What is Inkaba yeAfrica?

Inkaba yeAfrica is a German-South African collaborative Earth Science initiative that is both multidisciplinary and intercultural, dovetailing next-generation science and technology with a strong training and capacity-building component that is aligned with the Research and Development (R&D) strategies of both nations.

Three teams of earth scientists from leading institutes in both countries are taking on the global challenges of climate change, sustainable resources, clean water and energy. These are pressing issues and are all related to the dynamics of Earth Systems.

They can only be solved by understanding the complex interactions among the solid earth, the biosphere, the atmosphere and oceans. And this will require educating a new generation of young scientists trained in holistic earth science.

Why is it Important?

South Africa’s geologic superlatives, its enormous mineral wealth, its position in the “climate engine” of the southern oceans and its growing human resource of on land use and energy makes this an ideal natural laboratory and a vital testing ground for innovative science in aid of society.

University of Cape Town, AEON	Maarten de Wit
GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam	Brian Horsfield