The Molecular Sciences Institute (MSI)

The Molecular Sciences Institute (MSI) was formed in January 2001 by the amalgamation of two Centres in the then Department of Chemistry: the Centre for Molecular Design, and the Applied Chemistry and Chemical Technology Centre. The Institute represents the research arm of the School of Chemistry but it also has members from outside the School. The field of research in Chemical Education is catered for by a separate Science Education Research Group, and research in polymer chemistry is conducted by the Polymer Chemistry Research Group.

The primary focus of the MSI is to coordinate the research activities within the School. It does not prescribe activities, although broad research thrusts have been identified. Membership is voluntary. There are currently 21 local members and research associates, and 12 honorary research fellows, honorary research professors or visiting professors of the Institute.

There are currently three thrusts within the Institute:

• Environmental Analytical Chemistry
• Solid State Chemistry and Catalysis
• Synthesis and Dynamics

In line with the MSI?s aims of fostering interdisciplinary activities, the focus areas overlap to a considerable extent, and there is substantial collaboration between MSI members who formally belong to one or other of the four thrusts.

In 2009we hosted 7 postdoctoral fellows (from South Africa, India,China, Poland and Germany) and graduated 5 PhD and 11 MSc candidates. There are currently some 60 MSc and PhD students in training.

Members of the Institute have many industrial interactions (Anglo Research, Holcim, Element 6, Sasol, AngloGold, AngloPlatinum, SAFIC, Goldfields, Chrome International, CSIR, Cherserve, Harmony, Mintek).

Members participated in more than 40 national and international conferences and presented seminars and lectures at many local and international universities. They actively participated in national and international scientific societies and refereed many papers for many international journals.

Several visitors (from the USA, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, France, Poland and the UK) visited the Institute during 2009.

Expenditure on capital equipment in 2009 amounted to almostR2M. The acquisition of a new Bruker 500 MHz NMR spectrometer with solid state capabilities has been approved, and will be installed in mid-2010. The School has excellent facilities forsingle-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, a national mass spectrometry laboratory, and other facilities forFTIR, HPLC, GCMS, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, UV-Vis, , TGA, DSC, BET, electrochemical and electrophoresis analyses. We make regular use of techniques (M?auer, resonance Raman, ESR, photoelectron spectroscopy, SEM, TEM) available in other Schools or as central University facilities.

Funding to the Institute by the University amount to just over R1 M; in addition members raised research funding of R7.4 M from sources such as the NRF, THRIP and industry.

The full report of the activities of the MSI in 2009is available as well as thereview report for 2001-2004.