The Africa Automation and Technology Fair proved to be another successful event – and that is before any formal figures have been released. The SAIMC held workshops to assist technicians, technologists and engineers to register with the Engineering Council of South Africa, and Pepper the friendly robot played a huge role, thanks to Jane van der Spuy and Pepper’s owner, Scott. Their contribution is much appreciated. Jane Collett played her usual role, arranging everything perfectly and timeously, while RX set the stage for a wonderful experience for our members.
October 2025 will mark the beginning of a new phase for the SAIMC when the well-known MESA Summit will have a makeover and become the first SAIMC User Summit. We are expecting users from many disciplines to contribute their experiences so that we can learn from one another. Regular planning meetings are ensuring that this will be an outstanding event. For more information, please visit our website at saimc.co.za
The SAIMC recently had the privilege of sponsoring the awards for the top third-year Mechatronics and Computer Engineering students at North-West University. This event was a revelation for Ina and myself as it provided insight into the distribution of high-achieving students across different engineering fields. Interestingly, female students excelled in Chemical Engineering, while male students were more prevalent in Mechanical Engineering. This challenges the notion that equality can be reduced to mere numbers. It highlights the fact that true equality should address biases against certain races or genders, as opposed to considering how many of each we have in South Africa. Despite this, some individuals continue to focus on percentages, creating a facade of fairness through numerical manipulation.
It is essential to prioritise the identification and removal of genuine barriers that prevent certain races and genders from entering engineering, rather than relying on superficial mathematical exercises that only give the appearance of progress. Real efforts should be made to understand and dismantle the systemic obstacles that impede diversity and inclusion in engineering. This approach is far more meaningful than the rhetoric often used by political figures seeking votes or media outlets aiming to increase sales. By focusing on substantive change rather than numerical illusions, we can strive towards a truly equitable environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed in engineering disciplines.
Yours in automation,
Johan Maartens
| Tel: | +27 11 312 2445 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| www: | www.saimc.co.za |
| Articles: | More information and articles about SAIMC |
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