Young Sasol Scientist's Trip to Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB)
Supported by CARE-O-SENE Mentorship Program)

Dr Jerry Lamola, a rising Scientist-in-Training (SIT) at Sasol in Sasolburg, embarked on a remarkable journey to Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB) for just over a week in June. This opportunity was facilitated by his mentor, Dr Tobias Sontheimer, who co-leads the CARE-O-SENE program. The trip was organized and mostly sponsored through the CARE-O-SENE mentorship program, established just last year.

“This trip proved incredibly fruitful, enhancing both technical prowess and soft skills development for Jerry”, says Dr Denzil Moodley, Senior Scientist at Sasol. “He gained valuable insights into the HZB structure, discussing with experts on key areas like research strategy, funding proposals, staying abreast of current research trends, and evaluating technology readiness levels. Additionally, Jerry participated in technical discussions with investigators involved in the CARE-O-SENE project.”

During his stay, Jerry visited one of the world’s largest and most in-demand synchrotron facilities, BESSY II, and had the opportunity to take part in night-shift experiments performed on some of the catalyst systems in the CARE-O-SENE program, under the guidance of WP 1 leader, Dr Catalina Jimenez.

He contributed to the “Long Night of the Sciences” which is a popular science exhibition for the general Berlin community, where the two South African-German projects GreenQuest and CARE-O-SENE were showcased.

The visit wasn’t just focused on CARE-O-SENE but gave Jerry a wider exposure to the HZB facilities. A visit to the HZB Wannsee campus allowed him a tour of multiple labs and provided him with a high-level overview of their techniques and other types of research which included water-splitting, electrocatalysis, photocatalysis and fundamental understanding of electrons.

Reflecting on his experience, Jerry said:

"The trip was exceptionally well-rounded and full of many incredible experiences. I’m grateful to Tobias and CARE-O-SENE for the opportunity, as well as all the HZB colleagues who welcomed me so warmly. The biggest highlight is seeing how the power of fundamental science is used to address societal and industrial challenges, as evidenced by the impact of the CARE-O-SENE and GreenQuest projects."

Apart from his scientific pursuits, in his free time Jerry enjoyed the German summer, exploring some Berlin's cultural offerings and soaking in the excitement and atmosphere of the Euro 2024 football championship which was hosted in Germany. This visit highlights the benefits of the CARE-O-SENE mentorship program, especially in terms of talent development, scientific exchange and exposure of young scientists to world class research facilities.