This is in the context of the Resource-driven Technology Concept Centre for South Africa (RETECZA), an academia-industry-public initiative first conceptualized by Professor Mulalo Doyoyo, of the Georgia Institute of Technology, in collaboration with the Tshwane University of Technology and the DST.

A South African by birth, Prof Doyoyo has won several awards for teaching and research. He has also made groundbreaking inventions in the fields of next generation materials and energy supply. He also investigates and develops lightweight materials, structures, and systems to meet key demands of modern and future societies

According to him, RETECZA focuses on demonstrative technology concepts that begin to address sustainable solutions to the country’s pressing socio-economic imperatives and presents a great opportunity for South Africa to satisfy her human resource needs.

"This includes providing education opportunities, and advance programmes of community engagement that will become a driving force for the country’s equitable livelihood by nurturing human skills and research capacities via tertiary institutions and industrial partners," says Prof Doyoyo.

"Phase 0" of this initiative focuses on two strategic concepts: the development of an integrated autonomous village that is constructed with sustainable next generation materials, saves power by using novel renewable energy technologies, saves water by retaining rainwater through underground dams and artificial water tables, and treats wastes using innovative living machines, among others.

The other concept involves the development of a novel next generation car for South Africa that is fuel-efficient, low in carbon footprint, and adaptable and robust for roads in a developing country.

As a result of these issues, Prof Doyoyo and his team conduct research in the field of lightweight technologies within the bounds of social consciousness and responsibility.

The RETECZA venture also desires to mobilise the African diaspora to participate in helping Africa progress towards technology independence related to finding simple technology solutions to poverty problems that continue to hamper the continent’s development.

Students will conduct research which supplements the RETECZA goal of developing resource-driven technology concepts from research.

Applicants interested in the following engineering fields are encouraged:

• Civil and Environmental Engineering (alternate-cement, asphalt-replacement, housing, telematics, aging infrastructure, protective installations, hydrogen stations, hazards, sanitation, wastewater, water resources, landfill mining, coal combustion products, ultra-deep mining), Architecture (green building design, living machines),
• Materials Science (next generation materials, ultra-light systems, sandwich construction), Mechanical Engineering (fuel cells, biochemical engines, vehicle bodies and design, manufacturing, pressure vessels),
• Chemical and Bio-molecular Engineering (hydrogen storage, surface/coating technology, pollution engineering),
• Industrial and Systems Engineering (microfinance, industrial design, operations research), and
• Electrical and Computer Engineering (e.g. solar/fuel/bio cells, cognitive robotics, power).

Meanwhile, Prof Doyoyo and his partners will hold the first annual conference at Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge at the Pilanesberg National Park in Rustenburg from 21-24 June 2009.

The conference is expected to be the most comprehensive engagement of engineering and scientific experts from South Africa and abroad devoted to using transformative technologies.

An extraordinary variety of presentations will be featured on topics from basic research at the level of invention disclosures to mature technology concepts at the verge of commercialisation.

For more information, contact Dr Karin Dyason at dyasonk@tut.ac.za or (012) 382-5155

or Prof Doyoyo: doyoyo@ce.gatech.edu or 072 270 3404

Please note that Professor Doyoyo will be available for interviews.