastic post to increase my knowledge.
What’s up, yes this article is truly pleasant and I have
learned lot of things from it regarding blogging.
thanks.
I always used to read article in news papers but now as I am
a user of web therefore from now I am using net for articles or reviews, thanks to
web.
This is very fascinating, You are an overly skilled blogger.
I have joined your feed and look forward to searching for more of your fantastic post.
Additionally, I have shared your site in my social networks
I am sure this paragraph has touched all the internet visitors, its really really nice piece of writing on building up new
webpage.
Cool blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
A theme like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my
blog jump out. Please let me know where you got your design. Thank you
Hello! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick
shout out and tell you I truly enjoy reading through your blog posts.
Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that cover the same subjects?
Thanks a lot!
That is really fascinating, You’re an excessively professional blogger.
I have joined your rss feed and look forward to in search of extra of your wonderful post.
Also, I’ve shared your website in my social networks
Everything is very open with a very clear clarification of the challenges.
It was definitely informative. Your site is very useful.
Thanks for sharing!
My family always say that I am killing my time here at net, except I know I am getting familiarity all the time by reading thes good
posts.
It’s perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy.
I have read this post and if I could I want to suggest you some interesting things or
suggestions. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article.
I desire to read more things about it!
Ahaa, its fastidious discussion regarding this post at this
place at this webpage, I have read all that, so at this time me also commenting at this place.
Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an incredibly long comment
but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear.
Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again.
Regardless, just wanted to say wonderful blog!
That is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger.
I have joined your feed and look ahead to seeking more of your fantastic post.
Also, I have shared your site in my social
networks
It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d without a doubt donate to this excellent blog!
I suppose for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my
Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will share this website with my Facebook group.
Talk soon!
Hello, just wanted to tell you, I liked this article.
It was funny. Keep on posting!
Keep this going please, great job!
Quality articles or reviews is the main to be a focus for the visitors to visit the
web site, that’s what this web site is providing.
My site мобилизация в украине сегодня
And seize every available Free chat rooms sites online to make a connection
What’s up, its good post on the topic of media print,
we all understand media is a fantastic source of data.
Take a look at my blog fashion launch video
I love how the Drift Hunters game creates an exciting and exhilarating drift racing experience!
It’s in fact very difficult in this busy life to listen news on TV, thus I just use web for that reason, and get the most up-to-date information.
This is my first time visit at here and i am genuinely pleassant
to read all at single place.
London Lanes bigger the pleasure fatter the pussy!
Drift Boss is a drift racing game played by pressing a single button. In this game, you will drive your car around difficult edges and overcome obstacles until you fall off the platform.
The free Cam to Cam starting credit is worth it! With this gift you can convince yourself of the quality of the and have a look around without obligation.