Forthcoming inaugural lectures and other updates

21 October 2024

Dear colleagues and students

Professors Marcello Vichi and Megan Becker will present the next two lectures in the University of Cape Town (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series on Monday, 21 October and Tuesday, 22 October 2024 respectively. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. Inaugural lecture by Professor Marcello Vichi

Professor Vichi will deliver his lecture titled “Fifty degrees of separation: Why Antarctica and the polar regions matter for Afrika”, on Monday, 21 October at 17:00 SAST in Hahn 2, First Floor, PD Hahn Building on upper campus.

Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, though far from Africa, play a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s climate. South Africa, a founding signatory of the Antarctic Treaty, is a key gateway for expeditions. The Southern Ocean helps absorb excess heat and carbon, mitigating climate change.

This lecture will offer a fascinating journey through the Antarctic sea ice and ice sheets, explaining the significance of these polar environments for the planet’s wellbeing and why it is essential for Africa to engage in polar research.

Professor Vichi is based in the Department of Oceanography and also serves as director of the Marine and Antarctic Research Centre for Innovation and Sustainability. He has served as chief scientist on three winter expeditions aboard the icebreaker SA Agulhas II and is a member of the Academy of Sciences of South Africa.

RSVP to attend the lecture.

2. Inaugural lecture by Professor Megan Becker

Professor Becker will present her lecture titled “Why minerals matter: The role of mineralogy in the pursuit of sustainability”, on Tuesday, 22 October at 17:15 SAST in Snape Teaching Studio 3B, Snape Building on upper campus.

Mining and sustainability may seem at odds, especially given South Africa’s mining legacy. Yet, our future depends on metals extracted for renewable energy. Professor Becker will share research on how understanding the mineralogical properties of materials can drive innovation, manage risks and offer opportunities to repurpose mine waste. Case studies from platinum, gold and base metals will highlight these concepts.

Professor Becker is based in UCT’s Centre for Minerals Research. With nearly 20 years in process mineralogy, she has contributed to projects across ore geology, metal extraction and waste valorisation. In 2018, she was recognised among the top 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining.

The rest of the seven inaugural lectures scheduled for October will be delivered by Professors Jay Pather on 23 October and Sudesh Sivarasu on 24 October.

3. UCT Fem FEST is almost here

The UCT Commercial Development Unit team invites the university community to participate in Fem FEST, a one-day event aimed at empowering women from all walks of life, on Saturday, 26 October 2024 from 10:00, at Protea Hotel, Mowbray.

Fem FEST is going to be a fun-filled day featuring an inspiring lineup of speakers and activities designed to celebrate women’s achievements and foster a spirit of connection.

The programme will feature:

headline acts, comedians and poets
artistic showcase of local female performers
wellness activities, including yoga sessions led by skilled instructors
financial savvy talks with valuable tips for managing your finances from financial experts as well as important insights on networking
cooking master class
female entrepreneurs offering a variety of unique goods from their stalls.

Be sure not to miss this special event.

Book your tickets.

4. Design Thinking Week 2024

Are you a registered student under the age of 35?

Join the Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking Afrika (d-school Afrika) at UCT’s Design Thinking Week for a four-day immersion into design thinking. The course will take place at the d-school Afrika on middle campus from Monday, 25 November to Thursday, 28 November.

Design thinking can enhance your ability to navigate uncertainty, strengthening your competitive advantage in a crowded job market.

This fast-paced course will introduce you to human-centred problem solving by building your critical thinking, creativity, communication and collaboration skills in an agile, multidisciplinary team setting.

During this course, you will:

learn skills crucial for your future world of work
be introduced to working in culturally and cognitively diverse teams from various disciplines
discover innovative digital learning tools, and
build your creative confidence.

The four-day immersion will conclude with a year-end celebration of design thinking.

Apply for the course.

5. Call for papers for the Journal of International Students

The UCT Careers Service encourages scholars, practitioners and researchers to submit original research articles, theoretical papers, case studies and reviews that contribute to the aims and scope of the Journal of International Students’ (JIS) special issue – Shaping the Future of African Higher Education in a Globalized World.

The JIS provides an excellent platform for researchers and scholars to share their insights on international student experiences and contributes significantly to this evolving area of study.

The topics to be covered are designed to capture a range of contemporary issues, encouraging diverse research contributions that can advance the global understanding of African higher education.

Important dates: