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An extensive report by INSPIRE, the Centre for Sustainability Transitions at Stellenbosch University, and Power Futures Lab, has highlighted the importance and need for transformative and collaborative research within South Africa’s Just Energy Transitions. The report was borne out of the Academic Networking Event, which focused on socio-economic dynamics of utility-scale renewable energy within South Africa’s Just Energy Transition. The event brought together researchers and experts in various fields of sustainability transitions to the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business under the overarching theme of transformative research, specifically encouraging researchers and practitioners to collaborate and spearhead new methods of socio-economically change and push aside often limited and clinical means of current research practice. The event’s agenda was designed and facilitated by Alison McCallum from Social Resonance and saw key objectives being outlined: Strengthening networks between students, researchers, and practitioners Enhancing understanding of ongoing research, identifying emerging topics, and aligning research with industry and community needs. private sector organisations allowed for balanced representation from academic and professional settings. The diverse insights and perspectives shared by participants embodied the event’s collaborative spirit, bridging academic research with practical, real-world application. Ensuring the event achieved its objectives, it was structured around three ideas: observe, reflect, and act. Participants focused on observing current research topics, methods, and approaches, synthesising key findings and emerging themes. They reflected on existing research gaps and identified opportunities for greater collaboration and impact, and explored ways to turn these insights into action by setting clear priorities and actionable steps. Key themes emerged, [...]

Prof Reinette (Oonsie) Biggs, co-director of the Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST) and holder of the DST/NRF South African Chair in Social-Ecological Systems and Resilience, recently received another feather in her cap when she was elected as a member of the prestigious Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). ASSAf is the official national Academy of Science of South Africa and represents the country in the international community of science academies. The Academy mobilises its members – internationally renowned scholars elected by their peers – to provide authoritative advice to government and other stakeholders based on scientifically rigorous analysis of evidence and consensus of diverse experts. In addition, ASSAf also recognises and rewards scholarly achievement and excellence in the application of scientific thinking for the benefit of society. As a member, Biggs will receive invitations to conferences, symposia and seminars and to serve on academy panels and committees, among others. “It is always a pleasure to be recognised for your scientific standing and contribution. It’s also great that one is seen as someone that can helpfully advise on policy and relevant issues within one’s domain,” she said of her election as a member of ASSAf. “I also see it as an honour for the CST to have its senior researchers recognised as leading national and international experts who can be called upon to give input on issues of national importance. Being recognised by bodies like ASSAf helps to give weight to one’s opinion and input on processes.” As a NRF A-rated [...]

A new video-based website makes international research on Just Energy Transitions accessible to scientists and non-scientists. The Reconfiguring Energy for Social Equity (ReSET) project – a collaboration between South African, Indian, German, and Dutch research institutes – is launching an innovative, experimental website to share research findings more effectively and engagingly. Visitors to the new ReSET website will get an insight into the local realities of different researchers through video and can independently compare case studies from various countries. Users can pause videos to click on concepts in the captions at any time to learn about context-specific meanings. In this way, knowledge about how energy transitions and social justice outcomes can be aligned should become more accessible to civil society organisations, (local) governments, development banks and other interested parties. Dr Megan Davies, researcher at the Centre for Sustainability Transitions, notes the different approach taken to develop the content and set-up the website, adding that creating a video-based platform provides accessibility to a wider audience, not only academics and researchers. “The website offers a unique way to hear from ReSET team members, learn about our concepts and frameworks and get to grips with the different case studies. The website features three case studies developed by researchers at the Centre for Sustainability Transitions, that speak to different dimensions of South Africa’s just energy transition – from collaborative governance around utility-scale renewable energy, to municipal financial sustainability, and energy poverty alleviation in cities. “While the website is relevant for our own context in [...]

Prof Mark Swilling, co-director of the Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST) at Stellenbosch University has national energy strategy on his mind. Swilling has been appointed as a non-executive director of the board of the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA) of Eskom. The first order of business, he said, will be to implement the Transmission Development Plan as set out by Eskom. His appointment reflects the effort and research conducted by the CST on the energy transition. “It is a logical outcome of the enormous amount of work on energy transition that the CST has done over the last couple of years, including a highly influential report on transmission finance,” said Swilling. Swilling has publicly argued that the transmission grid is a key component to solving South Africa’s energy crisis. “It was not part of the Energy Action Plan to end loadshedding until recently. Now I am on the board of a new company that has to do something about it,” added Swilling. Historically, Eskom has been an integrated utility; generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity across South Africa. However, since the release of the Eskom Roadmap in 2019, a report by the Department of Public Enterprises which was approved by Cabinet, provision was made to “un-bundle” Eskom into three separate subsidiaries. The NTCSA will ultimately be responsible for transmission and will be the buyer and seller of electricity regardless of who produces it. Swilling’s extensive experience and research has made him the go-to expert on the energy sector and [...]

The Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST) is delighted to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the graduates of 2023 for their impressive accomplishment. The ceremony, which took place in December 2023, celebrated the graduation of 33 students from the Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Development, six students from the MPhil in Sustainable Development and one student from the PhD programme. CST graduates in Sustainable Development celebrate after the official graduation ceremony held at Stellenbosch University's Coetzenburg Athletics Stadium in Stellenbosch. For PGDip students, their academic journey involved an exploration of a diversity of themes related to sustainability in modules all aiming to cultivate their sense of individual and collective sustainability change agency. The MPhil cohort, through their engaged research across an even broader set of topics, has demonstrated a profound commitment to understanding and addressing pressing issues that have far-reaching implications for Africa’s future. Achieving a postgraduate qualification from CST, situated within the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at Stellenbosch University, equips students with a unique skill set and knowledge base. Graduates emerge as critical and reflective thinkers and practitioners in the field of sustainability transitions, proficient in integrating knowledge from various disciplines and collaboratively generating insights with societal actors to address sustainability challenges. MPhils in Sustainable Development Amy Murgatroyd and Amelia Timms. The programmes help to develop the ability to comprehend and impact complex transitions processes across diverse scales, contributing to the enhancement of human wellbeing and a more sustainable global environment. For PGDip students, this [...]

A multidisciplinary team comprising of four postgraduate students from Stellenbosch University (SU) developed a prototype eco-friendly wind reader which saw them winning R10 000 in the 2023 SDG Soapbox South Africa Challenge.

The Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST) had the privilege of hosting Dr Guido Caniglia, Scientific Director at the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research (KLI) based in Klosterneuburg, Austria. The visit by Dr Caniglia aimed to solidify and strengthen future collaboration between the KLI and CST.

The Centre for Sustainability Transitions has appointed Nina Callaghan as its deputy director. Nina joins co-directors Prof Reinette (Oonsie) Biggs and Prof Mark Swilling in leading a Centre that has a strong and growing reputation for worldclass research and postgraduate teaching in the area of sustainability transitions.

The UNESCO Chair in Complex Systems and Transformative African Futures has been awarded to Associate Professor Rika Preiser and Tanja Hichert, an academically qualified futures and foresight practitioner, who are both based at the Centre for Sustainability Transitions.