Chemistry: A window for change
45th SACI national convention
30 November - 05 December 2025
Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
PhD (Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg)
Research interests: pharmaceutical chemistry, organic chemistry, development of tools to investigate processes and treat diseases related to nucleic acids and their metabolism
Associate Director of the Centre for Advancing Undergraduate Science Education at Virginia Tech., USA
PhD: Chemistry (University of Cape Town ), Education (Stellenbosch)
Research interests: chemistry education, synthetic chemistry, medicinal chemistry
Head of the Institute of Analytical and General Chemistry at the Johannes Kepler University in Linz Innsbruck, Austria
PhD (University of Innsbruck/Austria)
Research interests: use of hyphenated techniques in environmental, clinical and polymer analysis
William S. Tod Professor of Chemistry at Princeton University, USA
PhD (University of Melbourne)
Research interests: photosynthesis, quantum biology, solar light harvesting
Head: Institute for Chemical Reaction Engineering at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nurnberg, and Director: Forschungszentrum Julich.
PhD (RWTH Aachen University)
Research interests: catalyst research and process development for sustainable production of chemicals, development of LOHC technology (liquid organic hydrogen carrier)
Founder of : CyTerra | Vero-Biotech
PhD (Leeds University)
Founded CyTerra where he developed a handheld detector for buried land mines and Vero-Biotech, a pharmaceutical company. His other inventions include detection of carcinogenic N-nitrosamines, explosives and narcotics, as well as instruments used in the beverage industry.
Distinguished Professor and Limburg Chair at Maastricht University, Netherlands
PhD (University of Amsterdam)
Research interests: mass spectrometry based personalized medicine, translational molecular imaging, bioinformatics and innovative molecular analytical imaging techniques.
Professor North-West University, South Africa
PhD (Potchefstroom University)
Research interests: molecular modelling, computational study of materials, catalysis
Senior Researcher: CSIR, South Africa
PhD (Rhodes University)
Research interests: organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, green chemistry
Professor University of KwaZulu-Natal (Durban), South Africa
PhD (University of Port Elizabeth)
Research interests: sustainable chemistry, nanotechnology and materials science, solar energy devices.
Professor Emeritus University of Pretoria, South Africa
PhD (University of Illinois)
Research interests: chemistry education, systems thinking in chemistry education, organic chemistry
Professor University of Manchester, UK
PhD (University of Sussex)
Research interests: biological mass spectrometry; Parkinson’s disease diagnostics; HDX-MS; proteomics; and molecular modelling.
Technical Specialist (Southern African Grain Laboratory NPC)
PhD (University of Pretoria and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
Research interests: microplastics, nanoplastics, GC-MS, LC-MS
Professor University of the Free State, South Africa
PhD (Emory University)
Research interests: supramolecular chemistry and molecular self-organization, redox-active materials, mass spectrometry.
45th NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN CHEMICAL INSTITUTE
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Message from the Chair:
Dear Delegates,
With immense pleasure and great honour, I extend a warm invitation to the 45th National Convention of The South African Chemical Institute (SACI-45) which will be held from 30 November – 05 December 2025 at the University of The Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
SACI-45 marks a long-standing series of scientific meetings focused on research in the chemical sciences performed in South Africa and further afield under the auspices of the South African Chemical Institute. This conference provides a platform for local and international chemists, including postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows from Higher Education Institutions, Research Councils, and Industry, to present and discuss their innovative research across all chemistry disciplines. Delegates can network, exchange research ideas, uncover new research opportunities and collaborations, and expand their knowledge. The Local Organising Committee is currently preparing a scientific program that will include plenary, keynote, and invited speakers who will cover a range of cutting-edge topics. The theme for the conference is Chemistry: A Window For Change, and it accentuates the transformative role of chemistry in addressing global challenges and fostering innovation for the change needed for a sustainable future.
Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city, was established almost a century and half ago following the discovery of gold and is thus often referred to as “The City of Gold”. This cosmopolitan city is home to a diverse group of people with a rich history. Its neighboring city, Sandton, is Africa’s wealthiest square mile which boasts world-class shopping malls and international cuisine, and it is only two stops from the university by Gautrain. The social program and excursions will allow delegates to learn about the city’s history, with places such as the Constitution Hill Human Rights Precinct and the iconic residences of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela to visit. The campus also boasts the Origins Centre which takes visitors through the origins of human kind in Africa, while the newly opened WITS Anglo American Digital Dome will take visitors on journeys through the mysteries of the cosmos, or to the depths of the ocean.
We look forward to welcoming you to The City of Gold in 2025.
Warm regards,
Manoko Maubane-Nkadimeng
Conference Chair: SACI-45 (On behalf of the Local Organizing Committee)
CPD Credits: 5
SACI-45 is endorsed by
SACI-45 is endorsed by
