University of the Western Cape campus. Credit: UWC.
Winter School Theme: Sustainable Futures through Condensed Matter and Nanoscience
Winter School Fee: R730.00 (including all meals, workshop supplies and any transport required to and from the University of the Western Cape)
Location: University of the Western Cape
Max number of participants: 50 students
This intensive one-day winter school brings together researchers, academics, and students to explore the frontiers of condensed matter physics and nanoscience with a focus on sustainable development. By linking fundamental physics with real-world applications, the school emphasizes the role of nanoscience in creating resilient systems for clean energy, safe water, sustainable agriculture, improved healthcare, and equitable resource use.
Program Schedule
08:30 – 09:00 | Registration & Coffee
09:00 – 09:15 | Welcome and Opening Remarks
Opening remarks: Condensed Matter Physics as a Driver of Sustainable Innovation
Prof. Christopher Arendse – Department of Physics & Astronomy, UWC
09:15 – 10:00 | Lecture 1 – Measurement
Precision for Sustainability: The Role of Metrology
Dr. Clive Oliphant – National Metrology Institute of South Africa
10:00 – 10:45 | Lecture 2 – Battery Technologies
Next-Generation Batteries for Sustainable Energy Systems
Prof. Natasha Ross – Department of Chemistry, UWC
10:45 – 11:00 | Coffee Break
11:00 – 11:45 | Lecture 3 – Hydrogen Economy
Hydrogen Economy and Sustainable Development
Prof. Sivakumar Pasupathi, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, UWC
11:45 – 12:30 | Lecture 4 – Top-down vs. Bottom-up
Advancing Materials through Chemical Vapour Deposition – From Theory to Practice
Prof. Christopher Arendse – Department of Physics & Astronomy, UWC
12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch
14:00 – 15:30 | Lecture 5 – Computational Workshop
Structure Analysis using Least Squares Fitting - Performing Simple Rietveld Refinement
Prof. Franscious Cummings – Electron Microscope Unit, Department of Physics & Astronomy, UWC
15:30 – 17:00 | Lecture 6 – Demonstration Chemical Vapour Deposition and Surface
Treatment of Perovskite Thin Films
Dr. Siphelo Ngqoloda, Mr. James Mercuur, Dr. Siphesihle Magubane, Miss Natasha Peterson – Department of Physics & Astronomy, UWC
Questions?
Contact us at saip2026@saip.org.za