Digital Media Sociology and Interrupting Antimicrobial Resistance Amplification SARChI Chairs appointed at UCT

Established by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and National Research Foundation (NRF), the DSI/NRF SARChI (South African Research Chairs Initiative) is a competitive research funding programme. 

This national initiative is aimed at  building research capacity, driving innovation and enhancing South Africa's global competitiveness in key strategic fields. The initiative aims to support leading scholars engaged in high-impact research, postgraduate training and knowledge production in areas of national and international importance. By providing long-term funding and institutional support, SARChI Chairs play a vital role in fostering academic excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration and policy-relevant research.

DSI/NRF SARChI SA-UK [United Kingdom] Bilateral Chair in the Digital Media Sociology

Professor Tanja Bosch

This prestigious appointment underscores Professor Bosch’s significant contributions to the field and highlights UCT’s growing role in advancing digital humanities research in South Africa and beyond. A professor of Media Studies and Production at the Centre for Film and Media Studies, she is a leading scholar in digital media sociology and brings a wealth of expertise to her new role.

She currently serves as chairperson of the African Digital Rights Network (ADRN), an initiative dedicated to advocating for digital rights, internet freedom, digital privacy and online expression across the African continent. Her work in this area has contributed significantly to fostering dialogue, research, and advocacy on crucial issues related to digital citizenship and media governance.

Bosch’s research interests span media studies and digital sociology, with a particular emphasis on the role of digital technologies and social media platforms in activism, identity formation and social change. She is currently engaged in projects exploring digital colonialism in Africa and queer citizenship in African contexts.

“A singular focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) won’t make the global South competitive or improve the lives of marginalised people,” said Professor Adam Haupt, director of the Centre for Film and Media Studies. “Now, more than ever, humanities scholarship is essential to making sense of fast-changing digital technologies and their impact on local and global publics.”

“[The Chair] will allow us to create new research opportunities, expand mentorship and develop innovative academic programmes to further skills related to researching the digital space.”

During her tenure as SARChI Chair, Bosch will continue to advance research in digital media sociology while contributing to the broader development of the digital humanities at UCT and internationally. Her leadership in this space is expected to open new avenues for interdisciplinary research, collaborative partnerships and policy engagement. “[The Chair] will allow us to create new research opportunities, expand mentorship and develop innovative academic programmes to further skills related to researching the digital space,” she said.

Bosch is a passionate teacher and mentor and emphasized the opportunities this role creates for her students. “One of the most exciting aspects of this appointment is the potential it holds for postgraduate students and emerging scholars.”

Bosch also highlighted the broader impact on UCT and the African research landscape: “UCT is a leader in fostering critical and socially engaged scholarship. Having the SARChI Chair located here will further position the university as a hub for cutting-edge research in digital humanities, strengthening collaborations with both local and international institutions while ensuring that African perspectives are at the forefront of global digital discourse.”

Her appointment marks a significant milestone for UCT and the broader academic community, reinforcing the university’s commitment to advancing knowledge production in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

SINARA: UCT/NRF SARChI Chair in Interrupting Antimicrobial Resistance Amplification

Professor Keertan Dheda

Professor Keertan Dheda’s UCT/NRF SARChI Chair, co-funded by the UCT Lung Institute, will focus on evaluating specific strategies to interrupt the transmission of bacteria and mycobacteria in hospitals and within communities. SINARA will study several novel and neglected aspects of multi drug-resistant orientated research.

The head of the Division of Pulmonology at the University of Cape Town and the Respiratory Service at Groote Schuur Hospital, Professor Dheda is also the director of the Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity and the UCT Lung Institute. He co-holds a full professor of Mycobacteriology and Global Health position at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

Recipient of the prestigious Alan Pifer Award for 2023 and winner of the 2024 Science-for-Society Gold Medal, Dheda is a highly cited investigator and clinician scientist who has dedicated his work life to the study and management of infectious diseases in low-income tuberculosis (TB)-endemic areas. He has many years of personal experience as a healthcare provider involved in treating complex cases of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB. He continues to serve in this capacity as a consultant and advisor to over 100 TB primary care clinics in Cape Town.

Dheda remains deeply committed to the fight against to this disease. “TB is already the number one cause of death in South Africa and many sub-Saharan countries, and antimicrobial resistance is now one of the top 10 global public health threats facing the world. This is a combination we need to take very seriously,” he said. “In fact, TB-related antimicrobial resistance accounts for almost a third of TB mortality and a third of global costs attributed to AMR.”

“As a junior doctor I was intrigued and appalled by this infamous disease, TB, that has been the biggest killer of mankind. Drug-resistance is a new face of this old enemy. We still haven’t got anywhere near dealing with the problem.”

Whilst his work is deeply rooted in academic excellence and scientific impact, his research focus remains on being socially responsive. He consistently tries to direct his influence towards reducing TB burden in vulnerable communities, reducing mortality, alleviating suffering and improving social wellness. This can be seen not only in his projects and outreach activities, but also in his determination to drive capacity development by teaching and inspiring students. "As a junior doctor I was intrigued and appalled by this infamous disease, TB, that has been the biggest killer of mankind. Drug-resistance is a new face of this old enemy. We still haven’t got anywhere near dealing with the problem,” he said.

“I believe mentoring and training the next generation of African clinician-scientists is of the utmost importance to sustainability as researchers,” he said. “There is a strong commitment to capacity development from this project. This includes building infrastructure so that there is ongoing, sustainable and meaningful research around AMR for years to come.”

There is also an important emphasis on teaching and career advancement that will occur throughout the sub-Saharan African region, giving students from countries such as Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, for example, an opportunity to complete their master’s and PhDs.