Potgieter to represent South African space science community

Potchefstroom - Prof Marius Potgieter of the Research Unit for Space Physics on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University has been nominated by the National Research Foundation to represent the South African space science community during the general assembly of COSPAR in Bremen, Germany during July 2010.

COSPAR is the international Committee on Space Research that was established in London in 1958 as the first scientifically organized steps into the space age. Since then, a general assembly has been formed and organized every two years.
Potgieter is an A1 graded researcher with the National Research Foundation and lecturer in Physics on the Potchestroom Campus. This is the highest rating that scientists can receive from the NRF.
COSPAR's objectives are to promote on an international level research on and in space, with emphasis on the exchange of scientific results, information and opinions by providing a forum, open to all scientists, for the discussion of space research.

They advise the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations on space research matters.

Potgieter said the use of space science is promoted for the benefit of mankind and for its adoption by developing countries and new space-faring nations.
He said with the creation of the South Africa Space Agency in 2009, researchers in the Unit for Space Physics have also embraced this new exciting development.

The first meeting on designing and building a next micro-satellite for South Africa was held in Cape Town on 3 March this year.

Prof Marius Potgieter

Published by: Pertunia Thulo
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