NE WS Wirsam donates analytical balances worth R120 000
that often involves long-term storage of
South African genetic information should
samples in biobanks. The nation hosts about
only be made available to South African
a dozen such facilities,
institutions or individuals.
which enable large-scale
NMISA hosts 11th Annual Achiever Awards
analysis of diseases and health phenomena. The report advises that
Representatives of Wirsam Scientific handing over analytical balances to the Centre for the Advancement of Science and Mathematics Education.
On Friday 7 December 2018, the National
South Africa establish
Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA)
guidelines that address the
celebrated measurement excellence with an
ethical, legal and social
awards ceremony in Pretoria. The NMISA
implications of genetic
Achiever Awards are organised annually
work. In this area, the study
in line with the association’s employee
specifically recommends
recognition policy, to recognise employees
regulation of the new field
who have distinguished themselves through
of consumer genetic marketing and testing,
outstanding performance, achievement and
R120 000 worth of analytical balances to
using guidelines that are feasible, enforceable
excellent service.
the Centre for the Advancement of Science
and sustainable.
and Mathematics Education (CASME).
Picture credit: UP
Wirsam Scientific recently donated around
“South African
NMISA board chairperson Jabu Mogadime, welcomed guests and
CASME is working on changing the lives
researchers, guided
of learners through quality and innovative
in part by the
mathematics and science education. “South
country’s research
Africa has a shortage of trained scientists
ethics committees,
all the candidates at the award gala dinner
and mathematicians from disadvantaged
have set the bar
and presented an opportunity to “show
backgrounds,” CASME said in a statement.
high when it
respect to those who continue to ensure
“The problem is exacerbated further by
comes to ethics
success in the endeavours of NMISA.”
the fact that very few females enter these
attitudes, and this
professions.” According to Wirsam director
is in part related
University of Pretoria’s
including the CEO Award, which was this
Vicky Wagner, the company “is very proud
to our history of
Prof Michael Pepper
year awarded to Aadil Essop, an electronic
to in some small way contribute to the
discrimination as well as the recognition that
systems designer at NMISA, for his
advancement in science, mathematics and
we have a very valuable resource that needs
outstanding performance and demonstration
technology education, and the development
to be protected,” said Prof Michael Pepper,
of the industry 4.0 trend in his line of work.
of educators in South Africa.”
who presented the report.
NMISA is part of the Department of Trade
emphasised that measurement excellence, which is one of the guiding principles in the organisation, was clearly on display among
Awards were granted in eight categories,
To ensure that this standard is upheld,
and Industry’s Technical Infrastructure
ASSAf calls for improved ethics guidelines for gene editing
the report calls for the establishment of
(TI) institutes. The TI is responsible for
a South African human genetics advisory
measurement standards and sciences,
The Academy of Science of South Africa
board, which will enforce a code of conduct
procedures and the regulations as well as
(ASSAf) has released a study aimed at
for professionals in the field. Furthermore,
accreditation that gives confidence in goods
creating a more clearly defined regulatory
committees must be established to determine
and products and allows for successful
environment for government departments
who can use genetic data and samples, and
prosecution in cases of non-compliance. M
on matters relating to human genetics and the human genome. The study’s aim is to inform the drafting of policy, regulations and guidelines, but stakeholders have indicated that researchers will need to lobby the government to create such ethical and legal frameworks. The country has become a hotspot for genomics research with the launch of projects to characterise and understand the genetics of its diverse population — work
JOHANNESBURG CAPE TOWN DURBAN PORT ELIZABETH VAAL TRIANGLE
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482 386 709 365 931
Some of the recipients of NMISA’s 11th Annual Achiever awards during the awards ceremony in Pretoria.
1060 9020 0199 2060 1731
www.wirsam.com w w w.lm s m a g a z i n e .c o. z a
LMS Issue 1 | 2019
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