Inaugural lecture by Professor Altwegg and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

Professor Res Altwegg will deliver the next lecture in the University of Cape Town (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series on Thursday, 8 May 2025. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. Inaugural lecture by Professor Res Altwegg (Faculty of Science)

On Thursday, 8 May 2025 at 17:30 SAST, Professor Res Altwegg will present his lecture, titled “Adventures in Statistical Ecology”, at Hoeri LT2, second floor, Hoerikwaggo Building, upper campus.

Professor Altwegg will take the audience on an adventure through the fascinating intersection of statistics and environmental science, where data and models hold the key to solving some of the most urgent conservation challenges.

As a leading expert in the field, Professor Altwegg is at the forefront of statistical ecology. He is a professor in the Department of Statistical Sciences and the founding director of the Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation (SEEC). This innovative research group brings together ecologists and statisticians to tackle the world’s most pressing environmental issues. Under his leadership, SEEC has become one of the largest and most influential statistical ecology teams globally and the only one of its kind in Africa.

• Register to attend the lecture.

The other lectures in the UCT Inaugural Lecture series scheduled for May will be presented by Professor Ursula Hoadley on Wednesday, 21 May 2025; and Professor Jacqueline van Wyk on Thursday, 29 May 2025.

• Read the full VC Desk: UCT inaugural lectures for May 2025.

2. Reminder: UCT 2025 Open Textbook Award nominations

Nominations are still open for the 2025 UCT Open Textbook Award. This award recognises innovative open education initiatives that tackle challenges such as the cost and accessibility of teaching and learning materials, curriculum transformation and multilingualism at UCT.

With a strong focus on social justice, the UCT Open Textbook Award recognises activities contributing to the university’s transformation efforts. The award can be granted for single- or multiple-authored books and does not restrict the disciplinary focus, language or format of the work. The publication date is also not limited as long as the nominated work is licensed under Creative Commons or a similar open license.

The UCT Open Textbook Award offers a cash prize of R30 000, which may be divided among multiple recipients. Both open textbook authors and third parties can submit nominations. The deadline for submission is Thursday, 31 July 2025.

• Read more about the award and how to submit a nomination.
• Read the full DVC Desk: Call for nominations: 2025 UCT Open Textbook Award.

3. Enter the EDHE Intervarsity competition

Are you a UCT student entrepreneur with an existing business or a researcher ready to turn academic work into a commercial venture? Enter the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Intervarsity 2025 and represent UCT nationally.

This year’s competition includes categories for existing businesses (tech, social impact and general) and the new commercialisation of academic research stream for postgraduate students and staff. Don’t miss this opportunity for exposure, mentorship and potential funding.

• Visit the EDHE w style="margin-bottom:15px;"ebsite for details and entry information.

An Entrepreneurship Development Network Session will be held on Tuesday, 6 May 2025, at 17:00 SAST in Hoeri LT1, upper campus. Participants will meet past winners and mentors.

• Make a booking.

The closing date for entries is Thursday, 9 May 2025.

4. Waterproofing on Library Road parking bays

The UCT community is advised that four Library Road parking bays on upper campus will be utilised to facilitate essential waterproofing work on the Leslie Social Sciences building.

Three bays outside the GH Menzies building and one bay outside the Leslie Commerce building will be cordoned off for the next three months. Signage and temporary hoarding panels will be in place for the duration of the work.

The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of July 2025.

For more information, please contact Megan Dick.

5. Exciting d-school Afrika programmes

The Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking Afrika (d-school Afrika) at UCT is offering three exciting programmes from May to July 2025 to inspire the next generation of African innovators. Open to students aged 18–35 enrolled in or recently graduated from higher education, these opportunities promote fresh thinking, collaboration and real-world problem-solving.

• Introduction to Design Thinking: This free, beginner-friendly, in-person course will introduce the basics of human-centred design on Wednesday, 7 May, and Thursday, 8 May 2025. Ideal for newcomers to innovation, it focuses on empathy, teamwork and creative confidence.
• Design Thinking Week returns from Monday, 23 June, to Friday, 27 June 2025. It is a hands-on, in-person programme where South African students tackle real-world challenges in diverse teams, guided by expert coaches from discovery to prototyping.
• The Design Thinking in Afrika programme takes place online from Monday, 7 July, to Friday, 18 July 2025. This programme is a virtual, pan-African experience for final-year undergrads, postgrads and recent graduates. Participants collaborate across borders to solve meaningful challenges, gaining local and global insights.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements