Pretoria - The 2015 LIGHTS on Lightning Conference is expected to produce a scientific paper that presents South Africa's position on lightning research.
Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa said the paper will also address how lightning impacts on and/or affects climate change.
Minister Molewa on Thursday officially opened the 2015 LIGHTS on Lightning Conference in Pretoria, which serves as a platform for lightning researchers to share their relevant research within the broader African lightning community.
“The teams aim to break new ground in the centuries-old study of this complex, all-powerful, and at times mysterious scientific phenomenon,” the Department of Environmental Affairs said.
Minister Molewa said despite the high number of fatalities and injuries from lightning strikes, South Africa’s lightning research scientists are leaders in the field.
“As a multi-disciplinary group that provides a platform for researchers to share their knowledge on lightning physics and related scientists within an African context, I am pleased to note that LIGHTS also aims to provide practical lightning safety tips and broad lightning safety education through open public engagements,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
