Chairperson's welcome

On behalf of the organizing committee I would like to invite you to the annual conference of the Catalysis Society of South Africa, CATSA 2011, to be held at the Misty Hills Conference Centre & Spa on the threshold of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site close to Johannesburg from 13 to 16 November 2011.  2011 is the International Year of Chemistry in which the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of humankind will be celebrated.  In South Africa the International Year of Chemistry kicked off with the 40th SACI convention in Johannesburg in January.  CATSA 2011 will celebrate the year by showcasing the role of catalysis to ensure the well-being of humankind.

Our logo for CATSA 2011 incorporates the protagonist of the world heritage site, i.e. mrs. Ples.

 Why Catalysis and mrs. Ples?

Sometime, somewhere and somehow humankind was triggered to become, for better or worse, the single dominant species on earth.  The precise nature of this trigger or catalyst is still hotly debated. The discovery of the scull of mrs. Ples (depicted in the logo for CATSA 2011) as well as the Taung scull catalyzed a change of our perception on the origin of modern man.  These finds also put Southern Africa in the front line of paleontological research and clearly illustrates how a small occurrence can escalate into a major change.

Can South African chemists and engineers find a mrs. Ples in chemical catalysis?

The conference will cover the usual aspects of catalysis with an emphasis this year on the use of fundamental techniques, i.e. molecular modeling, to understand catalytic processes.  The world-renowned prof. Jens Norskov, recipient of the CATSA 2011 Eminent Visitor award, will join us to share his expertise in this exiting field.  Apart from the scientific programme the social programme will include the Süd-Chemie welcome, the annual Poretech challenge with a twist and a carnivorous dinner experience not to be missed.
Come and join us to make this a special year in a geographical setting renowned for its contribution to understanding the change in humankind.  We look forward to see you at Misty Hills.