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At the conference, the focus will be on novel CSIR research that has not been published previously. More than 20 papers and about 40 posters will be presented by CSIR researchers at the CSIR International Convention Centre. These will cover a diverse range of subjects, including trend analysis of South African elections, global environmental change, bootstrapping pronunciation models, the use of information and communications technology in small manufacturing companies, and smart mining.
The CSIR will also host two international experts, Professor Sir John Lawton and Professor Wilson Sibbett, who will deliver keynote addresses.
Professor Sir John Lawton, a renowned ornithologist, will give an outline of the new research agenda for environmental scientists. His research focus is on the population dynamics and biodiversity of birds and insects, concentrating over the past decade on the impacts of global environmental change on wild plants and animals. During his career, Sir John has served on a wide range of committees and bodies; he is currently Chairperson of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution and was knighted for his services to ecological science in 2005. He has published over 320 scientific papers, and written or edited six books.
Professor Wilson Sibbett, a world authority in laser physics and photonics, is Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of St Andrews. As Chair of the Scottish Science Advisory Committee, he has been the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Scottish Executive and Scottish Parliament since 2002. He is a major innovator in the field of ultra-fast optical science and technology and has co-authored more than 300 journal publications in this subject area. His pioneering optical techniques have been crucial in many areas of physics, chemistry, opto-electronics, biophotonics and photo-medicine.
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