Cirrus

the AI initiative
for
Africa

Launch Media Kit

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Launch presentation

https://1drv.ms/b/s!AnGNabcctTWNimTgafw-xV1Mnbqg?e=GDLelJ

Wits media release

https://1drv.ms/b/s!AnGNabcctTWNimeUCDbKtObXUyHR?e=rOIlTj

Wits fact sheet

https://1drv.ms/b/s!AnGNabcctTWNimb4Sf43FfXE-k5o?e=p8ASZx

Wits media contact

Name: Erna van Wyk

Position: Senior Multimedia Communications Officer
Phone: 27 11 717 4023
Mob: 27 82 399 6574
Email: erna.vanwyk@wits.ac.za
Wits spokesperson

Name: Dr Roy Forbes

Phone: 27 11 717 6779
Mob: 27 84 445 4732
Email: roy.forbes@wits.ac.za
Wits delegation @ AI Expo
Africa
Name: Professor Zeblon Vilakazi
Position: Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Wits University
Phone: 27 11 717 1152
Email: Zeblon.Vilakazi@wits.ac.za

Name: Professor Brian Armstrong

Position: Adjunct Professor, Graduate School of Business Administration
Phone: 27 11 717 3951
Email: brian.armstrong@wits.ac.za

Name: Professor Dean Brady

Position: Director, Molecular Science Institute
Phone: 27 11 717 6745
Email: dean.brady@wits.ac.za

Name: Mr Taariq Surtee

Position: Senior Manager Programmes, Wits ICT Project Delivery Office
Phone: 27 11 717 9968
Email: Taariq.Surtee@wits.ac.za
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Cirrus marks

Cirrus wordmark colour:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AnGNabcctTWNikRuilJBbe70oTzn?e=F9R0Rj

Cirrus FOUNDRY wordmark colour:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AnGNabcctTWNikjOdn08d_Mxkuq-?e=fCG3hA

Cirrus marks designed by:

Name: Anelissa Nkanyuza
School: Wits School of Arts
Phone: 27 79 065 0227
Email: lisankanyeezy@gmail.com

Hashtags

#CirrusAI
#Wits4IR
#WitsResearch
#AIExpoAfrica

Instrumentation images

Image credit: WITS UNIVERSITY

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AnGNabcctTWNilAlAvUMTLeTCCTq?e=DVb5PB
Document containing the image captions:
https://1drv.ms/w/s!AnGNabcctTWNilwSV6hd6X5ra23Y?e=3utvDA
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Extracts – Letters of support

I think this is a very important initiative, not only to develop ideas to undertake
better research, and also for developing and extending the students.
On behalf of the CoE-SM and ARUA CoE-MEN, I would like to give my full
support to this enterprise.

Professor Lesley Cornish

Director: ARUA Centre of Excellence in Materials, Energy and Nanotechnology

It is important that the Molecular Science Institute (MSI) is not left behind in the
4th Industrial Revolution (4IR). Hosting Cirrus would aid researchers at Wits in
creating new technologies and developing future-proof students. Moreover,
Cirrus will help the MSI have an impact on job creation and economic
development.

Professor Dean Brady

Director: Molecular Sciences Institute

To have the opportunity to be at the forefront of research such as this is one that should
not be missed and should be taken advantage of.
NMR spectroscopy and organic chemistry are disciplines that are well established and
used together in the synthesis of novel molecules, yet there is little drive in these
disciplines to look at the relationship between the NMR spectra generated in these
projects and the results that come from them, such as bioassays or catalytic experiments,
and other unrelated projects with similar structures or NRM spectra. As it stands there is
a tremendous amount of data available to be analysed and compared.
With the development of Cirrus we can finally work through such tremendous amounts
of data and look for relationships that would be otherwise impossible to see.

Dr. Hendrik Henning

University of the Witwatersrand, School of Chemistry

I wish to add, on behalf our Materials group in the School of Chemistry at the University of the
Witwatersrand, our support for this initiative. We have a collective group representing eight
academics and about 40 post graduate students working in the areas of making nano and other
materials for use in batteries, capacitors, fuel cells, solar cells and sensors. Catalysis plays a key role
in many projects. The infrastructure both inside and within the University allows for the synthesis
of many new materials and their characterisations. Links to outside experts (national/international)
also allows us access to state-of-the-art equipment.

However, the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) is now a reality and it is important that groups like ours
do not get left behind. This will require that we modify our future projects to take account of the
changes that lie ahead. This will mean not only accessing new techniques/skills but also hopefully
providing leadership both locally and internationally in the 4IR arena. One component of the 4IR
will be in the area of artificial intelligence (AI). This is where Cirrus will aid research and research
workers at the University in future projects that will have an impact on the SA economy – creating
jobs and building wealth. This will include our group and group members.

Professor Neil Coville

University of the Witwatersrand, School of Chemistry
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It has been seen very recently from top researchers in this field the attempts of applying artificial intelligence (AI) in the
advanced material design and process optimization, to prepare the research field to the 4th industrial revolution (4IR). It is
important that research groups like our do not get left behind. This requires us to change our future projects to access new
techniques and skills to enable use to be able to hopefully provide leadership both locally and internationally in the 4IR
area. This is where Cirrus will aid research and research workers at the University in future projects that will have an impact
on the SA economy – creating jobs and building wealth. This will include our group and group members.

Prof Xinying Liu

Head of catalysis research group
Institute for the development of energy for African sustainability
UNISA

I have no doubt that Cirrus, an important part of the 4th Industrial Revolution, will completely transform the way we teach,
study and apply materials for wealth creation in the SA. In conclusion, Southern Africa has vibrant talent and we are
enthusiastic about the potential for Cirrus to advance the regions research contributing to breakthroughs that impact globally.
I, without any reservation, fully support the Cirrus project at Wits University.

Professor Kenneth I. Ozoemena

Materials for Energy & Electrochemistry
University of the Witwatersrand, School of Chemistry

Cirrus website

www.CirrusAI.net

Professional networking and social media

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/cirrus-ai

Twitter
https://twitter.com/AiCirrus

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/cirrusai
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