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Wamkelekile, Welkom
Wamkelekile, Welkom
Mental health of adolescent girls and young women worst hit by COVID-19, survey finds
Findings from a recent study led by researchers from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) showed that the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions severely impacted the mental health of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in South Africa.
31 Mar 2022
First-of-its kind study finds advanced cancer patients at high risk of pain, depression
Researchers from the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Division of Interdisciplinary Palliative Care and Medicine and the Division of Radiation Oncology, in collaboration with colleagues in private practice and at King’s College London, have found a high physical and psychological symptom burden and distress among patients with advanced cancer, with associated risk for depression.
31 Mar 2022
Physiotherapy effective in managing osteoarthritis – a common cause of severe chronic pain
Osteoarthritis contributes to the burden of physical disabilities globally, as it is the most common cause of severe chronic pain, impacting the function of millions of people. It is more commonly reported by women who are obese and physically inactive.
30 Mar 2022
Law student’s rare upgrade to graduate with PhD after submitting an LLM
What started out as an LLM in the Department of Private Law under the supervision of Professor Hanri Mostert in 2018 has instead ended with Rebecca-Lee Pein graduating with a PhD during this March 2022 graduation season. Thanks to the extensive work she put into her dissertation on artisanal mining, she was accepted for the rare opportunity to upgrade from an LLM to a PhD.
30 Mar 2022
Young grade 9 star has all the qualities of a Future UCT graduate
The words on Keketsu Litedu’s T-shirt said it all: Future UCT Graduate. For Keketso, a Grade 9 learner at St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls in Pretoria, that reality may be some years off, but the talented learner has already been scouted by University of Cape Town (UCT) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng.
30 Mar 2022
Metropoles must engage with communities to understand water issues
There is an urgent need to add community experiences of water to the data used to manage this fragile resource in an era of climate change. A multi-sectoral project using the SenseMaker tool and methodology does just that, said University of Cape Town (UCT) geographer and climate change adaptation researcher Associate Professor Gina Ziervogel.
23 Mar 2022
Philippi satellite Hub provides a vital platform for new audiences
A review of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) first “phygital” Summer School, a combination of live and digital presentations and classes, has shown that its new base at the Philippi Hub has the potential to become a valuable platform for reaching new audiences of lifelong learners.
22 Mar 2022
UCT announces landmark commitment to fossil fuel divestment
The University of Cape Town (UCT) Council has in-principle agreed to the divestment from fossil fuels. This includes divesting its endowment formally from the fossil fuel industry. Announcing its decision on the issue, the UCT Council noted that this approach will put back into society, the environment and the global economy more than is being taken out.
18 Mar 2022
Treatment period for children with minimal TB reduced
Findings of the SHINE trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that children with minimal tuberculosis (TB) do well on treatment and a four-month regimen is as effective as the standard six-month regimen. This has led to a change in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global guidelines for managing the disease.
11 Mar 2022
Nature-based solutions in mountains can reduce climate change impact on drought
New research , led by Dr Petra Holden from the African Climate and Development Initiative at UCT, has shown how catchment restoration – through the management of alien tree infestation in the mountains of the southwestern Cape – could have lessened the impact of climate change on low river flows during the Cape Town “Day Zero” drought.
09 Mar 2022
Heavy episodic drinkers consumed more booze than usual during lockdown, new research
New research has found that heavy episodic drinkers consumed more alcohol than usual during both increased and decreased lockdown restrictions and reported drinking more alcohol because they felt stressed, felt a need to relax, and felt bored.
09 Mar 2022
Facing the giants of the Tobacco industry and protecting health care
The sphere of science and academia engages with the tobacco industry and vaping advocates. Starting in a laboratory with “smoking cells” and t uberculosis bugs has morphed into advocacy for clean air, support for smokers and fighting back against giants.
08 Mar 2022
Inventor shortlisted for prestigious African award in engineering innovation
Dr Jack V Fletcher, the co-founder, director and chief technology officer of Hydrogen Energy Applications (HYENA), a University of Cape Town (UCT) spinoff company, is among 16 talented innovators who have been shortlisted for the 2022 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation (APEI). The company are fundraising for a second round of funding, which will include investment by UCT’s Evergreen Fund.
02 Mar 2022
Father and son duo produce free marine life educational videos
University of Cape Town (UCT) marine biologist Emeritus Professor Charles Griffiths and his filmmaker son, Matthew, have drawn on their scientific and artistic talents to produce a series of short educational videos on the organisms and features modern-day strandlopers and rock poolers will commonly encounter while exploring our coastlines.
02 Mar 2022