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David Richard Walwyn

Professor of Technology Management, University of Pretoria
B.Sc Chemical Engineering (University of Cape Town) and a PhD (University of Cambridge). Full details of my publications and work as an academic can be found at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/David_Walwyn.

South Africa's power blackouts: solutions lie in solar farms and battery storage at scale, and an end to state monopoly

Jun 03, 2023 03:27 am UTC| Economy

Rolling blackouts are costing South Africa dearly. The electricity crisis is a barrier to growth, destroys investor confidence and handicaps almost every economic activity. It has raised input costs for producers and...

South Africa has failed to harness the digital revolution: how it can fix the problem

Nov 08, 2020 11:23 am UTC| Economy

The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated a migration from physical work spaces in many sectors of the economy to online, digital services, supported by staff working from home. Parts of the economy such as mining,...

Oil in Global Economy Series

South Africa has huge 'green fuels' potential. But it needs to act now

Jan 10, 2020 10:28 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

South Africa needs to seriously start thinking about shifting its energy focus. This is for two reasons. The first is that the countrys important exports coal and platinum face potential collapse with the imminent...

Why South Africa should revert to greater protection for some of its industries

Jul 14, 2019 13:18 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

After years of relative silence, debates about the pros and cons of tariffs in international trade have become a regular feature. The renewed interest has been sparked by the actions of US President Donald Trump, the first...

Economy

Mercedes Pay+ Debuts In-Car Fingerprint Payments in Partnership with Mastercard

Mercedes-Benz collaborates with Mastercard to launch Mercedes Pay+, facilitating in-car refueling payments. Using an integrated fingerprint sensor, drivers can now securely settle fuel bills directly from their vehicles....

Getty, NVIDIA Partner on AI Image Generator; Ensuring Copyright Compliance

Getty Images Holdings Inc. and NVIDIA are collaborating on an AI-driven image generator, striving to produce content free from copyright concerns and averting deepfake creation and intellectual property...

Mitsubishi UFJ Trust Bank Teams Up with Binance Japan for New Stablecoin Venture

Mitsubishi UFJ Trust Bank collaborates with Binance Japan and Progmat on a stablecoin initiative, leveraging Progmat Coin infrastructure. Anticipated stablecoin issuance follows the amended Fund Settlement Acts June 2023...

LG Electronics Unveils First Foldable Laptop in South Korea: The LG Gram Fold

LG Electronics introduced the LG Gram Fold (17X90R) in South Korea, marking a revolutionary shift in laptop design. This innovative device, releasing next week, combines adaptability and cutting-edge technology and is...

Jeff Bezos Announces Dave Limp's Transition from Amazon to Blue Origin's Top Role

Dave Limp, Amazons senior vice president of devices and services, has been named the new CEO of Blue Origin Rocket. Jeff Bezos conveyed this leadership shift in a letter, praising Limps capabilities. Limp assumes the...

Politics

Zelenskyy's meetings with Trudeau and Biden are aimed at winning the long war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has capped off a visit to North America with a stop in Ottawa, where he addressed Parliament and urged the world not to forget about the war in Ukraine. It is genocide what...

Offshore wind: a perfect storm of inflation and policy uncertainty risks derailing the UK's main hope for a low-carbon future

In what many have deemed a disaster, the UK governments latest auction for renewable power an annual attempt to incentivise private sector investment in a range of power sources has failed to bring forward any new...

Ukraine war: mixed signals among Kyiv's allies hint at growing conflict fatigue

It is now almost 600 days since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the war that has followed has tested the resilience of both countries. But it has also tested those in the west that have supported...

Sunak should be wary of backtracking on net zero – what history tells us about flip-flopping on the environment

Rishi Sunak has delivered a speech in which he announced delays to key net zero targets, including postponing the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars until 2035. It is a remarkable event given that the UK...

The fraught history of India and the Khalistan movement

The Indian government has warned its citizens living in Canada to exercise extreme caution due to a deteriorating security environment in the country. The warning came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau...

Science

A Nasa spacecraft is on course to deliver material from an asteroid to Earth – here's what we could learn

Around 15 years ago, I was on a European Space Agency (Esa) committee, looking at Esas strategy for proposed forthcoming space missions. Under consideration was a mission to an asteroid. Over dinner, one of the committee...

Five golden rules for effective science communication – perspectives from a documentary maker

Over the past three years, people from all walks of life have learned a great deal about different branches of science. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced many of us to information about virology and vaccine production....

Discovering the universe from our own backyards

When I was a college student, I worked at the Charlevoix Astronomical Observatory in Québec. It was a pretty decent summer job, as I got to observe celestial bodies until the dead of night, talk to astronomy...

Our planet is burning in unexpected ways - here’s how we can protect people and nature

People have been using fire for millennia. It is a vital part of many ecosystems and cultures. Yet human activities in the current era, sometimes called the Anthropocene, are reshaping patterns of fire across the...

Jamais vu: the science behind eerie opposite of déjà vu

Repetition has a strange relationship with the mind. Take the experience of déjà vu, when we wrongly believe have experienced a novel situation in the past leaving you with an spooky sense of pastness. But...

Technology

Hitachi Taps VR to Preserve Japanese Craftsmanship: Veteran Workers Guide Newbies in Metaverse

Hitachi Ltd. is revolutionizing Japanese craftsmanship training using the metaverse, enabling remote skill transfer. Utilizing VR and advanced cameras, the Tokyo-based electronics company offers real-time instruction,...

Mitsubishi Unveils Mysterious Electrified Minivan Concept Ahead of Japan Mobility Show 2023

Mitsubishi Motors unveiled an electrified minivan concept teaser, creating a buzz ahead of the Japan Mobility Show 2023. Speculation arises over its features and connection to existing models. The darkened image reveals...

How AI and AR could increase the risk of problem gambling for online sports betting

Sometimes referred to as the crack cocaine of gambling, electronic gaming machines (EGMs) such as slot machines allow bets to be placed as quickly as once every 2.5 seconds, delivering a rapid and immersive gambling...

OpenAI Unveils Major ChatGPT Update with 'See, Hear and Speak' Capabilities

OpenAI announces a groundbreaking ChatGPT update, introducing voice comprehension, audible responses, and image processing. This significant enhancement redefines AI communication, elevating the user experience. One of...

Mitsubishi Chemical to Open New Semiconductor Materials Plant by 2025 Amid Global Demand

Mitsubishi Chemical Group announces a new semiconductor materials plant, operational by March 2025. While the location remains undecided, Fukuoka Prefecture is under consideration. Given the components pivotal role in...