DOYOYO, MULALO REUBEN
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PHOTO CAPTION: A photo of Mulalo Reuben Doyoyo.
Mulalo Reuben Doyoyo (August 13, 1970 – March 11 2024) a prolific South African engineer, inventor, and academic whose life story was defined by his journey from a rural village to the world’s most prestigious research institutions.
He was born and bred in Vondwe village to Khorommbi Doyoyo and Mudzuli Doyoyo (née Dzaga). Mulalo started his education at Vondwe Lower Primary School in 1977 and then moved on to Tshidimbini Higher Primary School in 1981. He joined Tshidimbini Secondary School in 1984, where he studied until 1985. In 1986, he registered at Mbilwi Secondary School.
While studying at the University of the Western Cape, he became a publication officer of the Student Engineering Council, a student representative of the South African Institute of Aerospace Engineers, and a founder of the Student Aerospace Society in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment.
He completed a master’s degree in solid mechanics and applied mathematics in 1995 and 1996, respectively. In 1999, he accepted a postdoctoral research position at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to enhance his studies in applied mechanics.
He also worked as a lecturer at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), where he created the Ultralight Systems Laboratory dedicated to experimental research on ultralight materials.
Doyoyo was widely recognized for his innovative engineering research and environmentally focused inventions: He invented Cenocell, a cementless concrete-like material made from fly ash a by-product of coal combustion offering a greener alternative to traditional concrete. He accidentally developed Amoriguard, an eco-friendly paint made from industrial waste, free of harmful volatile organic compounds. Doyoyo also designed Ecocast brick-making machines that save water and energy, worked on solar-powered sanitation systems, and developed other green building technologies.
Doyoyo passed away at his house in Kyalami Estates unexpectedly in Midrand, Johannesburg, on March 11, 2024, at the age of 53. He was posthumously honored with the Order of Mapungubwe in Silver by the South African government for his contributions to science and engineering.
Doyoyo is remembered as one of South Africa’s most innovative engineers and inventors, whose work bridged advanced research and practical, sustainable technologies. His inventions, particularly in green building materials and environmentally friendly engineering solutions, continue to influence the field.
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