“VUT’s IPSF 2025 conference united global experts to explore innovative, interdisciplinary solutions for sustainability through mathematics, science, education, and technology.”
25 November 2025 | Story by: Nontobeko Moimane | Picture: Supplied
4 minutes read time.
The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) stepped confidently into the global research arena as it hosted its 1st International Conference on Innovative Pathways for Sustainable Futures (IPSF 2025). Held on 20 and 21 November at Emerald Casino, the gathering united leading thinkers in mathematics, science, education, and technology to chart solutions for a world in flux.
The theme, Integrating Mathematics, Sciences, Education and Technology, carried a clear message: contemporary challenges demand ideas that cross borders, disciplines, and traditional academic silos.
In her opening remarks, Dr Nolutho Mkhumbeni, Acting Executive Dean of Applied and Computer Sciences, spoke of the urgency of this moment. IPSF, she said, strengthens VUT’s position as a bridge between research and regional development by nurturing innovation that responds directly to societal need. The conference echoed the imperatives of SDG 4, SDG 9 and SDG 13, grounding its conversations in global responsibility.
Three thematic tracks guided the two-day programme: Matter and Materials Systems; Computational and Mathematical Frontiers; and Education, Environment and Emerging Technologies. Together, they gave structure to a conference marked by curiosity, collaboration, and forward thinking.
Opening the keynote sessions, Prof Surjeet Singh Chauhan of Chandigarh University delivered a compelling call to embrace mathematics as the engine of sustainability. He argued that clean energy, climate resilience, and smart infrastructure rely on mathematical modelling and data driven tools. “Mathematics is not just a subject. It is a powerful tool for shaping a sustainable future,” he reminded delegates.
His message set the tone for the second keynote when Prof Masilo France Machaba of the University of South Africa underscored the centrality of education. He argued that STEM integration must become a national priority because sustainable development hinges on graduates who can connect ideas, analyse problems, and innovate with intent.
On day two, Prof Odirileng Ntwaeaborwa from Sol Plaatje University urged scholars to seek depth rather than trends. His research on nanophosphor materials showed how
microscopic discoveries can unlock safer sensors, smarter devices, and more efficient renewable solutions. His appeal was simple but profound: sustainable futures require patient science.
Prof Samuel Adesanya of Redeemer’s University expanded the lens with a study on wastewater flow through vertical channels. Through numerical modelling, he revealed how small adjustments to channel surfaces can significantly improve treatment systems, safeguard communities, and protect fragile ecosystems. His work reaffirmed mathematics as a defender of environmental well-being.
Connecting the technical with the human, Prof Motlalepula Mhlongo of Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University distilled sustainability into a framework that is both elegant and accessible: “Science gives findings. Technology gives tools. Mathematics gives logic. Education makes sure everyone understands.” Her message captured the spirit of IPSF, knowledge must serve people.
Reflecting on the event, Conference Chairperson Mr Lucas Thabang Melato described the experience as transformative. Leading the largest project of his career, he credited teamwork, resilience, and shared purpose for the conference’s success. His leadership helped shape a gathering that deepened VUT’s research footprint.
Professor Solly Lebelo, a member of the organising committee, highlighted the lasting value of IPSF. Delegates forged collaborations that will strengthen national and international research networks. These partnerships, he said, will unlock new opportunities for postgraduate development and cross disciplinary innovation.
Across plenary sessions, panel debates, technical papers, and poster exhibitions, IPSF 2025 demonstrated what South African higher education must aspire to: research that is globally connected, socially relevant, and committed to long-term impact.
In hosting this inaugural conference, VUT affirmed its growing stature as a hub for innovation driven scholarship. IPSF did more than convene experts; it sparked conversations that will shape laboratories, classrooms, and policy tables in the years to come.
As the final session closed, one truth lingered in the air: IPSF 2025 is not an ending but a beginning. It marks VUT’s ascent into a future where interdisciplinary research lights the path toward sustainable progress, on campus, in the region, and across the world.