Article from: https://www.eng.sun.ac.za/international-conferences/
Univ. Stellenbosch Master’s student Thaakira Jabaar achieved international recognition by winning the Best Oral Presentation award at the Global Congress of Chemical Engineering (GCCE) in October 2024 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). This was the first-ever GCCE held on African soil, attracting top researchers from around the world under the theme, “To Sustainability and Beyond”.
Thaakira’s research, “Decay factor characterisation of paper materials under optimal anaerobic conditions using bench- and pilot-scale reactor studies”, contributed to the environmental engineering category. Her work addresses the critical issue of decay factors in greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories, particularly for paper waste in landfills. Currently, South Africa relies on default decay factors set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which can lead to inaccurate GHG reporting.
Thaakira’s research aims to develop decay factors specifically for South Africa, providing the pulp and paper industry with more accurate data for waste management and sustainability planning. This could lead to improved GHG reporting, reduced emissions, and better environmental compliance.
On receiving the award, Thaakira expressed her gratitude, saying: “It is truly humbling to be recognised from an international audience.”
Photograph:
Thaakira Jabaar at the GCCE.
[Article by Amber Viviers, Univ of Stellenbosch https://www.eng.sun.ac.za/international-conferences/ ]
