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More than half of adolescents in SA township show signs of anxiety, depression A new University of Cape Town (UCT) study has found that more than half of adolescents in a South African township are living with significant symptoms of anxiety and depression, and that the ways they cope with stress may be making their struggles worse. 28 Aug 2025 Media release

Research provides insights into the Western Cape renewable energy skills A newly released research report, Renewable Energy Skills Mapping and Labour Market Analysis in the Western Cape , offers a comprehensive analysis of the renewable energy skills landscape in the province. The research was conducted by researchers at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU) . 28 Aug 2025 Media release

UCT’s Nxomani balances studies and sport as Springbok women’s team manager When the University of Cape Town (UCT) student Thandiswa Nxomani first volunteered to manage the African Bombers amateur rugby club in the Eastern Cape, she thought she was simply filling a gap. The club needed a manager, and she stepped forward. She didn’t realise that her decision would spark a new passion and set her on a path that would take her to the highest level of the game as team manager of the Springbok Women. 27 Aug 2025 Media release

UCT alumna earns masters degree in six months As the sun sets on the month that honours women whose work redefines excellence and expands the frontiers of possibility, the spotlight falls on University of Cape Town’s (UCT) alumna, Dr Aayesha J Soni, the first female internationally trained sub-specialist in adult epileptology. 27 Aug 2025 Media release

UCT celebrates double win with prestigious Wellcome Trust awards The University of Cape Town (UCT) has marked a significant milestone in research funding, with Dr Tessa Moll becoming the first UCT scholar to receive the prestigious Wellcome Early-Career Award. In parallel with this achievement, a UCT-based team researching TB immunopathology has secured only the second Wellcome Trust Discovery Award ever awarded to the institution. 27 Aug 2025 Media release

Mental disorders linked to shorter life expectancy in people with HIV A new international study led by researchers from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the University of Bern has found that people living with HIV who also have a mental disorder live, on average, three to five years shorter than people with HIV who do not have a mental health condition. 25 Aug 2025 Media release

Groundbreaking study challenges long-held view of Cradle of Humankind’s ancient environments A new study of fossil antelope teeth from South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind has challenged a decades-old hypothesis about a dramatic ancient environmental shift that may have shaped early human evolution. The results are published in the prestigious Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology journal. 25 Aug 2025 Media release

Harness, don’t hinder: UCT professor rethinks academic literacy Higher education institutions should draw on their wealth of language and writing resources instead of second-guessing students. Professor Arlene Archer of the University of Cape Town (UCT) shared these sentiments during her inaugural lecture on 12 August 2025. 21 Aug 2025 Media release

Same platforms, unequal pay: How women are losing out in Africa’s gig work boom Platform work – including ride-hailing, food delivery and online freelancing – has been praised as a new avenue for women’s employment in Africa. However, a landmark study spanning five African countries has revealed that while men and women share many of the same challenges in the gig economy, women face distinct disadvantages that limit their opportunities and deepen economic insecurity. 19 Aug 2025 Media release

Compassionate communication builds stronger, inclusive communities – UCT lecture In a world where outrage travels faster than reflection, leading human rights and social justice scholar, Associate Professor Loretta J Ross, believes in applying the engagement concept of “calling in” – which encourages dialogue, empathy and mutual accountability – as opposed to “calling out”, which she describes as counterproductive and thwarts its own goal. 14 Aug 2025 Media release

Men are dying younger worldwide – UCT researcher calls for policy overhaul Men across the world are dying younger and experiencing higher rates of illness than women, and it’s time for governments, global health agencies and funders to act decisively. That’s the message from a new Bulletin of the World Health Organization article authored by Dr Morna Cornell, an honorary research associate at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Centre for Integrated Data and Epidemiological Research. She warns that men’s health has been systematically neglected for decades. 13 Aug 2025 Media release

Toxic tide: Hout Bay’s mussels reveal hidden pollution crisis A new University of Cape Town (UCT) study has revealed that Hout Bay’s marine environment is seriously threatened by pharmaceutical and personal care product compounds (PPCPs) that persist and bio-accumulate in marine life, even kilometres away from pollution sources. The findings, published in Environments , raise urgent questions about sewage management, environmental monitoring and public health in one of Cape Town’s most iconic coastal areas. 12 Aug 2025 Media release

UCT professor challenges universities to rethink student support In a bold call for transformation in higher education, University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Professor Arlene Archer will deliver her inaugural lecture on Tuesday, 12 August 2025, urging universities to move away from decontextualised models of student support that frame students as deficient. 12 Aug 2025 Media release

Most African countries are not leveraging health taxes – new report suggests As Africa confronts a mounting public health crisis, a simple yet powerful solution is being left on the table: health taxes. While the continent battles the dual burden of rising noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and persistent infectious disease burden, most countries are not leveraging health taxes – excise duties on harmful products like tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks – to curb consumption, boost domestic revenues and protect overburdened health systems. 07 Aug 2025 Media release

UCT VC unveils Strategy 2030 to mark first year in office University of Cape Town (UCT) Vice-Chancellor Professor Mosa Moshabela has marked the first anniversary of his tenure by unveiling Strategy 2030, a milestone anchored squarely within the university’s Vision 2030. 04 Aug 2025 Media release

UCT study finds SA’s transport system deepens inequality A comprehensive new study by researchers at the University of Cape Town (UCT) has revealed that despite significant investments in public transport, South Africa’s transport system remains unjust – and its burdens fall heaviest on black communities, especially black women. The findings are published in the journal African Transport Studies . 04 Aug 2025 Media release

UCT’s first-ever female engineering dean’s term ends After 10 years of service, Professor Alison Lewis is stepping down as dean of the Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment (EBE) at the University of Cape Town (UCT). 31 Jul 2025 Media release

Multiple nominations for UCT in NSTF “Science Oscars” awards Several outstanding members of the University of Cape Town (UCT) community have been nominated for the 2024/2025 National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) NSTF–South32 Awards – widely regarded as the “Science Oscars” of South Africa. 30 Jul 2025 Media release

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