News


South African students advance to international round of Young Researchers awards

March 2025 News

Two Masters in Engineering students from Stellenbosch University, Yasmin de Raay and Chris Erasmus, have advanced to the international round of the 2025 ‘Blue Sky Young Researchers and Innovation’ competition. Their projects impressed the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA) for their originality and relevance to the forestry sector, which plays a key role in producing wood and paper.

Managed by the International Council of Forestry and Paper Associations (ICFPA), this competition seeks projects from researchers under 30 years of age who are working in forest-based science, products using wood, pulp or paper as a raw material, process improvements, or other innovations throughout the forest sector value chain. As first and second place winners in the South African competition, Erasmus and De Raay, were awarded R15 000 and R10 000 respectively. Their projects will now be judged against those from the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. An international panel will select the top three global finalists, who will then present their projects at the ICFPA CEO Global Roundtable in May 2025 in New York.

“In a sector that has for decades centred around the renewability of wood, both these projects offer significant value for forestry companies by enhancing sustainable forest management and improving crop yields,” says Jane Molony, PAMSA executive director. “This in turns supports the sustainable supply of wood into pulp, paper and sawn timber industries.”

Innovative solutions in agritech and forestry

Both submissions focused on the monitoring of aspects of tree health, which plays a critical role in tree resilience and resource optimisation, by using technology to capture and analyse data continuously and remotely.

Erasmus, who is completing a Masters in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, has developed a wireless dendrometer and environmental sensing system tailored for the forestry industry. This solar-powered device tracks tree growth patterns, water dynamics, and environmental stressors such as temperature, humidity and soil moisture with precision. It offers a cost-effective, low-maintenance solution, reducing the need for human intervention while ensuring consistent accuracy and reliability. “Our dendrometer allows seamless, real-time monitoring of the trees’ daily growth variations, using advanced technology to overcome the limitations of traditional analogue systems, which are prone to noise and interference,” notes Erasmus.

De Raay is pursuing a Masters in Industrial Engineering, specialising in agritech, with a strong focus on integrating technology and nature conservation. “My honours and masters theses both focus on agritech, and through my work in the open-air eucalyptus laboratory, I’ve had the opportunity to apply engineering to sustainable forestry,” she explains. Her project introduces a mini rhizotron system designed to remotely monitor root growth and dynamics in forestry plantations. By using machine learning techniques and capturing microscopic images of roots, this system provides continuous, cost-effective access to vital root growth data, even in remote field settings, improving resource optimisation without sacrificing quality.

Recognising ingenuity in forestry innovation

“We are excited by this ingenuity, which not only highlights South Africa’s scientific talent but also has the potential to make a meaningful impact in our sector,” says Molony.

For more information contact Jane Molony, Paper Manufacturers Association Of South Africa, +27 11 803 5063, [email protected], www.thepaperstory.co.za




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Reinstatement opportunity for ECSA registration
News
In 2023 the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) announced a special opportunity for engineers in South Africa to reinstate their registration status if it had been cancelled. This exclusive offer is available until the end of August 2024.

Read more...
Comtest calibration user group seminar
Comtest News
Comtest invites metrology and calibration professionals to a focused technical seminar series aimed at demystifying some of the most common hurdles in inter-laboratory comparisons.

Read more...
Functional safety explained
News
The SAIMC supports Pepperl+Fuchs, a National Member, in a free four-part online seminar series focused on Functional Safety.

Read more...
The Future of manufacturing in Africa
News
The future and development of African manufacturing will be discussed extensively at the upcoming Manufacturing Indaba conference, to be hosted on 15 to 16 July 2025 at Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre.

Read more...
Hot topics at IFAT Africa and analytica Lab Africa 2025
News
Burning issues such as climate-smart infrastructure, sustainability in waste and water management, the circular economy and Extended Producer Responsibility will come under discussion at the three-day conference and forum presented by analytica Lab Africa and IFAT Africa at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg from 8 to 10 July 2025.

Read more...
RS South Africa showcases industrial solutions at MTE Phalaborwa
News
RS South Africa recently showcased its latest industrial and electronic solutions at the Mining and Technical Exhibition in Phalaborwa in Limpopo.

Read more...
Specialised Exhibitions appoints Joshua Low as commercial director for Africa
News
Specialised Exhibitions has appointed Joshua Low as commercial director for Africa. This strategic addition to the leadership team comes as Specialised Exhibitions embarks on an ambitious phase of growth across the African continent.

Read more...
WearCheck earns Dissolved Gas Analysis accreditation
Wearcheck News
WearCheck is now accredited to perform Dissolved Gas Analysis for transformers, following a recent assessment by SANAS.

Read more...
From the editor's desk: Riding the hype cycle
Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control) News
The other day I came across an entertaining article on the ten biggest tech failures of the last decade. Google Glass, 3D TV and Elon Musk’s hyperloop have faded into obscurity. Others, like the metaverse, ...

Read more...
STEMulator – a gift to the youth of the nation
Editor's Choice News
STEMulator is a groundbreaking virtual platform designed to ignite the spark of curiosity in young minds and stimulate their interest in STEM subjects.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved