UCT researchers' efforts to determine the role of vitamin C in the care of septic-shock patients were rewarded when their poster presentation won the research prize from the Critical Care Society of Southern Africa, as well as the equivalent prize from the worldwide federation.

The research, presented by Dr Lauren Hill of UCT's Division of Critical Care, was deemed the most important scientific work at the 11th congress of the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine, which took place in Durban from 28 August to 1 September.

The winning poster was scored on presentation and scientific value, and received the overall prize for best research presentation at the world congress.

PhD students Joyce Mwangama, Fiona Baine and Chika Yinka-Banjo have won prestigious L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa Fellowship Awards to the value of €15 000.

A member of the Centre of Excellence in Broadband Networks and Applications team in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Mwangama's research looks at the next generation of mobile networks, and future internet architectures and technologies.

Baine is in the Division of Human Genetics in the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, and has a special interest in the genetic differences between various population groups and how these relate to the prevalence of Huntington's disease.

Yinka-Banjo works in the Intelligent Systems & Telecommunications Laboratory in the Department of Computer Science, where she's building a behavioural model for a multi-robot system that can be deployed in hazardous environments, such as underground tunnels in mines.

Retiring staff members were toasted by Professor Thandabantu Nhlapo, the acting Vice-Chancellor, and Professor Danie Visser, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, at the annual Retirees' Dinner held recently.

Of the 53 retirees honoured, 40 have served UCT for 10 or more years, of whom 24 staffers have served for 30 years or more. Seven retirees have served the institution for 40 years or more.

"These dinners are really very special to us. It's a pleasure for me to acknowledge all of you, and your devotion you've shown over many years to help UCT be where it is today - which is in the top 200 universities in the world, and the top one in Africa," said Nhlapo.

Addressing guests in Smuts Hall, veteran statistician Professor Tim Dunne had the audience in stitches as he bade a warm 'thank you and farewell' to UCT on behalf of the 53 stalwarts, whose combined service amounts to 1 410 years.