Two new scanning electron microscopes and a new bio-imaging laboratory, are set to be unveiled, on Wednesday, at the CHRTEM, part of the Nelson Mandela University’s Ocean Sciences Campus.
The facility has been using ageing instruments.
The tech is expected to advance South Africa’s competitiveness in biomedical imaging and the bioeconomy.
The multimillion-rand facility was funded by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF).
It has evolved from producing high-resolution imaging to conducting quantitative measurements of matter at the atomic and nanoscale.
The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, said “this allows researchers to move beyond asking where atoms are, to determining their chemical, electronic, structural and chemical environment, and understanding how these characteristics can be exploited towards novel applications.”
Dr Nomalungelo Gina, the Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, is expected to lead the unveiling of the Centre for High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (CHRTEM) at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha on Wednesday.
CHRTEM’s researchers work with universities and research organisations across the country, and collaborate internationally. Its capabilities are applied to address complex scientific and technological challenges in many different fields, including materials science, engineering, medicine, geology, zoology, botany and biochemistry.
Picture: Supplied