Changing the demographics of the industry
February 2005
News
With South Africa having come through a particularly tumultuous period of change, there exists an awkward imbalance in the demographics of training and experience within the population. On the one hand companies need the necessary skills to run viable organisations, on the other hand they need to play their part in assisting in the necessary adjustments to spread opportunities equally across the race groups. Eminently qualified whites can find that positions suitable for them are hard to find - while other race groups with the same training and experience are in short supply. While the transition in our country has been nothing short of miraculous, there is still much to be done. It is not `business as usual' and effort needs to be expended in directions that the existing systems were not set up for. The SAIMC is involving itself in the matter of training - turn to the Education and Training feature 'SAIMC professional development and training'.
I&C in Astronomy
In this issue we have an added bonus for those having an interest in astronomy. This month we have an article on the control system for the SALT (Southern African Large Telescope).
Compared to industrial processing plants, a telescope may seem a relatively simple piece of equipment to control. Of course, SALT is not a simple instrument. Once you consider all those reflector segments needing to be kept in correct alignment - and then the task of maintaining correct orientation of the other massive components, and the careful monitoring and control of temperatures... An instrument that is based on a simple concept ends up requiring a rather complex control system. Read all about it in 'Central control system for SALT (Southern African Large Telescope)'.
John Gibbs, editor
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