Inspiring Young Minds: UCT’s Summer School Programme at Masiphumelele

As the University of Cape Town (UCT) continues to celebrate the centennial year of its Summer School programme, which is rooted in continuous lifelong learning, it hosted two special lectures in Masiphumelele, Cape Town on Saturday, 22 June 2024.

The event was held at the Masiphumelele Library in collaboration with IkamvaYouth a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing educational support to under-resourced communities. Sponsored by Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages as part of their funding of the UCT Lifelong Learning Programme, the event featured two engaging lectures designed to inspire and educate about 190 high school learners on the subjects of anaesthesia and astronomy.

Medical Biochemist and retired Professor of Surgical Research at the University of Cape Town, Professor Anwar Mall, explored the evolution of anaesthesia, its impact on modern medicine, and the various career opportunities in the field. His insights provided students with a comprehensive understanding of this critical medical advancement.

Dr Abhisek Mohapatra, a postdoctoral research fellow at UCT’s Department of Astronomy discussed careers and discoveries in astronomy, highlighting recent achievements by world-renowned observatories such as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and South Africa’s own MeerKAT.

The Saturday class epitomised the spirit embedded in Masiphumelele’s name – to strive for success. Despite facing significant socio-economic challenges, through such career guidance and educational support, young learners have the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and inspiration to pursue their dreams.

#UCTSummerSchool #UCTSaturdaySummerSchool #ChooseUCT #UCTExcellence #UCTVision2030 #100YearsOfSummerSchool #IkamvaYouth #Masiphumelele #MasiphumeleleLibrary #EducationForAll #UCTAstronomy #UCTAnaesthesia