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UCT hosts largest global safe sport gathering on African soil More than 500 delegates from 87 countries gathered at the University of Cape Town (UCT) from 25 to 27 May 2026 for the Safe Sport 2026 conference, the most internationally representative gathering of the global safe sport movement to date. 28 May 2026 Media release

UCT study reveals hidden hiring bias locking black graduates out of jobs In corporate graduate recruitment worldwide, candidates are often assessed not only on competence but also on their relatability. 27 May 2026 Media release

AI boom comes with hidden environmental and social costs As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly transforms industries and drives global innovation, a University of Cape Town (UCT) researcher, Grant Oosterwyk, warns that the growing demand for AI-driven data centres is creating significant environmental, social and political challenges that often go unnoticed amid the promise of technological progress. 26 May 2026 Media release

UCT study reveals critical gaps in early cancer diagnosis across Southern Africa A major study led by researchers at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Faculty of Health Sciences has revealed significant gaps in the readiness of health facilities to detect and diagnose cancer early across Southern Africa. The study highlights urgent opportunities to strengthen health systems and improve patient outcomes. 26 May 2026 Media release

UCT lecture unpacks patterns shaping linguistic reality The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Professor Ryan Nefdt presented an engaging viewpoint in the longstanding debate about the science of language at his recent UCT Inaugural Lecture. 25 May 2026 Media release

UCT cardiologist receives highest national order University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Professor Karen Sliwa-Hahnle , a world-renowned clinical cardiologist, has described the Order of Mapungubwe bestowed upon her as “meaningful recognition” of the more than two decades of outstanding work. 25 May 2026 Media release

UCT research centre secures SAHPRA licence to manufacture medical devices The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Biomedical Engineering Research Centre (BMERC) has officially received its medical device manufacturing licence from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), marking a major milestone for locally developed healthcare innovation. 25 May 2026 Media release

UCT professor wins prestigious L’Oréal-UNESCO International Science Award The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Professor Liesl Zühlke has been selected as the 2026 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Award Laureate for Africa and the Arab States in the field of Life and Environmental Sciences. 25 May 2026 Media release

UCT scientist earns top Harvard Fellowship for groundbreaking stem cell research The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Dr Mubeen Goolam – principal investigator of the Stem Cell Modelling of Development and Disease Group , jointly based in the Department of Human Biology and the Neuroscience Institute – has been awarded a 2026–2027 Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellowship, a highly acclaimed award conferred to esteemed scholars across a multitude of disciplines. 25 May 2026 Media release

UCT lecture to explore how universities can cultivate intellectual growth, belonging and transformation The University of Cape Town (UCT)’s Professor Kasturi Behari-Leak will position academic and professional staff development as a critical site of institutional and sectoral transformation in her UCT Inaugural Lecture on Tuesday, 26 May 2026 at 18:00 SAST. 21 May 2026 Media release

UCT lecture highlights power of mathematical modelling in saving lives Professor Sheetal Silal , director of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Modelling and Simulation Hub, Africa (MASHA) , recently delivered an inspiring and engaging inaugural lecture titled “Models, Policy and People: Predicting Health Impact in a Complex World”. 21 May 2026 Media release

UCT PhD candidate awarded national honour for arts contribution In recognition of his contribution to performance art, curation and arts education in South Africa, Gavin Krastin, a PhD candidate at the University of Cape Town (UCT), has been awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in Bronze, a distinguished national honour presented by the state president to esteemed citizens. 21 May 2026 Media release

UCT postgraduate student wins prestigious international scholarship A University of Cape Town (UCT) postgraduate who was named an international scholarship finalist earlier in 2026 has now secured one of the world’s most prestigious leadership-based awards, marking a defining moment in a journey shaped by purpose, resilience and impact. 20 May 2026 Media release

UCT researcher leads international effort to improve chronic disease care The University of Cape Town (UCT) is among the institutions leading two major projects focusing on implementation science for health systems strengthening in the context of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Funded under the 10th 2025 South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and Global Alliance for Chronic Disease (GACD) funding call, $400 000 is invested in health research to assess strategies for supporting health systems and improving equity in outcomes of NCDs care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). 19 May 2026 Media release

UCT academics back national treasury’s 20% online betting tax proposal Academics at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Research Unit on the Economics of Excisable Products (REEP) are in support of the National Treasury’s proposal to impose a 20% tax on Gross Gambling Revenue (GGR) from online betting in addition to existing provincial GGR taxes, which range from 6% to 9% of GGR. 19 May 2026 Media release

UCT lecture explores the formal foundations of natural language University of Cape Town (UCT) philosopher, Professor Ryan Nefdt , will deliver his inaugural lecture, “Language, Patterns and Automata: The Algorithms Behind Linguistic Reality”, on Wednesday, 20 May 2026 at 18:00 at the Mafeje Room, Bremner Building, lower campus. 13 May 2026 Media release

UCT professor unpacks the future of Jewish life in South Africa In an inaugural lecture in the Neville Alexander Building at the University of Cape Town (UCT), Professor Adam Mendelsohn explored how Jewish communities have evolved – and where they are heading. The lecture was titled, “Where to for the Jews?” 11 May 2026 Media release

UCT professor to explore how data shape public health decision-making Amid growing uncertainty in public health, the director of the Modelling and Simulation Hub, Africa (MASHA) at the University of Cape Town (UCT), Professor Sheetal Silal, will present an inaugural lecture exploring how simulation models support public health decision-making by integrating data on diseases, populations and health systems to predict the impact of policy choices, offering a systems perspective on complex health challenges. 08 May 2026 Media release

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