New space created for interdisciplinary work

Last week saw the opening of the newly refurbished space of the Centre for Research in Computational and Applied Mechanics' (CERECAM).

The revamp was made possible through funding from the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation.

"We have been able to reconfigure our space to create an environment where students and staff from various disciplines are able to interact and work together on developing solutions for a wide range of research projects," said CERECAM director, Professor Daya Reddy.

From its modest beginnings as a research group in the Department of Civil Engineering, CERECAM now includes 13 academic staff from the Departments of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Physics and four engineering departments. Consequently, interdisciplinary work has become embedded in the objectives of the Centre.

"CERECAM brings together disciplines of engineering blended with good sciences, and the new space creates the atmosphere of sharing and interaction across the different disciplines." said Professor Francis Petersen, dean of the Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment.

Among those at the opening of the venue were deputy vice-chancellor Prof Danie Visser, Prof Daya Reddy, Prof Kathy Driver and Prof Francis Petersen.