An international traveling exhibition produced by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and which explores the Nazi regime's “science of race" and its implications for medical ethics and social responsibility today is currently being hosted at the Stellenbosch University Museum until 28 May 2018.

The Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race exhibition is presented by the South African Holocaust and Genocide Foundation in South Africa (www.holocaust.org.za). After Stellenbosch it will travel to  Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and Namibia where it will be exhibited at the  Holocaust Centres in South Africa, as well as other universities and museums. 

Through reproductions of photographs and documents, historical films, and survivor testimony, the exhibition traces how the persecution of groups deemed biologically inferior led to the near annihilation of European Jews. It also challenges viewers to reflect on the present-day interest in genetic manipulation that promotes the possibility of human perfection and the legacy of racism.

As part of the exhibition a number of public lectures, film screenings, book launches and panel discussions have been presented by a range of South African academics including those from the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences  and Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University (SU). 

In a country like South Africa, where issues around medical ethics continue to this day, and where there is an ongoing need to remind the country of the dignity of the individual, the exhibition has particular relevance. 

On Wednesday, 25 April, Prof Steven Robins from the Sociology and Social Anthropology Department, and Dr Handri Walters, a researcher for the South African section of the exhibition, presented a talk on Spectres of Racial Science: Understanding eugenics as a 'travelling science'. It explored how eugenics became a global science in the early 20^thcentury and how German eugenics, which had roots in German South West Africa (now Namibia), travelled to many parts of the world, including SU. Robins is also the author of Letters of Stone, from Nazi Germany to South Africa a deeply personal and painful reflection of the true horror and extent of the Nazis' racial policies against Jews, which made the Sunday Times Alan Paton Award for Non-Fiction shortlist in 2017. Read the full story here.

The exhibition examines how the Nazi leadership, in collaboration with individuals in professions traditionally charged with healing and the public good, used science to legitimise persecution and ultimately, genocide. The history of the Holocaust provides an invaluable context through which to view and reflect on contemporary issues 

“Deadly Medicine shows how the Nazi regime under Adolf Hitler aimed to change the genetic makeup of the population through measures known as “racial hygiene" or “eugenics". It also highlights the role that scientists in the biomedical fields, especially anthropologists, psychiatrists, and geneticists, who were all medically trained experts played in legitimising these policies by helping to put them into practice," according to the pamphlet shared on the exhibition. 

Medical experimentation however started as far back as Eugen Fischer's and other scientists' study of African prisoners of war in Namibia during the Herero and Namaqua Genocide that led to the deaths of tens of thousands of individuals.  These studies influenced German legislation on race, including the Nuremberg laws, from the early 20^thcentury onwards. 

“When Nazi racial hygiene was implemented, the categories of persons and groups regarded as biologically threatening to the health of the nation were greatly expanded to include Jews, Roma (Gypsies), the mentally and physically disabled and other minorities."

“Under cover of World War II, and using the war as a pretext, Nazi racial hygiene was radicalised and there was a shift from controlling reproduction and marriage to simply eliminating persons regarded as biological threats."

As part of the exhibition a two-seminar series was planned on Taking stock: Disability & Human Rights in contemporary South Africa. The firstwas Deadly Practices: Esidimeni and beyond which took place on April 16. The second Beyond the right to life: Disability, Personhood & Participation will be chaired by Prof Leslie Swartz from the Psychology Department on Monday, 7 May. Swartz is a distinguished professor who has trained as a clinical psychologist and is a leading expert on disability rights issues, particularly in low-income contexts. 

On Tuesday, 15 May, the film Skin, will be introduced by Ms Bonita Bennett, Director of the District Six Museum.This film depicts Sandra Laing's life. Laing was classified as 'coloured' because of her skin colour and hair texture,  although having 'white' parents. The screening will be followed by a Q and A session. 

The Stellenbosch University Museum is situated at 52 Ryneveld Street in Stellenbosch and can be contacted at at 021 808 3695.

Photo: Head shots showing various racial types: Most Western anthropologists classified people into “races" based on physical traits such as head size and eye, hair and skin colour. This classification was developed by Eugen Fischer and published in the 1921 and 1923 editions of Foundations of Human Genetics and Racial Hygiene. (Supplied by US Holocaust Memorial Museum)

SoTL 2018:  Registration open!

The 11^th annual Stellenbosch University (SU) conference on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) will take place on 30 and 31 October 2018. Pre-conference workshops will be offered on 29 October 2018.

The conference will again take place at the Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West.

The purpose of the conference is to offer SU academics the opportunity to participate in conversations about teaching practices and philosophies. This year's conference should once again be an exciting and informative event. The theme of this year's conference is Academic Leadership.

All are invited to submit abstracts and to register for the conference!

Please visit the conference website at http://www0.sun.ac.za/sotl/

Enquiries:  sotl@sun.ac.za

​If you use substances like alcohol and illegal drugs, you are at a greater risk of engaging in self-harm and other forms of suicidal behaviour, which are serious public health problems in South Africa.

This is one of the findings of a recent study conducted at Stellenbosch University (SU) and funded by the Medical Research Council and the National Research Foundation.

“The use of substances such as alcohol and illegal drugs can lead to self-harm by increasing disinhibition, exacerbating feelings of anger and aggression, and impairing people's ability to exercise good judgement. It can also precipitate psychotic symptoms leading to feelings of paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations which command a person to hurt or kill him or herself," says Dr Elsie Breet from SU's Department of Psychology.

Breet recently obtained her doctorate in Psychology at SU exploring the link between substance use and self-harm among patients who received treatment at Groote Schuur Hospital in the Western Cape. Self-harm is an intentional and non-fatal self-injury or self-poisoning regardless of the level of intent to die.

Breet says there is increasing evidence in support of the need for context specific evidence-based research to guide suicide prevention and intervention strategies. She adds that little is known about the prevalence, correlates, nature, and context of substance use among self-harm patients in South Africa, which in turn hinders the planning of empirically supported hospital-based interventions.

As part of her research, Breet did a systematic review of 108 international studies about the link between substance use and suicidal behaviour in low- and middle-income countries as well as a retrospective review of the files of 230 self-harm patients to establish their demographics, patterns of medical service utilisation, and sociocultural differences between self-harm patients who report substance use and those who don't. She also interviewed 80 self-harm patients to determine how they understand the links between substance use and their self-harm.

Breet says a review of the literature suggests that for every completed suicide there are  approximately 8 to 22 visits to an emergency unit following an act of self-harm. “Studies have consistently reported that substance use is a risk factor for self-harm which could be changed in ways to decrease the risk for self-harm," she adds. 

She says available published data indicate that self-harm is more common among South Africans who are female, younger (i.e. in the age group of 18 to 34 years), less educated, single, unemployed, socially isolated, or have a history of trauma.

Regarding the patients who participated in her study, Breet points out that “as many as 37% of self-harm patients reported that they had a history of chronic substance use. Compared to other self-harm patients, those with a history of chronic substance use were more likely to be male, inflict damage to their bodies through violent methods of self-harm such as cutting or hanging, and have a history of prior incidents of self-harm."

“One in five self-harm patients reported that they had used substances prior to self-injury. Self-harm patients who had used substances were also more likely to have depressed levels of consciousness when admitted to hospital; and were more likely to utilise a greater number of medical resources and require a longer stay in hospital."

“Patients under the influence of substances at the time of their self-harm were also more likely to have a history of previous self-harm and report that they intended to die as a result of their injuries."

Breet adds that some patients also reported substance intoxication and recurrent substance use over an extended period compared to other self-harm patients.

Highlighting the World Health Organisation's affirmation that addressing substance use is integral to suicide prevention, Breet says it is pivotal that suicide intervention at Groote Schuur Hospital includes strategies and referrals focusing on substance use.

 “Hospital staff should be made aware of and be equipped with skills and knowledge on how to address unhealthy patterns of substance use among self-harm patients."

“A deeper understanding of the association between substance use and self-harm will contribute to the development of appropriate, cost-effective evidence-based prevention at the hospital."

Breet says the assessment and management of substance use should be integral to the care of all individuals at risk of suicide and addressing substance use needs to be an integral component of suicide prevention in the country.

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES ONLY

Dr Elsie Breet

Department of Psychology  

Stellenbosch University

Tel:  021 945 1204

E-mail: elsie@sun.ac.za

​             ISSUED BY

Martin Viljoen

Manager: Media

Corporate Communication

Stellenbosch University

Tel: 021 808 4921

E-mail: viljoenm@sun.ac.za

​The Science and Mathematics at Stellenbosch University (SciMathUS) programme has once again delivered successful results at this year's graduation ceremony.

The programme, which is presented by the Stellenbosch University Centre for Pedagogy (SUNCEP), offers students from educationally disadvantaged circumstances across the country a second chance to qualify for higher education. After completing the SciMathUS programme, many of these same students choose to further their tertiary education at Stellenbosch University (SU).

At the March graduation ceremony, 16 former SciMathUS students will be graduating from various faculties, including the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Since the inception of the programme in 2001, 323 degrees have been awarded to former SciMathUS students.

This year, the following students will receive degrees at the March graduation ceremony:

• Charlton Roux                  BComHons 
• Rowan Mathews              BComHons 
• Steven O'Ehley                BComHons 
• Lungiswa Tolobisa           BComHons 
• Vuyolwethu Mngeni        BCom (Economic Sciences)
• Fundeka Ndyoki              MSc (Food Science)
• Jillian Mary Kuluse          BScFor
• Anthono Kayster             BScAgric
• Allistair November          BEd (General Education)
• Charné Ross                    BSc (Human Life Sciences)
• Joanne Levendal             BA (Humanities)
• Siphiwo Zidubule            BSc (Molecular Biology and Biotechnology)
• Reece Murray                  BSc (Computer Science)
• Mnqweno Mvundlela      BComHons
• Alupheli Ndudula            BAcc
• DS Dukhan                      Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership Development

According to Dr Trevor Louw, SUNCEP Director, the success of the SciMathUS students is a testament to the hard work that every staff member at the programme puts into the students. “It's an absolute thrill to see our students performing at this level. They have shown it is possible to overcome the challenges many young people face in our society. Our big thing at SciMathUS has always been to provide access to a second chance at tertiary education. It's even better when that access leads to success."

Most of the 16 students graduating feel very grateful to the SciMathUS programme and the opportunities that it created for them afterwards. “SciMathUS was the best thing I could have done for myself. Stepping into that course makes you driven and motivated. During the programme, we had to dedicate ourselves to something that would help us in the future. The programme not only helped to improve my marks but it also actually changed my perspective on life as well," says Charné Ross.

Lungiswa Tolobisa says that the SciMathUS programme helped her to be more conscious of playing it forward and giving back to other prospective SU students. While completing her degrees at SU, she helped with administrative work for prospective SciMathUS students and was a resident mentor at Boland College in Stellenbosch, where many of the SciMathUS students are accommodated while completing the programme. “There are many things you learn throughout the programme that you don't always appreciate until you actually go through experiences and then you can apply those lessons. I wanted to share those experiences with new students in the programme and, hopefully, help them achieve their goals at SU as well."

According to Reece Murray, who will also be graduating in March, the SciMathUS programme made it possible for him to study what he loves. “I always loved working with computers and completing this programme changed my life. The SciMathUS programme was very encouraging and we really had the best teachers. They always motivated us and pushed us throughout the course. I was able to complete a degree I love and make my mom proud by being the second person in our family to go to university. One day, I hope to return to SU to further my education and, hopefully, have my own software business in the future," says Reece.

Since the inception of the SciMathUS programme in 2001, more than 1 000 students have successfully completed it. The programme focuses mainly on helping matric learners to improve their National Senior Certificate marks in Mathematics and Physical Sciences. The programme also offers Accounting and Introduction to Economics.

In SciMathUS, students have class every week from 08:00 to 16:30.

• Matriculants can contact Adele Poole at 021 808 3032 or apoole@sun.ac.za for more information about the programme.

• For more information on the programme, please liaise with Programme Manager Nokwanda Siyengo at 021 808 2356.

At the University of Stellenbosch, a curriculum renewal project will lead to the "decolonising" of at least 10 academic programmes, including medicine and law.

​​Prof Schoonwinkel highlights SU’ approach to decolonising the curriculum in an opinion piece in News24.

Read the full article here

​Vehicle Tender

The Stellenbosch University, Vehicle Fleet, located in Banghoek Street, will host a vehicle sale on Wednesday 16th of May 2018.  The vehicles can be viewed from 08:30 to 16:00 and all written tenders must be in before 16:00 on that day.

http://www0.sun.ac.za/voertuigvloot/page/afrikaans/voertuig-tenderverkope.php

Contact Lelanie on 021 808 4675 for more info.

​“There is an established link between human wellness and sustainable living. We're here to ensure that it remains a strong one," says Sibongumenzi Mtshali, the new Green Committee student co-ordinator at Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS).

The FMHS Green Committee was established in 2009, and was the first committee of its kind at Stellenbosch University (SU). Under the leadership of Prof Bob Mash, executive head of FMHS' Department of Family Medicine, this committee has undertaken a number of initiatives aimed at improving students and staff members' relationships with their local environment.

A medical student herself, Mtshali explains that there are strong ties between nature and human health and that she is excited to be a part of this pioneering team. “It's really very simple. The less we harm the earth, the better the environment we subject ourselves to."

Echoing Mtshali's sentiment about the link between nature and health, Mash said that environmental stewardship – the responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation and sustainable practices – was recently adopted as a new FMHS graduate attribute.

“The links between public and planetary health are becoming clearer. Medicine and health sciences students must understand the links between the environmental determinants of health at a planetary scale, such as climate change and ocean pollution, and how this manifests in local communities and individual patients." He explains that students will need to ensure that the health system minimises its own contribution to environmental hazards and to this end, the FMHS has made environmental sustainability one of its strategic goals.

This year, the committee appointed Mtshali to ensure that students are aware of the Green Committee's many activities, including the most recent one – a reforestation festival hosted by the non-profit organisation Greenpop. Mtshali led a group of eight health science students to participate in Greenpop's festival at Platbos Forest near Gansbaai in the Western Cape's Overberg region. The students helped plant approximately 5 000 trees.

Says Mash: “Platbos is home to ancient tree specimens – many of which are over 1 000 years old – which creates a habitat for an array of biodiverse fauna and flora. This includes critically endangered leopard toads, mysterious bushbuck, twirling ferns, velvety mosses and bryophytes in every shade of green."

With reforestation, an area is cleared of alien vegetation – which poses a fire risk – and then “reforested" with endemic trees like Milkwoods and Wild Olives. This restores the indigenous forest canopy, the biodiversity that supports this and, in turn, the vital ecosystem services that this forest system provides.

The FMHS's Green Committee has been sponsoring Greenpop to plant trees in order to offset the Faculty's carbon emissions from air travel, in addition to the trees planted on SU's Tygerberg Campus every year. “We've also joined the Global Green and Health Hospital Network (GGHN), which means the FMHS has now committed itself to sustainable practice in the areas of leadership, energy, waste, water, food, buildings, travel, chemicals, biodiversity and procurement," says Mash.

To find out more about the FMHS'     Green Committee, contact Christine Groenewald (clgroenewald@sun.ac.za).

Caption: FMHS students helped plant approximately 5 000 trees at a Greenpop festival at Platbos forest.

​​The Stellenbosch University (SU) Law Clinic is preparing to go to court in another potentially groundbreaking case, this time representing South African Paralympic swimmer and law student Hendri Herbst. 

Upon visiting the restaurant of prominent Cape winery Durbanville Hills towards the end of 2014, Herbst, who is completely blind, was allegedly refused entry because his guide dog accompanied him. According to Herbst, a Durbanville Hills employee refused to seat him and members of his family in the restaurant, allegedly because the winery's policy barred all dogs from the inside of the restaurant. In addition, Herbst alleges that he was refused use of the restaurant's toilet facilities, unless a male member of his party – and not his guide dog – escorted him. This, the Paralympic medallist believes, amounted to unfair discrimination based on his disability. The Durbanville Hills winery, in turn, alleges that the claim has lapsed. 

The case, which has been filed in the Equality Court, is significant in more than one respect. Firstly, it is expected to provide clarity on the legal position when a marginalised individual's claim lapses because of a court official's failure to serve documents in time. Moreover, this will be the first time for a South African superior court to rule on whether it constitutes unfair discrimination to refuse blind persons entry to an establishment because they are accompanied by a guide dog. According to the South African Guide Dog Association, such incidents occur every day (also read the following article: https://publiceyemaritzburg.co.za/41658/woolies-welcomes-guide-dogs-apologises-incident/). Herbst's case could therefore prove valuable in setting a precedent.

Law Clinic attorney Monja Posthumus-Meyjes says that although South Africa ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Promotion of Equality, the country currently lacks legislation specifically aimed at protecting persons with disabilities. The White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities published in March 2016 is progressing at a snail's pace, while the law on discrimination and the protection of persons with disabilities has not developed much through case law either. Therefore, Herbst's case presents an important opportunity to give new momentum to legislative efforts aimed at protecting persons with disabilities from widespread discrimination.  

According to Dr Theo Broodryk, head of the Law Clinic, they have agreed to represent Herbst because the case is closely aligned with the Clinic's vision of empowering vulnerable communities to stand their ground in legal matters. In 2016, for example, the Law Clinic won a major victory for victims of unscrupulous emolument attachment orders in the Western Cape High Court, which the Constitutional Court later confirmed. The Clinic was also previously involved in Constitutional Court litigation to protect the family rights of farmworkers' adult children.

We are well aware of the benefits of exercise to your physical health – it helps to control your weight, lowers your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and even protects against some types of cancer. Now scientific evidence is also emerging of the benefits of exercise to your mental health.

World Move for Health Day is celebrated on 10 May. This annual global initiative was initiated by the World Health Organisation to promote physical activity as essential for health and well-being.

“Research shows that just 150 minutes (two-and-a-half hours) of moderate-intensity exercise (including walking) a week lowers your risk of dying early from many of the leading causes of death. It is now coming to light that physical activity also has a major protective effect on the brain and nervous tissues and reduces your risk of developing neurological conditions," says Prof Wayne Derman, Director of the Institute of Sport and Exercise Medicine (ISEM) at Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

“We have long known that exercise aids sleep, reduces anxiety and can even improve your mood and memory. New research is showing that it also offers some protection against dementia and that it can be beneficial in the treatment of depression," explains Derman.

He highlights some of the recent research on the topic:

A multinational study, that also includes data from research subjects in South Africa, was recently published in the Journal of Experimental Gerontology and emphasises the dangers of not being active. The researchers found that people who are sedentary (inactive) for more than eight hours a day, have a 1.56 times higher risk of experiencing memory loss and other symptoms of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI is often a precursor for neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD).

A Finnish study published last month in the journal Age and Ageing showed that low fitness levels are associated with an increased risk of dementia. The study followed more than 2000 Finnish men for an average period of 22 years, and found that those with a high cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max >36.5 ml/kg/min) had a 20% lower risk of developing dementia than men with low cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max <23.7).

The protective effect of exercise on the brain was reiterated by another study. Researchers from China recently reported in the journal Neural Plasticity that exercise could slow down the progression of cognitive impairment in ageing populations, and potentially provide a cost-effective therapy in the fight against dementia.

Researchers from Norway combined the results of 23 earlier studies that looked at the effects of exercise on depression. They reported in the Journal of Affective Disorders that exercise had a significant effect on depression compared to no intervention, but was not quite as effective as psychological treatments or antidepressant medication. They recommended incorporating exercise alongside traditional interventions for effective treatment of depression.

“This research adds to the already long list of benefits that physical exercise offers the body and brain. It is a cost-effective and accessible intervention that everyone can use to improve not only the quantity, but also the quality of their life," Derman concludes.
 

Sources

2018 Cui, M.Y, et al. Exercise Intervention Associated with Cognitive Improvement in Alzheimer's Disease. Neural Plasticity. March 2018

2018 Kurl. S, et al. Cardiorespiratory fitness and risk of dementia: a prospective population-based cohort study. Age and Ageing. April 2018

2018 Vancampfort. D, et al. Mild cognitive impairment and sedentary behaviour: A multinational study. Experimental Gerontology. Volume 108

2016 Kvam, S. et al. Exercise as a treatment for depression: A meta-analysis. Volume 202

Caption: Prof Wayne Derman

Photo: Damien Schumann

​

Every year in April, World Intellectual Property (IP) Day is celebrated around the globe. The annual World IP Day highlights the role that IP rights play in encouraging innovation and creativity and in ensuring that society benefits from this ingenuity.

To commemorate this day, the Stellenbosch University Museum hosted a special seminar, Powering change: Stellenbosch womxn in innovation and creativity, in collaboration with the Anton Mostert Chair of Intellectual Property Law at the Faculty of Law and in cooperation with Innovus.

The seminar focused on people behind the innovation, creativity and social impact that underlie IP rights in South Africa and featured five female speakers, who shared their personal journeys and experiences and helped to emphasise the work of women in science, technology, law, media, business, government, medicine, journalism, enterprise ˗ any field, in fact.

Stellenbosch University (SU) was represented by four speakers ˗ Thuli Madonsela, former Public Protector of South Africa, appointed recently as Professor in the Department of Public Law and to the Faculty Trust Chair in Social Justice, Madelein Kleyn, Research Fellow of the Anton Mostert Chair of Intellectual Property Law, Anna-Mart Engelbrecht, Professor in the Department of Physiological Sciences, and Anita Nel, Chief Executive Officer of Innovus ˗ and from the national Department of Science and Technology was Jetane Charsley, Director of Regulatory and Compliance at the National Intellectual Property Management Office.

Each speaker highlighted some of the challenges faced by South Africans, particularly South African women, and inspired the audience to pursue and persevere in creative, innovative and socially beneficial work despite the unique challenges that they might face in the workforce and in society.

According to Thuli Madonsela, experiencing failure forms an integral part of our growth and success in life. “I embraced failure as part of life. Falling is not failure and failure is not final. No one in life who has achieved remarkable heights can say they never tasted failure. It's a question of embracing it as part of the road to success."

Madonsela encouraged the audience by sharing inspirational reflections on her past work as Public Protector. She reiterated the importance of gaining support from others when embarking on new ventures or when facing challenges, especially in the workplace. “In life, you just have to follow what you believe is right. You have to do what you love. You have to have faith in your ability to achieve what is right and you have to have faith in humanity."

Madelein Kleyn motivated women to get more involved in technology or businesses that offer those opportunities. While she was working at Sasol years ago, Kleyn initiated and headed the first intellectual property department at the chemical company, something that she said would never have happened if she had not sought out new opportunities and innovation.

“Innovation is not only about creating amazing, wonderful technologies but also about making an interesting environment where you live, creating and making opportunities for those who don't have them. My motto in life is you're never too good to do anything or to try anything. If you get complacent by who you are and what you can do and what you can accomplish, you'll never accomplish anything bigger," Kleyn said.

Anna-Mart Engelbrecht highlighted the role played by Innovus in helping the Faculty of Science with ideas that stimulate creativity. She added that the Department is working on a device that will help patients detect cancer earlier. “We hope to take this device to the most rural parts of South Africa."

In her presentation, Jetane Charsley touched on the importance of Innovator Africa, a diverse women's power team that deploys technology to empower women and girls, ensuring that African female technologists are at the forefront of technology. “If you want to go fast, go alone. And if you want to go far, go together."

​A new look, new tenants, a new shared vision and a new name. This is the story of the Winter Cereal Building Block 6 on Stellenbosch University's (SU) Welgevallen experimental farm. The building reopened last week after extensive renovation work, and is now to be known as the AgroHub.

According to Prof Danie Brink, acting dean of the Faculty of AgriSciences, the building was underutilised for SU purposes, and in addition was old, dilapidated and no longer employee friendly. It was therefore decided to make the building more fit for purpose, and to lease office space to research-related entities in the agricultural industry.

Space has since been taken up by HORTGRO Science, Citrus Research International (CRI) and Agricolleges International, as well as the Plant Breeding Laboratory of the SU Department of Genetics. The building is currently 75% let and negotiations are also under way with other entities.

Funding for the upgrade came from the Central Strategic Fund of Stellenbosch University and its Faculty of AgriSciences. In addition, HORTGRO Science contributed R1 million for the refurbishing of the building, while CRI International signed a long-term lease agreement.

Deon den Hartog of DHQS Projects, and Junaid Gafieldien of SU Facility Management headed the project.

"The project is much more than just a matter of effective space utilisation, but will increasingly help facilitate transdisciplinary research opportunities between the University and other research entities," Prof Brink said at the official opening. He believes it will ensure closer cooperation between industry partners. According to him, the project is part of the "new way" in which institutions in the higher education sector are increasingly functioning.

Prof Brink used the opportunity to thank the agricultural industry in general, as well as loyal partners like the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, for their support of agricultural education and research at Stellenbosch University for nearly a century. He was of the opinion that continued industry partnerships help to keep the Faculty relevant, at the forefront and on track.

At the opening function, Willem Botes of the Plant Breeding Laboratory (PBL) also provided an overview of the upgrades done at Welgevallen that have strengthened the University's cereal breeding activities. New agricultural equipment such as a Wintersteiger experimental harvester and planter, drones and a self-driving tractor were obtained over the past few months. A Perten near-infrared spectroscope (NIR) was also purchased for the quality store.

According to Botes, the funding for the purchase of the equipment mainly comes from DST (facilitated by Grain SA) and THRIP (a DTI initiative). These are valuable additions to the PBL's wheat pre-breeding programme.

• Industry partners interested in renting office space in the AgroHub can contact Dr Michael-John Freeborough, faculty manager of the Faculty of AgriSciences: mfree@sun.ac.za or 021 808 4802

Meet the AgroHub's new "residents":

• HORTGRO Science is HORTGRO's research arm. Their staff do research to promote the deciduous fruit industry, among others, while projects and initiatives by other institutions such as SU also receive generous funding. This includes a chair in the Department of Horticultural Science, among others, as well as many projects by Matie researchers and students.

www.hortgro-science.co.za

• Citrus Research International (CRI) does research and makes technical inputs to especially the Southern African citrus industry. CRI operates three offices countrywide: in Nelspruit, Port Elizabeth and Stellenbosch. The organization's chief executive officer, Dr Vaughan Hattingh, and phytosanitary specialist Elma Carstens have offices in the AgroHub. The CRI enjoys alliance partnership with various research institutions. Several CRI scientists work in departments of the SU Faculty of AgriSciences, among others.
  
  www.citrusres.com
• AGRICOLLEGES International works in the field of agricultural education. This cloud-based e-learning institution is using the Brightspace learning management system (LMS) to provide students with affordable, accessible and industry-relevant agricultural course content – hopefully from 2018 onwards.  AGRICOLLEGES international has forged a strategic alliance with Stellenbosch University that will serve as a portal for the establishment of an e-learning curriculum from NQF 5 level. 
  www.agricolleges.com

Photo caption:

Attending the opening ceremony were (from left) Dr Vaughan Hatting of Citrus Research International, Mr Richard Krige of the Wintergrain Trust, Dr Tharina Theron, SU senior director: research and innovation, Ms Theresa Sonnenberg of HORTGRO Science, and Prof Danie Brink, acting dean of the SU Faculty of AgriSciences. Photo: Engela Duvenage

Thanks to funding provided by Stellenbosch University's (SU) Fund for Innovation and Research into Learning and Teaching (FIRLT), video-conferencing facilities and off-site neurology training can now be implemented at three clinical learning centres across the Western Cape.

The aim of this project is to facilitate online tutorials, collaboration and research between the University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and the clinical platform, with the ultimate goal of improving patient care.

The SUNStream-integrated setup – which makes use of a smart television, the Adobe Connect app, a webcam, as well as a wireless keyboard and mouse – will be installed at Khayelitsha Hospital, Worcester Hospital and Ceres Hospital – three hospitals where Stellenbosch University medical students currently train. The research arm of the project will be centred around the students' learning experiences and whether they find the video-conferencing facilities useful, or not.

“The project originates from the fact that we give tutorials to final-year medical students, and that students on clinical rotations at Khayelitsha Hospital need to return to Tygerberg Hospital for these tutorials," explains Prof Jonathan Carr, Head of the Division of Neurology at the Department of Medicine at SU's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), and principal investigator on the project. This project would make it unnecessary for students to return to Tygerberg, since they could participate in the tutorials while training remotely.

The hospitals that form part of the project were selected on a historical basis. “The Division of Neurology has a long history of performing outreach to Worcester Hospital, and carrying out video tutorials has long been an ambition of mine," says Carr. “Part of our teaching platform consists of giving bedside tutorials in basic neurological assessment to final-year medical students. It seems utterly appropriate that we should endeavour to do the same for students who can't come to Tygerberg Hospital."

Students are sent to Khayelitsha and other community hospitals and clinics as part of the FMHS's community-based training initiative that enables students to receive training in the environments where they will work one day. “They're part of the final-year student intern group," Carr continues. “As do many students, they view neurology with some apprehension and are therefore keen to get as much teaching as possible."

In time, the project will save time and costs. “We should be able to cut down on the waste of time that's inherent to transport back and forth to Khayelitsha Hospital. We should also be able to demonstrate that it's possible to give what's effectively a bedside tutorial by long-distance video communication to students at Worcester," says Carr.

The project team has recently been joined by Dr Francois Coetzee, programme coordinator for SU's Rural Clinical School in Worcester. At his suggestion, the team is planning to also extend the video links to Ceres Hospital.

“A benefit of using the SUNStream platform is that video streaming can be done with very low bandwidth. The technology can also be used on different devices, including computers, cellphones and smart TVs," adds Coetzee. “The hope is that the neurology training will eventually lead to fewer and more appropriate referrals to secondary and tertiary-care facilities."

Caption: Prof Jonathan Carr, Head of the Division of Neurology at the Department of Medicine at SU's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS).

Photo: Damien Schumann

Students at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) showed off their talent at the recent Molassesêr competition – and proved that they weren't just bookworms.

Residences at Stellenbosch University compete annually for the Molassesêr title.

This year the theme was “Video Killed the Radiostar" and the final round took place on 26 April at the Conservatorium Amphitheatre in Stellenbosch. Students from Tygerberg campus won both the women's and the men's trophies – the first time Tygerberg managed this double feat.

House Francie van Zijl and Hippokrates Men's Residence both ended up at the top of the adjudicators' scorecards in their respective categories.

This is the second year in a row that Hippokrates Men's Residence wins in their category. “As far as we know, we are also the first residence to win this trophy two years in a row, and next year we are going to try and make it three," says Ruhann Botha, House Committee member (culture) and cheerleader of Hippokrates Men's Residence. “We are very proud of how well we did."

For House Francie it was a two-year-long dream that became a reality. “We did not take part in 2015, and upon our return in 2016 we did not get through to the last round. Last year we came second in the competition, and, of course, we could not leave it at that. This year we tackled it again with the aim to win, and managing to do that was absolutely incredible! Many hours of work, crisis management and planning were all worth it in the end," explains Luné Smith, House Francie Committee member for culture. She was also one of the five passionate cheerleaders of House Francie.

According to Botha the winning recipe is that everyone should enjoy themselves. “We practise hard, but at the end of the day your make new friends and you thoroughly enjoy yourself." As far as their strategy went, they believed in writing the storyline first, and then to choose the music to go with it. “In that way the performance flows, and you don't try and force it to fit a specific song." He believes their funny renderings of characters such as Jacob Zuma, Nataniël and Simon Cowell, together with their popular song choices, were the key ingredients of their success. 

Smith says that it was definitely the high spirits of House Francie that made them stand out. “With each performance, we sang loudly, and danced enthusiastically. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and the audience could see this. Added to this, our colourful shirts and face paint made us very noticeable, and that contributed to the playful atmosphere of our performance."

Botha says that even though they would stay loyal to Hippokrates Women's Residence, and hope to win both titles next year, House Francie's performance was "excellent'. In turn, Smith says she was very impressed with the performances of the Hippokrates  Women, Meerhoff (who participated for the first time), the main campus's Huis Ten Bosch and Wilgenhof, and of course that of Hippokrates Men.

“Hippokrates Men have never disappointed with their performances. It was nice to see them change their khaki and white costumes for something different. I am always amazed at how willing these guys are to clown around in the name of fun! But I am extremely grateful for it! It is always nice to see that Tygermaties also do other things besides swotting."

Molassesêr in a nutshell - Luné Smith explains:

What you need: “(1) Many first-year students, (2) senior students to provide some leadership, (3) lots of enthusiasm, (4) face-paint, (5) a good drummer (6) choreography and (7) music."

How it works: “The Molassesêr competition consists of only two rounds: the heats and the final. To take part in the first round merely requires an entry, but to get through to the next round, the group has to give six performances at six different residences, where they are adjudicated each time. The challenge of getting to the final round lies in running around Stellenbosch for an entire evening with a group of 60 students, while their legs, voices and spirits must keep up so that they can give their best every single time! Perseverance is key in such a project."

What happens after the final round? “The Molassesêr performances come to an end on the final competition evening. Every year there will be a new group taking part in the Molassesêr, mainly first years, and every year new leaders are chosen."

​The Abe Bailey Trust again offers a travel bursary for a suitable student or junior lecturer attached to South African universities for an educational visit to the United Kingdom for the period 26 November 2018 to 22 December 2018.

CONDITIONS

1. Bursaries are awarded to persons who are academically strong (being on track to complete their current degree programme in the minimum required years) and who show exceptional leadership qualities and service, not only in student affairs, but also within a wider social context and who are able to function as part of a select and highly skilled group. Students should have completed their second year of university.
   
   
2. Applicants should be SA citizens, who hold valid passports and should not be older than 25 years when the tour starts on 26 November 2018.  This age restriction can be departed from, at the discretion of the Trustees, in the case of outstanding applicants.  It is desirable that applicants are sufficiently proficient in the English language so as to adapt to the other members of the tour party and to cope with those whom they will meet in the course of the Tour overseas.  They should also be physically fit in order to undertake the walking tours and cope with the intensive programme of activities.
   
   
3. All Bursars are expected to participate in the Tour for its full duration and to take part in all the programmed activities.  No bursar will be allowed to join the Tour later than 26 November 2018 or to interrupt the Tour. The tour ends officially on the 22 December 2018 in London. (Applicants who intend to apply for the Rhodes scholarship are strongly advised not apply for this bursary if it appears that the selection interview dates will clash with the Tour dates.)
   
   
4. Married persons will not be allowed to be accompanied by his or her spouse.

APPLICATIONS

1. There is no application form. Applications should be in English and should contain the following information: (Only complete submissions will be considered.)
   
   

• A personal letter of motivation as to why you are applying
• A current CV (including name and address, date of birth and nationality, schools attended)
• Three letters of reference (not older than 2 years)
• Copies of ID, matric certificate and university academic record
• Copies of school & university merit/achievement certificates (maximum 5 items)
• Details of leadership roles and social and community service, at school and at university
• Details of extra-curricular activities at school and university
• A brief statement of the dates and purpose of any previous visits undertaken to the United Kingdom
• Confirmation of a valid South African passport
  
  

PROCEDURE

1. Applications should be submitted to Robert Kotzé rk@sun.ac.za who will prepare them for a selection panel in collaboration with the Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Institute for  Student Leadership Development. Candidates will be shortlisted for interviews by a panel consisting of ex-Abe Bailey bursars and representatives from the SU International and Student Affairs.
   
   
2. After the interviews the names of the candidates with recommendations are submitted to the Rector for nomination. Only then will three candidates be nominated to the Trustees of the Abe Bailey Trust (closing date: 8th June 2018).
   
   
3. All applicants will be kept informed by e-mail about the progress of the selection process:
   
   

• Closing date: 22 May 2016
• Shortlisting: Week of 22 May 2018
• Interviews: Week of 28 May 2018
• Nomination by the Rector: Week of 4 June 2018
  
  

Robert Kotzé
SU International
rk@sun.ac.za

Heidi October
Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development
heidioctober@sun.ac.za

Complete applications should be submitted electronically to Robert Kotzé at rk@sun.ac.za

CLOSING DATE:  22 May 2018

South African Chenin blanc wines take centre stage in a novel study that explores the sensory space of wine using data mining and machine learning techniques.

In this study, the first of its kind, researchers employed techniques that are usually utilised to analyse “big data" and pinpoint computer hackers, among others.

They used sensory descriptors of 7 000 local wines to visualise the sensory space of Chenin wines. The results of this study, titled Modelling the sensory space of varietal wines: Mining of large, unstructured text data and visualisation of style patterns, has recently been published in Nature Scientific Reports.

Scientists from Stellenbosch University's (SU) Institute of Wine Biotechnology, the Faculty of AgriSciences and the Department of Information Science contributed to this study.

The research team used unstructured text data sets containing sensory wine descriptions to visualise the sensory space. The team consisting of Carlo Valente (MAgric student at IWBT) and his study-leaders Prof Florian Bauer and Dr Hélène Nieuwoudt, joined forces with Fritz Venter (PhD student, Department of Information Science) and his supervisor, Prof Bruce Watson to produce this work.

Their research explores one of the most comprehensive and data-rich sources of publicly available information on South African wines, namely the annually published John Platter Wine Guide to South African Wines. The Platter's Wine Guide contains entries from some 1 300 South African wine cellars and 15 000 individual wines. Several hundred new wines are entered into the guide each year. A panel of Platter's appointed wine experts with extensive knowledge assesses the wines for their sensory attributes and quality.

The researchers used a data visualisation technique known as formal concept lattices in combination with traditional statistical methods to visualise the sensory attributes of Chenin blanc and Sauvignon blanc wines. This technique is normally used in information science and machine learning (a method of data analysis that automates analytical model building).

This is the first study to apply these methods to identify styles within varietal wines, says Dr Hélène Nieuwoudt, a senior researcher in SU's Department of Viticulture and Oenology. Dr Nieuwoudt explains, “Although this method has been used in computational linguistics and cybersecurity, this is the first attempt to model the sensory space of a wine varietal in this way." This collaboration between information science and wine science on this project opens up new investigations towards understanding the field of sensory science, she believes.

The researchers also considered the unstructured sensory data on 4 352 Sauvignon blanc wines published in Platter's Wine Guide for the same period (2008-2014) to confirm their findings. The sensory characteristics of Sauvignon blanc are well documented and based on established sensory and statistical methods.

The total number of words used by Platter wine panellists to describe the 2 746 Chenin blanc wines in this study amounted to 38 403, and 71 892 words for 4‌ 352 Sauvignon blanc wines. Since the researchers were only interested in aroma attributes, they removed all non-sensory words from the original data set and eliminated duplicates. A total of 266 and 250 different aroma sensory words were identified for Chenin blanc and Sauvignon blanc wines respectively.

“Complexity is an important driver of South African Chenin blanc wine styles, known for having a diversity of styles," says Dr Nieuwoudt. “Although some Chenin blanc wines share similar sensory descriptors with Sauvignon blanc wines, our study showed two distinct styles of wines when the data is visualised. This represents the sensory space of both." Dr Nieuwoudt elaborates, “Aroma sensory attributes that are unique to, or strongly associated with either group, were also identified. We found a large overlap of sensory descriptors between the varietals. "

These findings have important implications for South Africa's Chenin blanc wine style labelling. “The main sensory dimension of our Chenin blanc wines is related to complexity, and includes a spectrum ranging from fresh and crisp wine styles towards complex wines with noticeable wood character," Dr Nieuwoudt explains. “This study also shows how interactive data visualisation and mining methods can be applied to extract useful insights in other areas such as sensory science."

South African Chenin blanc has really come into its own, setting a benchmark in terms of quality and versatility of style. “Chenin blanc offers something unique to consumers, and we are now able to illustrate its diverse sensory attributes visually," says Dr Nieuwoudt.

The sensory cues are used to develop a colour-coded aroma wheel and unique lexicon for describing South Africa's diverse styles of Chenin blanc wines.

More about Chenin blanc

Chenin blanc has a long history in South Africa and was introduced in the 17th century by Dutch Settlers who established a trading post at the Cape of Good Hope.

The connection between Chenin blanc and SU dates back to 1963, when Prof Chris Orffer, then head of the Department of Viticulture, settled the uncertainty about the identity of the grape variety known as 'Steen' when his research showed Steen and Chenin blanc to be the same.

In recent years, there has been renewed research interest in the sensory characteristics of Chenin blanc within the broader context of other white wine varieties due to the economic importance of Chenin blanc for the local wine industry and export market.

Collectively, the wine varietals Chenin blanc, Sauvignon blanc and Chardonnay hold the largest share (per volumes produced) in the local white wine category. The grape is cultivated in diverse regions across South Africa's wine producing areas due to its high yields and adaptability to hot and dry climatic conditions, occupying more than 18% of all local vineyards. The wines have also gained prominence in recent decades as a result of a shift from bulk production towards premium quality table wines that have been scooping up many international awards. As a result, local consumption and the export of Chenin blanc wines has also been on the rise since 2002.

For more information

The full article can be viewed here.

Media enquiries

Dr Hélène Nieuwoudt

hhn@sun.ac.za

021 8082748

Agricultural research represents “the most complex integration of science disciplines in research and development endeavours", according to Prof Leopoldt van Huyssteen, emeritus professor in the Department of Soil Sciences at Stellenbosch University.

Prof Van Huyssteen delivered a memorial lecture as part of the Faculty of AgriSciences' centenary celebrations on campus. He reflected on 100 years of learning, research and teaching in the department.

Soil scientists are increasingly asked for input into real problems and putting science to work. “To meet these complex challenges, soil scientists will need to become more holistic in their approach," he said. “While working in close association with anthropologists, sociologists, economists, entomologists, plant pathologists, conservationists as well as weed and other crop agronomists, they will need to keep one foot in the field."

Soil is important for many reasons, he emphasised. It provides the foundation for things needed for our daily living, such as food, animal feed, fuel and natural fibre production, the supply of clean water, nutrient cycling, and a range of ecosystem functions. Soil is also a finite natural resource and is non-renewable on a human timescale. The area of fertile soils covering the world's surface is limited and increasingly subject to degradation, poor management and loss to urbanisation.

Prof Van Huyssteen also considered how we regard soil. “Is it seen as the great equaliser for malpractices, or as the final frontier for many wrong uses and abuses, or is it  simply the dump site for our waste?", he asked.

“Soil is an essential natural resource. It filters water and waste, produces and absorbs gases and provides a home to organisms. It is also a medium for crop production and root growth, a waste decomposer and a source material for construction, art, and medicine.

“Soil is also the footprint of our geological, climatic, biological, and human history."

Prof Van Huyssteen considers soil science “an indispensable field of study" for sustainable food production into the future. Numerous aspects of science and those of sociology are crucial to the relevance and value of soil science, he said. “The role of soils can be viewed as a set of trade-offs among the various functions of soils as determined by current society. If conservation and rational use of soil resources are not important enough for society in future, then the trade-offs may keep us headed toward the 'tragedy of the global commons'.

“Soil also wears its problems – our footprints – on the surface," he said. In this context, more land was converted to cropland in the last 50 years than in the 150 years between 1700 and 1850. During this period freshwater withdrawals doubled (70% for agriculture), and water impoundments behind dams quadrupled. Almost half of all synthetic fertilisers have been used since 1985. The atmospheric concentration of CO₂ has also increased by 32% since 1750, with approximately 60% of this since 1959.

Research in soil sciences has many uses, he explained. This ranges from being an aid in criminal investigations to the linkages of soil science with socio-economics. “Soil scientists have to learn that their work should be much more related to socio-economics than in the past. Soil science is contributing to short-term return on investments and taxes, but in particular to avoid long-term costs," he said.

Feeding the world's growing population will, for instance, not be possible without proper soil management. “A food-insecure population of 850 million in 2006 and increasing, along with several billion people suffering from hidden hunger, leave no cause for complacency," he pointed out. “The projected food grain deficit must, for instance, be met through improved systems of soil management, and adoption of land-saving technologies through agricultural intensification in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere where extractive farming is widely practised."

Prof Van Huyssteen believes that in future soil science will probably be a more complex and integrative science than presently, having a wider scope with a multidisciplinary approach to associate traditional aspects with more innovative ones (soil ecology, 'soil economy', etc.). “We, soil scientists, have to be in a leading position to respond the challenges of the 21st century. Our success might not depend so much on technical improvement but rather on a shift in some of our present basic concepts and paradigms."

“It is imperative that soil scientists should transcend from the reductionist and isolated approach of concentrating mostly on agriculture and forestry as in the past and present," he continued. “Soil is now recognised as a key environmental component that can be easily abused and lost. It is recognised as a finite resource. Soil scientists in the 21st century must be ready and able to provide information to other scientists and those setting the political agenda on how to avoid the abuse of soil and how to optimise the role of soil in a broader environmental context.

“A healthy soil is the basis for a strong economy and a wholesome environment. However, soil is subjected to serious abuse that causes degradation and contamination."

There are many issues facing society today that are related either directly or indirectly to soil science, he pointed out. Some of these issues cut across many different scales and political levels and include the implementation of the 'Internet of Things' in the agricultural industry.

Using sensor networks, one can quickly obtain real-time and accurate farmland environment data, he pointed out. “This can help to provide precise, large-scale automation of management and control, and inform farm-management decisions," he concluded.

Scientists working in the Faculty of AgriSciences are helping to pave the way for genetic research and its future applications, both locally and globally.

This is the view of Dr Willem Botes who recently delivered a memorial lecture titled “The domestication of inheritance: A tale of academic evolution'' on the subject as part of the Faculty's centenary celebrations.

In his lecture, Dr Botes reflected on a century of genetic research at Stellenbosch University (SU) as well as the individuals who have helped drive the evolution in academic research on campus. Dr Botes is the research leader of the SU's Plant Breeding Laboratory in the Department of Genetics.

The department's origins can be traced back a century to when the Stellenbosch College of Agriculture was founded on the outskirts of Stellenbosch in 1918, he pointed out. At the time, under the leadership of Prof JH Neethling, the focus was on plant breeding to support agriculture in the region. Since then, many other scientists have followed suit to establish SU as a centre of breeding and genetic research excellence.

“There has also been an evolution in SU's genetic research focus, output and training, and an explosion in scientific knowledge and its applications over the century," he indicated.

“Over the last century, the department's work evolved from mainly plant and animal breeding to a strong focus on molecular genetics and genomics, as well as plant biotechnology over the last few decades. As a result, the department's staff and student component have grown exponentially over recent decades."

Adding human genetics to its curricula in 1989 is considered one of the key changes affecting the research focus and teaching in the department over the last century.

Currently, the department's focus areas are plant, animal and human genetics. This includes research in the fields of quantitative (breeding and biometry), molecular (biotechnological) and population genetics. The department's research is also widely applied in the agricultural sector, biodiversity conservation and management, human diseases, and medicine.

“In human genetics, the last 100 years have been a tale of growth, collaboration and African-centred representation at SU," Dr Botes explained. “Research (in the department) now focuses on identification and molecular characterisation of the genes involved in psychiatric disorders, as well as pharmacogenetic applications in diseases. The department is also doing work on anxiety and stress disorders as well as metabolic disorders, among others. This includes population genetic research for the fine-tuning of underlying complex genetic underpinnings in unique Sub-Saharan African populations."

In animal genetics, research is conducted on aquatic and other livestock animals. This involves determining genetic diversity and population dynamics for better management and conservation of these species. The molecular breeding and biodiversity research group in the department also focuses on molecular population- and quantitative genetics. This has applications in biodiversity conservation, fisheries management, insect pest management, animal and plant breeding, aquaculture and forensics, among others.

In plant genetics and biotechnology, research is under way on developing virus resistance, rye and triticale breeding, cereal genomics as well as plant-insect interactions and fruit breeding.

“SU's genetic research also remains at the forefront of breeding crops for the future, including through its wheat, triticale and rye breeding programmes," he said. “While it maintains a key role in the local sector, the department also ensures that its research remains competitive. An approach to embracing relevant technologies remains vital."

The challenges posed by the global food supply will, for instance, continue to steer agriculture towards technological innovations to provide enough and appropriate crops in a changing climate. At the same time, new developments create further questions and opportunities for genetic research. Biotechnology, genomics and genetic enhancement are employed to help improve crop varieties.

The department is also constantly adapting its teaching and research capabilities, he indicated. “The evolution of the department is a tale of growth, collaboration and striving towards academic excellence," he said. “We are keeping up with global trends and, in some cases, even leading internationally.

“Genetic studies are providing the key to unlocking an ever-expanding world of scientific possibilities and applications in our everyday lives.

“Since its start, the department has been at the cutting edge of research and teaching. This is a proud legacy we can build on in the future."

Commemorations bring with them recollections. The centenary dinner of the Faculty of Agrisciences at Spier took our memories back to afternoon practicals at Welgevallen or far out of town with a small pick at a soil profile, or to an Agricultural Economics class full of uncertainty about how Prof Kassier was going to challenge us this time ...

All the things that made agricultural studies so different and exciting are still there, but fortunately the incentive is greater to do appropriate research, and the faculty can now take its place in the greater world of agriculture.

Between courses of wonderful food and conversation, messages were conveyed from different parts of the world. Dr Emiliano Raffrenato, lecturer in the Department of Animal Sciences, told how the “romantic lifestyle" of Stellenbosch chose him. He chose Stellenbosch because it gave him access to the rest of Africa. He believes that Stellenbosch University has a responsibility and duty to improve the continent.

This year is also the 25^th anniversary of cooperation between Stellenbosch University and other international universities. Stellenbosch needs to cherish this, because international students bring with them new ideas.

The message of Prof Kennedy Dzama, deputy dean responsible for research, innovation and postgraduate studies, from other universities in Africa was that the Faculty of Agrisciences should join with its peers at universities in Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Ibadan and Lagos to unlock the great potential of the continent. “We can form a formidable partnership."

Mr Nicolas Dicey, chairperson of Hortgro, encouraged the Faculty on behalf of the industry to embrace technology in order to provide in the needs of a growing number of consumers in a world of decreasing resources and climate change. He confirmed the industry's dedication to its partnership with the Faculty.

Prof Eugene Cloete, vice-rector: research, innovation and postgraduate students, acknowledged the contribution of previous deans of the Faculty of Agrisciences and said the Faculty was now beginning a new future. His vision for the Faculty and the country is that South Africans should work together to ensure prosperity for all by reducing unemployment, inequality and poverty. This can only be achieved if agricultural resources are protected.

Once everyone had finished talking and the mutton ribs and vegetables were finished, Coenie de Villiers sang about the smell of cat thorn and kambroo (katbos en kambro) when it rains in the Little Karoo, and about flowers when Namaqualand celebrates its new year – in a nutshell, any farmer's dream of rain on time on lush fields.

May this be a prediction of the next one hundred years of Agrisciences.

Professor Soon Nel, Professor of Management Accounting and Finance, and Deputy Director: Research of the School of Accountancy, presented his inaugural lecture on 10 May.

He was introduced by Prof Ingrid Woolard, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, who listed his principal research interests as equity valuations, investment appraisals, and mergers and acquisitions.

In his lecture entitled The quick, rough and dirty side of the market-based approach to valuations: caveat emptor vs. caveat venditor, Prof Nel highlighted the inherent dangers embedded in the use of multiples as a valuation approach when valuing a company or an equity stake held in a company. He specifically addressed pitfalls pertaining to peer group selection, conventional multiples, composite constructs and intra-modelling inconsistencies.  

Prof Nel has received awards for, inter alia, best paper, teaching excellence and Rector's Awards for outstanding achievement, and has compiled various research reports for The Economist Group. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the South African Journal of Accounting Research and is a visiting professor at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB).

• Click here to read more about Prof Nel's inaugural lecture.

• Photo by Anton Jordaan: Prof Soon Nel with Professors Nico Koopman, Vice-Rector: Social Impact and Transformation, and Ingrid Woolard, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

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