Panel Discussion: From Climate Data to Educating Professionals with Environmental Insight (Science Forum South Africa)

Hosts: Embassy of Finland in Pretoria and SA Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation

Venue: CSIR Pretoria, Amethyst Room

Time: Thursday 27th November, 17:00 to 18:30

Description: South Africa’s science, technology and innovation (STI) policy envisions a society where knowledge is both generated and meaningfully applied. This panel brings together collaborators working at different ends of that spectrum. Researchers from North-West University and the Finnish Meteorological Institute will share insights from Welgegund, one of Africa’s most advanced atmospheric observation stations, which produces globally unique data on air quality, climate dynamics and environmental risks. The conversation then shifts to academics from the University of Johannesburg and the University of Helsinki, who are embedding environmental insight across higher education. Their work ensures that future professionals – from engineers to educators and business people – are equipped to integrate environmental considerations into their fields. Key questions include: What are the barriers and opportunities for embedding environmental knowledge in education and policy? What can South Africa and Finland learn from each other?  

Moderator: Prof. Kathija Yassim, UJ (SA)

Panelists:

• Prof. Prof. Pieter van Zyl, NWU (SA)
• Dr. Ville Vakkari, FMI (FIN)
• Dr. Laura Riuttanen, UH (FIN)
• Dr. Crister Nyberg, Haaga-Helia (FIN)

Prof. Prof Kathija Yassim
Prof. Kathija Yassim is a Professor in the Department of Education Leadership and Management at the University of Johannesburg. She is an expert in leadership education for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and a leading voice in sustainability education. Prof. Yassim currently spearheads UNESCO’s Global South Sustainability Initiative, coordinating efforts across 54 higher education institutions to integrate sustainability consciousness into curricula. Her work focuses on decolonizing education and promoting innovative pedagogies such as gamification, digital storytelling, and virtual reality. She is deeply committed to advancing inclusive, action-oriented approaches that empower students as future sustainability practitioners and global change agents.

Prof. Pieter van Zyl
Prof. Pieter van Zyl is the group leader of the Atmospheric Chemistry Research Group (ACRG) at the North-West University (NWU), which focuses on ground-based in-situ atmospheric measurements, but research related to laboratory investigations, satellite observations and modelling is also conducted. He is currently node manager of the atmospheric node of BIOGRIP (Biogeochemistry Research Infrastructure Project) – a research infrastructure platform funded by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) within the South African Research Infrastructure Roadmap (SARIR) framework, as well as convenor of the steering committee of the IGAC (International Global Atmospheric Chemistry) and WMO (World Meteorological Organisation) endorsed international DEBITS (Deposition of Biogeochemical Important Trace Species) project. He co-authored >100 publications in ISI accredited peer reviewed journals (excluding peer-reviewed conference proceedings) and 3 book chapters.  He supervised/co-supervised 19 PhD and 31 MSc studies that have been completed since 2008, and is currently supervisor/co-supervisor of another 7 postgraduate studies that are in process. He is a South African National Research Foundation (NRF) rated scientist.

Dr. Ville Vakkari
Dr. Ville Vakkari is currently an Academy Research Fellow at Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland. He is also appointed as an Extraordinary Professor at Chemical Resource Beneficiation, North-West University, South Africa. He received his doctoral degree in atmospheric sciences from University of Helsinki, Finland, in 2013 and his master’s degree from Helsinki University of Technology, Finland, in 2009. His research focus is on atmospheric aerosol particle sources and near-emission processes especially in sub-Saharan Africa. He has been visiting southern Africa for his research since 2008 and has published more than a hundred papers in peer-reviewed journals. At the Finnish Meteorological Institute his research includes also aerosol, wind and turbulence profiling with Doppler lidars. Using field and laboratory observations, Dr. Vakkari aims to better characterise the climate and air quality impacts of aerosol particles in the savanna and grassland biomes.

Dr. Laura Riuttanen
Dr. Laura Riuttanen is a university lecturer in atmospheric sciences at the University of Helsinki Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research INAR. She leads Climate University, a national network of 29 Higher Education Institutions developing climate change and sustainability education in Higher Education. She is a vice director of the Specialisation programme in climate expertise at the University of Helsinki and academic leader of the Una Europa Micro-Credential in Sustainability. Her research group does multidisciplinary research on the learning of the climate competencies in the society. Dr. Riuttanen is PhD in meteorology and Associate Professor (Docent) in atmospheric sciences. In her Science Forum contribution, Dr. Riuttanen will tell about the Una Europa Virtual Exchanges for Sustainability (UnaVEx), collaboration between University of Helsinki and University of Johannesburg, where all South African university students are welcome to apply: https://www.atm.helsinki.fi/unavex/ 

Dr. Crister Nyberg
Dr. Crister Nyberg works as the Director of the School of Professional Teacher Education at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. Nyberg has extensive experience in the field of education across different educational levels, in both teaching and administration. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree, and his research interests include philosophy of language, pedagogy, educational leadership, philosophy of education, sustainability competence, and ethics.