Cimera - DSI - NRF

23/07/2026

Our postgraduate students recently took to the airwaves!

We're incredibly proud of Ayakha (MSc) and Kwame (PhD Candidate) for representing DSTI-NRF CIMERA on UJFM, where they shared their academic journeys, research, and the impact of postgraduate studies.

👉 Head over to our LinkedIn to watch the snippet and join us in celebrating our students.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7486029343907856384

From the Lab to the Airwaves! Our sincere thanks to UJFM 95.4 for providing a platform to celebrate postgraduate research and the people behind it. The spotlight belonged to our postgraduate students, Ayakha Komzi (Cand.Sci.Nat) (MSc) and Kwame Fynn (PhD Candidate), who represented DSTI-NRF CIMERA w...

16/07/2026

Can you explain your research to a general audience?

Our From Core to Community | Writing Beyond the Journal Workshop is designed to help CIMERA-supported students communicate their geoscience research beyond academia.

If you're planning to enter the DSTI-NRF CIMERA Science Writing Competition 2026, or simply want to strengthen your science communication skills, this workshop is for you.

For full workshop details and the registration link, visit our LinkedIn page.

🔗 Read more and register: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7483444763556233216

Can you explain your research to a general audience? Join us for our From Core to Community | Writing Beyond the Journal Workshop, an interactive online workshop designed to help you communicate your geoscience research beyond academia. Whether you're preparing an entry for the DSTI-NRF CIMERA Scien...

13/07/2026

The DSTI-NRF CIMERA Science Writing Competition 2026 is now open!

This year's theme, My Science in Your World, challenges participants to explore how geoscience connects with people, communities, the environment, and everyday life.

If you're a CIMERA-supported student or postdoctoral research fellow, we'd love to hear your story.

For full competition details, eligibility, and submission guidelines, visit our website and read the full announcement on our LinkedIn page.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7482359381540364288

We look forward to reading your entries!

09/07/2026

Registration is now open for the DSTI-NRF CIMERA Earth Observation Masterclass!

In collaboration with the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF), this 5 day masterclass will explore the latest developments in remote sensing for mining and mineral exploration, from drill core scanning to drone surveys and satellite remote sensing.

📅 5–9 October 2026
📍 University of Johannesburg

For full course details, meet the lecturers, and learn more about the programme, visit our website:

🌐 www.cimera.co.za

You can also head over to our LinkedIn Page (DSTI-NRF CIMERA) for more information and the latest updates.

We look forward to welcoming you!

View Our Latest News and Events Click HereA central hub for research and human resource development in mineral and energy resource analysis in Africa Enhancing sustainable development and the green revolutionPromoting geoeducation and community engagement About DSTI-NRF CIMERA DSTI-NRF Centre of Exc...

07/07/2026

🎓 Celebrating Our 2026 Autumn Graduates

As we reflect on the 2026 Autumn Graduation season, we're proud to celebrate three members of the DSTI-NRF CIMERA cohort who have successfully completed their MSc degrees.

Congratulations to Dimakatso Hlahla, Johannes Malebati, and Tshimangadzo Ndou on this outstanding achievement. Your dedication to advancing geoscience research has brought you to this important milestone, and we wish you every success in the journey ahead.

We've shared a special graduate spotlight featuring each of our graduates and their research projects on our LinkedIn page.

Head over to our LinkedIn to celebrate their achievements with us and learn more about their research.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7480174160527253504

AUTUMN GRADUATIONS | Celebrating the Next Generation of Geoscientists As we reflect on the 2026 Autumn Graduation season, we'd like to celebrate three members of the DSTI-NRF CIMERA cohort who recently graduated. Congratulations to Dimakatso Hlahla, Johannes Malebati and Tshimangadzo Ndou on success...

02/07/2026

🌍 CIMERA Worldwide | Dr Anton Kutyrev

Dr Anton Kutyrev, a member of the DSTI-NRF CIMERA postgraduate and postdoctoral cohort, is travelling to Perth, Australia, to participate in the 16th International Symposium on Mafic–Ultramafic Systems (ISMUS 2026).

At the symposium, he will deliver an oral presentation, present a research poster, and participate in the prestigious Wager and Brown Workshop with an additional oral presentation. His research investigates discordant ultramafic bodies at Tweefontein in the Bushveld Igneous Complex, contributing to a deeper understanding of magmatic systems and platinum-group element mineralisation.

➡️Click the link below to learn more about Dr Kutyrev and his work in magmatic systems and platinum-group element mineralisation.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7478431658447400960

29/06/2026

Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries, and geoscience is no exception.

DSTI-NRF CIMERA PhD candidate Bridget Nemadodzi recently attended the AI in Geology Course hosted by the Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA), where participants explored the growing role of artificial intelligence in geological research and practice.

Reflecting on the course, Bridget shared:

"The course offered an excellent balance of theory and practical applications. The speakers demonstrated that while AI can streamline workflows and improve consistency, it remains a powerful assistant not a replacement for geological reasoning, critical thinking, and professional judgement."

At DSTI-NRF CIMERA, we are proud to support opportunities that expose our students to emerging technologies, helping them build the skills and perspectives needed to advance geoscience research.

26/06/2026

CIMERA Alumni Fridays | Where Are They Now?

Welcome to , our new bi-weekly series highlighting the people who have been part of the DSTI-NRF CIMERA journey and the impact they continue to make in geoscience.

This week, we're featuring Dr. Moyagabo Kenneth Rapetsoa, a CIMERA alumnus who is now a Specialist in Geophysical Research and Computational Instrumentation at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Dr. Rapetsoa's work focuses on advancing geophysical solutions for mineral exploration and imaging complex geological environments, contributing to research and industry across Africa.

At CIMERA, we're proud to stay connected with our alumni and showcase the diverse paths they take as they continue to shape the future of geoscience.

Stay tuned every Friday as we catch up with more members of our growing alumni network.

22/06/2026

Research creates knowledge. Stories create understanding.

As researchers, we dedicate ourselves to advancing geoscience through discovery, evidence, and innovation. Yet the true impact of our work is realised when it reaches beyond our disciplines and connects with society.

This year's theme for the DSTI-NRF CIMERA Science Writing Competition is:
MY SCIENCE IN YOUR WORLD.

A theme that invites us to reflect not only on what we research, but on who our research serves.

As you begin thinking about your entry, we'd like to ask:
How has your science changed the way you see the world or the way the world could see itself?

We look forward to reading your stories.

Send a message to learn more

18/06/2026

🌍 Advancing Research Through International Collaboration | Thangeni Mphanama (Cand.Sci.Nat)

We are proud to celebrate Mphanama Thangeni, a PhD candidate from the University of Venda who recently completed a three-month research and training visit to Germany.

Hosted by the The University of Göttingen and Technische Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe, Mphanama received specialised training in Cathodoluminescence, Fluid Inclusion Analysis, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Remote Sensing. These advanced analytical techniques will directly strengthen his PhD research on copper sulphide mineralisation within the Mutale Copper Fields in Limpopo.

The visit also provided an invaluable opportunity to build international research collaborations, expand professional networks, and gain exposure to world-class facilities and expertise.

At DSTI-NRF CIMERA, we are committed to creating opportunities that enable our postgraduate researchers to grow, collaborate globally, and contribute to advancing geoscience research.