SAIP Newsletter: February 2006 Edition 33 Contents 1. International Heliophysical Year (IHY) 2007 2. MinQuiz 3. Geospace Physics Bursaries 4. 2006 SAASTEC Conference 5. World Conference on Physics and Sustainable Development Follow-up 6. De Beers Gold Medal for 2006 (1) International Heliophysical Year (IHY) 2007 Prof. M.S. Potgieter (North-West U.) Email: fskmsp@puk.ac.za In 1957 a program of international research, inspired by the International Polar Years of 1882 and 1932, was organized as the International Geophysical Year (IGY) to study global phenomena of the Earth and geospace. The IGY involved about 60 000 scientists from 66 nations, working at thousands of stations, from pole to pole to obtain simultaneous, global observations on Earth and in space. The year 2007 will mark the 50th Anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) and 50 years of space exploration. The world's science community will again come together for an international program of scientific collaboration: the International Heliophysical Year (IHY) 2007. The word 'Heliophysical' is a broadening of the concept "geophysical," extending the connections from the Earth to the Sun and to interplanetary space, the heliosphere. The 2007 IHY activities will build on the success of IGY 1957 by continuing its legacy of system-wide studies of the extended heliophysical domain. The IHY has three primary objectives: a) Advancing our Understanding of the Fundamental Heliophysical Processes that Govern the Sun, Earth and Heliosphere b) Continuing the tradition of international research and advancing the legacy on the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year c) Demonstrating the Beauty, Relevance and Significance of Space and Earth Science to the World Regional contact in South Africa: Prof. M.S. Potgieter, School of Physics, North-West University (fskmsp@puk.ac.za). Please notify him if you want your research project to form part of the official activities for IHY2007. To see how IHY's activities fit together, go to http://ihy.gsfc.nasa.gov/about/how_ihy_works.shtml __________ (2) MinQuiz Dr Nadaraj Govender (U. KwaZulu-Natal) GovenderN37@unzn.ac.za or ph:031-2603469. Please be informed the MINQUIZ-(a high school Grade 12 physical science oral and written competion sponsored by MINTEK) will be held at Edgewood Campus on the 7 March 2006 from 12:00 to 4:00 in the Margaret Martin theatre. Kindly bring this notice to any schools or science teacher in KZN especially rural schools. _________ (3) Geospace Physics Bursaries Professor Arthur Hughes (U. KwaZulu-Natal) Email: hughes@ukzn.ac.za Bursaries for students interested in Geospace Physics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Antarctic Research Honours Bursary 2006 R25 000 MSc 2006 R40 000 The student accepeted may have to spend 2 months at the South African Base in Antarctica. Topics: Geomagnetic pulsations Wave-Particle interactions VLF whistlers MSc Bursary 2006 R20 000 Research into Lightning and VLF whistlers. ________ (4) 2006 SAASTEC Conference Derek Fish (Unizul Science Centre) Please include the following SAASTEC Conference 2006: 29 Nov to 1 Dec: Unizul Science Centre, Richards Bay The Southern African Association of Science and Technology Centres will hold its 9th annual conference at Unizul Science Centre in Richards Bay from Wed 29 Nov to Fri 1 Dec 2006. The conference will also be attended by the World Science Centre body comprising heads of Science Centre networks from every continent. See: www.saastec.co.za or contact Derek Fish on 035-7973204 for more details. _______ (5) World Conference on Physics and Sustainable Development Follow-up Prof. Debbie Van der Merwe Email: vandermerwedg@medicine.wits.ac.za Please regularly visit http:\\www.wcpsd.org for follow-up information on the world conference in Durban in 2005! _________________ (6) De Beers Gold Medal J. Padayachee Email: secretary@saip.org.za The closing date for nominations for the De Beers Gold Medal is Tuesday 28 February 2006. Please note that unsuccessful candidates from previous years are eligible to be re-nominated. Details of the application process may be obtained from the Secretary.