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Wamkelekile, Welkom
Wamkelekile, Welkom
Bongani Mayosi medical prize winner vows to lift others as she rises
University of Cape Town (UCT) alumnus Dr Peace Francis has won the 2020 Bongani Mayosi Medical Students Academic Prize. The prestigious national award recognises final-year medical students who epitomise the leadership qualities and values of the late UCT Dean of Health Sciences, Professor Bongani Mayosi. Among these is the saying “Lift as you rise”.
31 Mar 2021
Study details first description of white sharks interacting with seals at Langebaanweg
A new study recently published in the South African Journal of Science has found that white sharks began feeding on seal carcasses five million years ago at Langebaanweg. This is also the first description of white sharks feeding on seals from South Africa’s geological past .
31 Mar 2021
New equipment to bolster SA's ability to perform cutting-edge astronomy research
The National Research Foundation (NRF) has approved the funding of R35 million for the Hydrogen Intensity and Real-time Analysis eXperiment (HIRAX) which will be built as a guest instrument on the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory’s (SARAO) site in the Karoo. This follows an intensive and rigorous review process involving international experts.
25 Mar 2021
COVID-19 placed a spotlight on stark inequities in health and social systems
The COVID-19 pandemic has yet again placed an unrelenting spotlight on the stark inequities in the South African health and social systems. Around 84% of South Africans are dependent on the public healthcare sector with around 16% making use of the private health sector.
25 Mar 2021
Domesticated sheep reached southern Africa over 2000 years ago – new finding
The transition from hunting to farming – which in south-western Africa took the form of herding of domestic animals – allowed for a more secure food supply that supported human population growth, and in some parts of the world led to the establishment of the first cities, accelerated technological development and more. But when this transition took place in southern Africa – when d omesticated animals were introduced from further north in Africa – has been hotly debated .
25 Mar 2021
SA unlikely to achieve UN’s SDG for water by 2030
South Africa is unlikely to achieve the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for water by 2030, said Dr Kevin Winter of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Future Water Institute in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science.
24 Mar 2021
COVID-19 third surge: ‘Fraught with problems’ – UCT expert
As a third wave of COVID-19 infections looms, the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Professor Marc Mendelson, head of the Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine at Groote Schuur Hospital, shared some lessons scientists learned during the second wave. He also sketched a picture of the anticipated third surge and offered some tips and advice on how to prepare.
18 Mar 2021
New SARS-CoV-2 variant may have emerged from the Eastern Cape after first wave, study reveals
A new SARS-CoV-2 variant that rapidly became dominant in parts of South Africa towards the end of 2020 may have emerged from the coast of the Eastern Cape after the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic, suggests a study by international group of scientists recently published in the prestigious journal, Nature .
17 Mar 2021
Closing the skills gap for young researchers through innovative entrepreneurship training
Innovative thinking and knowledge of open science are assets for any research career but as only approximately 10% of astronomy doctoral graduates remain in academia, the skills graduate students are equipped with need to be effectively transferable to the workforce to avoid a skills gap.
16 Mar 2021
Non-profit organisation Phaphama SEDI and UCT students help local entrepreneurs rise
A non-profit organisation (NPO) established in part by University of Cape Town (UCT) student societies and alumni is working to increase the entrepreneurial capacity of small business owners in developing communities.
15 Mar 2021
UCT academic inducted into prestigious American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
Professor Deon Bezuidenhout of the University of Cape Town (UCT) has been elected to join the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows which comprises the top 2% of the medical and biological engineering community.
15 Mar 2021
UCT climate change scientist selected for global STEMM female leadership initiative
University of Cape Town (UCT) geographer and climate change adaptation expert, Associate Professor Gina Ziervogel, has been selected to join Homeward Bound, an international leadership programme that encourages women working in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) to take up leadership positions.
12 Mar 2021