Briefs

Record number of papers

A record number of 34 papers was presented at the 13th Southern African Finance Association (SAFA) conference in January.

Held at the Graduate School of Business, it attracted 54 academics from South Africa, Botswana, Ireland and Australia. Professor Colin Firer SAFA chairman and Len Abrahamse, GSB Professor of Finance, noted that not only was the standard of papers high, but the quality of first time presenters was "especially good", boding well for the future.

A key decision by SAFA members was to expand participation by African universities.

Scholarships in cardiothoracic surgery

UCT's Cardiovascular Research Unit at the Cape Heart Centre has invited applications for PhD and MSc degree scholarships. Theses should involve research into aspects of the host inflammatory response to heart valve bioprostheses. Requirements include:

• MSc or BSc honours degree (or medical equivalent)
• Candidates should be dedicated, well organised and capable of independent problem-solving
• Experience in standard biochemical methods (chromatography, ELISA, electrophoresis, blotting, etc)
• A good command of English
• Computer literacy.

The commencement date is March, 2004. Please note however, that the closing date for applications is February 20, 2004. Send your CV (including the names, e-mail addresses, telephone/fax numbers of two academic referees) to Dorothy Daws, Cardiovascular Research Unit, Cape Heart Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, UCT, Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925. Fax 448-5935, e-mail ctsdaws@capeheart.uct.ac.za.

Cheer for children with HIV/AIDS

It was a busy end-of-year for the Faculty of Health Sciences' Transformation Office, who under the guidance of transformation co-ordinator Zetu Makamandela-Mguqulwa, arranged Christmas gifts for children living with HIV/AIDS, part of the office's broader campaign to raise awareness of the disease and its impact on children (the theme of last year's World AIDS Day).

Apart from roping in secretaries from the five school of health to collect toys in big red and white boxes, posters were displayed and literature distributed throughout the faculty.

"The response was overwhelming and it could have been even better had the students still been there," Makamandela-Mguqulwa noted.

She said members of the faculty had been encouraged by Dean of Students Dr Loveness Kaunda's own family experience with AIDS. "These stories and interventions show that it is time to get up and do something. While there is no cure yet, the scope of what can be done is big. This is why we at the faculty decided to show up by giving Christmas gifts to children affected by HIV/AIDS."

The toys were distributed to Nazareth House and to Nomsa Dlakulu, a mother in Gugulethu who has taken 12 children into her home to provide the care and support they need.