The Unit for Religion and Development Research (URDR) is an interdisciplinary research unit based within the Faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University. It works with diverse clients and research collaborators around the world, partnering with various organisations and faith organisation to help them engage in sustainable development. With a particular focus on religion and violence, the URDR works with governmental and non-governmental organisations to develop interventions that tackle the root causes of violence and lead to longer-term, sustainable change. At the same time, it develops academic theory, acting as a bridge between academia and praxis.

The URDR was recently commissioned by Girls Not Brides to do a study on better understanding the role of resistant religious leaders from Christian, Muslim and Hindu traditions[1] in efforts to end child marriage and develop effective strategies for working with them for change.

Child marriage violates girls' rights to health, education and opportunity. It exposes girls to violence throughout their lives and traps them in a cycle of poverty. These are the facts:

• Twelve million girls are married every year before they reach 18.
• Almost one in three of these girls are now in sub-Saharan Africa – up from one in seven 25 years ago.
• One in nine girls in the developing world are married by age 15.

Through Girls Not Brides the URDR research team had access to 1 000 partner organisations across multiple faiths and in more than 95 countries, enabling research findings to shape and inform the work being done by this global network of partners, presented at their Global Conference in Malaysia in June 2018.

The final research report, titled, “What lies beneath? Tackling the roots of religious resistance to ending child marriage", is in its final design stages and will be publicly released in December 2018.

“The research found that child marriage is sometimes seen or presented by certain religious leaders as a solution, prevention or protection against sexual activity and pregnancy outside of marriage" said Dr Selina Palm, researcher at the URDR.

While not all religious leaders oppose ending child marriage, this report focused on those who do to help support activists who are facing challenges in their attempts to work with religious leaders. The following seven overlapping drivers (or underlying roots) were identified as shaping the attitudes and practices seen to typically fuel religious resistance to ending child marriage:

• Marriage viewed as a religious ritual
• Lack of awareness of child marriage consequences
• Child marriage seen as ordained by religion
• Fear of premarital sex and pregnancy
• Reinforcement of patriarchal power
• Parental protection and power over children
• Religious fundamentalism.
  

A number of strategies were therefore suggested in relation to understanding the particular drivers within a specific context and building on what is being seen to work in the field across multiple faiths.

Another key initiative underway is the work being done in partnership with Episcopal Relief & Development, the Zambian Anglican Church and the Zambian Anglican Mothers' Union regarding violence against women (VAW) and violence against children (VAC).

The research project is taking place over a period of eight months in Zambia with a local research team trained by the URDR as part of the ONE VOICE project, a movement working with women's groups and women leaders. Various qualitative methods are being used to collect data, including Photovoice, a process by which local research assistants take photos and make voice notes to describe what they are seeing in their local communities. These pictures identify the social and religious norms that underpin violence against women and children in their communities, with a special focus on how women may directly or indirectly condone or condemn VAW and VAC.

Rural Zambian women within the Mothers' Union were trained as research assistants and equipped with camera phones. These women take pictures of what they see within their communities and send the photos, along with a voice note, to the UDRD researchers on a weekly basis.

At the end of the project, URDR researchers will return to Zambia to interpret the photos together with the local Zambian research team (all women), which in turn will inform the dissemination of the results across wider Anglican structures to educate and stimulate discussion at both senior and community levels.  The research will also be used to inform longer-term interventions on VAW/VAC within the ONE VOICE work being developed by Episcopal Relief & Development and Zambian Anglican leaders, which also focuses on developing women's leadership.

“Our research begins and ends with the notion of collaboration for the purposes of knowledge production and dissemination. The URDR holds a commitment to scholarship that directly impacts the marginalised and disempowered and we work collaboratively for the purposes of improving practice. We can contribute to achieving best results for and with beneficiaries, in this case women and children who experience multiple forms of violence within their communities," said Dr Palm.

More information and research reports from the URDR's work across the globe can be found at www.sun.ac.za/urdr. Dr Selina Palm can be contacted at spalm@sun.ac.za​.

[1] As per the major religion in the highest child marriage countries.

A large fan and cooling system test facility, the only one of its kind in the world, was officially opened at the Faculty of Engineering, Stellenbosch University. This exceptional facility is part of the University's participation in the European-funded Horizon2020 MinWaterCSP Project. Its opening coincided with a two-day international conference on the reduction of water consumption in concentrating solar power plants, hosted in conjunction with Stellenbosch University. 

The purpose of the conference was to introduce the South African industry and the wider international community to the project and the possible advantages that its results hold for the Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) industry.

The Horizon2020 MinwaterCSP Projectcould contribute to technologies that would significantly decrease water and energy consumption in power plants, while maintaining or possibly even improving net-power output to the client, especially in drought-stricken regions where CSP plants are customary. 

Topics covered by the conference ranged from water management at solar power stations, the reduction of water consumption used for cleaning at solar power plants and innovative, low water consumption cooling technologies for solar plants. 

Stellenbosch University is well known for its expertise in cooling technologies, as well as solar thermal energy solutions and therefore made a significant contribution to the conference. 

On the final afternoon of the conference, Prof Willie Perold (Vice-Dean: Research and Industry Liaison, Faculty of Engineering) officially opened the new test facility.

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 654443.

More information on the conference can be obtained here. 

Photo caption: Conference delegates at the official opening of the large fan and cooling system test facility situated at the Faculty of Engineering, Stellenbosch University.

Photo credit: Lizelle Lötter Photography.

​SoTL conference

The 11^th annual SoTL Conference took place at the Lord Charles Hotel, from 29 to 31 October 2018, with the theme Academic Leadership. Participation has grown exponentially since the inception of the conference in 2007 with 84 presentations and 250 registered participants this year.

This event aims to address all aspects of teaching and learning at SU in an open, supportive and intellectually stimulating atmosphere. It provides a platform where academics share and celebrate teaching and learning practices and research. This is an in-house conference offered to Stellenbosch University staff.

Seven pre-conference workshops were presented on 29 October.  140 participants attended the workshops. Examples of topics were 'Engaging students in an online learning environment', 'Developing a teaching portfolio', 'Research in Teaching & Learning – first steps in becoming Teaching Scholars' and 'Transforming Assessment Into Great Learning Experiences'.

One of the keynote speakers, Dr Kathleen M Quinlan, offered a workshop for programme leaders entitled 'Teaching characteristic ways of thinking in your field'. Programme leaders articulated the characteristic habits of mind and heart of their fields, considered the key challenges students face in learning those ways of thinking, and explored ways their programmes could scaffold students' practice of those core habits to overcome the challenges. 

The two keynote speakers, Dr Kathleen M Quinlan (Director: Centre for the Study of Higher Education, University of Kent) and Prof. Magda Fourie-Malherbe (Centre for Higher and Adult Education, Stellenbosch University), challenged the audience with thought-provoking presentations. Dr Ouinlan's presentation was entitled Leading for Learning: Building on your Values and Teaching Expertise and Prof. Fourie-Malherbe addressed the audience with the following topic: Countering carelessness: A case for academic leadership as citizenship. [see photograph:  top right]

For podcasts and PowerPoint slides of the keynotes' presentations, please visit:

http://www0.sun.ac.za/sotl/keynote-speakers/ .

Since 2017, PREDAC participants have joined the celebration of teaching and learning at the conference. PREDAC is the Professional Educational Development of Academics programme offered to newly appointed academics at SU. During a PREDAC break-away earlier this year, participants designed learning opportunities that they would like to implement in their modules. Once back, they implemented the learning opportunities and obtained feedback from students. The results were presented at this conference in the form of a poster presentation. Seventeen groups presented posters at the conference. The posters demonstrated a depth of reflection and understanding of what they wished to achieve and the process(es) involved.

The closing session of the SoTL Conference functions as an inter-faculty 'think tank' about teaching and learning at SU that takes new ideas into the faculties through participants' intervention. This year the closing session engaged representatives of the SU teaching community in a free-thinking discussion about the journey to academic leadership, and specifically, teaching leadership.

Participants explored the SU teaching trajectory towards becoming leaderly teachers, with the journeys of the SU Teaching Fellows and national TAU (Teaching Advancement at University) Fellows as a point of departure. The SU Teaching Fellows who facilitated the sessions were Profs. Geo Quinot, Ian Nell, Dana Niehaus, Nicola Plastow and Ingrid Rewitzky, Marianne McKay, and Drs Berna Gerber, Elize Archer, Michael Schmeisser, and Marianne Unger. The SU Teaching Fellows who have moved on to become national TAU Fellows are Profs. Geo Quinot, Ian Nell, and Dr Berna Gerber. Prof. Ian Couper joined SU as a TAU Fellow.

The session ended with participants having a new or renewed sense of their 'journey to academic leadership' after thought-provoking buzz group discussions within and among faculties.

The final event of the conference was the cocktail function and continued the celebration of teaching and learning at SU. Various contributions to teaching and learning at SU were celebrated.  PREDAC participants who had completed the programme received their certificates.  National and SU Teaching Fellows, HELTASA Award winners and SU Teaching Excellence Award winners were all thanked for their role as academic leaders who promote teaching and learning at SU.

Eleven presentations were shortlisted as possible prize-winners. Four judges attended the shortlisted presentations. These presentations were:

The highlight of the conference was the announcement of the winners by Prof. Arnold Schoonwinkel: 

• The 'Delegates choice' award received Heltasa 2019 attendance (or any other disciplinary educational conference of preference): Dr Philip Southey with the paper entitled 'Concepts in context'. [see photograph:  bottom left]
  
• The best practice-based paper received Heltasa 2019 attendance (or any other disciplinary educational conference of preference): Prof. Faadiel Essop with the paper entitled 'Unique ways to enhance critical thinking in Physiology undergraduate classes'. [see photograph:  bottom right]
   
• The best research-based paper received attendance of an international teaching and learning conference in 2019: Ms Magda Barnard, Ms Samantha Adams and Prof. Ronel du Preez with the paper entitled 'Gamification For the Win!... or not? Evaluating Student Perceptions'. [see photograph:  top left]

We would like to thank all participants in this year's conference for dedicating time and effort to enhancing their professional learning and sharing innovative ideas regarding their teaching and their students' learning. We are privileged to have a complement of academics at SU who are becoming leaderly teachers at the university.

For photographs of the conference, visit:  http://www0.sun.ac.za/sotl/

​“This award makes me very proud of Stellenbosch University! One can only deliver an integrated report if your institution is managed in an integrated way."

That is how Mattie van der Merwe, editor of the University's Annual Integrated Report, felt after receiving, with Manie Lombard, Chief Director: Finance, an integrated reporting award at a black tie event at the Montecasino in Johannesburg from the Chartered Secretaries Southern Africa (CSSA) and JSE this week, Wednesday, 14 November.

The SU Annual Integrated Report 2017 was one of the reports considered in the Public Sector category of this national competition. The winning report is the University's third integrated report.

The CSSA competition, running since 1956, was for ordinary annual reports at first, but changed to integrated reports in 2013.

The enthusiasm at the event for integrated reporting was pulpable. “An integrated report does not appear out of the blue – years of strategic institutional planning and integrated management precedes the first such report," says Van der Merwe.

“The report contains information collected from all over the University about everybody's activities in realising their environment's goals, managing risks and growing the University into a thriving institution.

“It takes teamwork: from editing and translation, supplying financial and statistical information to taking photographs, doing layout and taking care of printing, where each person's work is done exquisitely, they all contribute to the end product. Even the University's Archives contributed some exceptional photographs," she says.

The University had no intention to enter for the competition until Anne Westwood-Mark of the CSSA saw the University's report, contacted the editor and invited her to enter the University's report.

Integrated reporting is a new development in corporate reporting and an improvement on traditional reporting. It represents a pradigm shift in the way institutions think about their business models. Compiling an integrated report is a process that encourages institutions to set long-term goals, to measure their performance and in this way to manage change towards a sustainable global economy – one that combines long-term profitability with social responsibility and environmental care. Before an organisation can produce an integrated report, therefore, it has to manage it in an integrated and sustainable way.

Since 2000, when the University Council approved A Strategic Framework for the return of the century and beyond, Stellenbosch University under the leadership of Prof Andreas van Wyk embarked on a new direction with the establishment of a decentralised system of responsibility centre management. His successor, Prof Chris Brink, was a strong driver of strategy through future-oriented planning and budgeting. Under the leadership of Prof Russel Botman, the overarching strategic planning was refocused to develop and engage the Universitys strengths to tackle some of our country's biggest challenges by putting science to work. Eventually, the University's Institutional Intent and Strategy 2013–2018, now at the end of its cycle, laid the ideal foundation to build our report on.

​A new book, The Next Generation of Scientists in Africa, was launched at Stellenbosch University (SU) recently during an international conference on science communication.It reveals the career aspirations and research performance of scientists younger than 40 years across the African continent. The book highlights the barriers that are limiting their career progression and make recommendations to nurture research talent and deliver future science leaders.

The editors were Catherine Beaudry (École Polytechnique de Montréal), Johann Mouton and Heidi Prozesky (SU), and published by African Minds. The book is the result of a study by the SU Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST). Between April 2015 and October 2018, a team of researchers at CREST performed a comprehensive three-pronged study which consisted of: (1) a comprehensive bibliometric analyses of research records from more than 50 African countries, (2) a large-scale online survey with 5 700 respondents, and (3) 259 qualitative interviews. Funding came from the International Development Research Centre of Canada, and the Robert Bosch Foundation of Germany. 

“We recognise that young scientists are at the heart of innovation and knowledge creation and therefore a powerful resource for change and development in Africa", explains CREST director Professor Johann Mouton. 

“Understanding and solving the career challenges that they face will enhance the future success of science systems across the continent." 

He adds, however, that we have to view the careers of these young scientists against the background of the state of science in Africa. Therefore the book also reflects on the research systems and infrastructure on the continent, including the legacy of colonialism and the impact of political instability, while considering new narratives about the rising of Africa.

Some of the hurdles that young academics in Africa experience in terms of career progression relate to their relative inexperience when it comes funding applications, uncertainties about getting their research published and work demands that keep them away from their own research. The book details several recommendations, such as a pro-active focus on positive career mentoring, more training in academic writing and networking, new funding models and more opportunities for international mobility than is currently the case.

“It is important to keep in mind that many of Africa's young scientists are first-generation academics," Professor Heidi Prozesky, co-editor and a member of the research team, points out. “For them, many of the expectations and roles associated with their positions are not clear." 

That could explain why we have identified a widespread demand for training and supportive mentoring amongst the early-career scientists who participated in the study, she adds. In particular, young scientists in Africa need more of the so-called soft skills, such as effective writing and networking, she adds.

“Time management is a huge issue for these scientists. Frequently overburdened with teaching, supervision and administration, it is extremely difficult for them to find time to focus on their own research." Professor Prozesky feels that senior academics and research managers must be more approachable, less domineering, and more trusting of their younger colleagues' research aspirations than is currently the case. More efficient administration systems in universities will help to lessen the load on early-career academics.

In a research arena where competition for funding is increasingly fierce, young scientists battle to succeed when it comes to applying for research funding. “They often do not meet funders' formal requirements and lack the tacit skills needed to succeed at grant writing", Professor Prozesky explains. “As a result, they spend considerable chunks of time on writing proposals that turn out to be unsuccessful, which is very discouraging and further eats away at time they could have spent on research." The book recommends new funding models and calls for more training in proposals writing, as well as more constructive feedback on unsuccessful proposals than exist now. “If we can get this right, funding applications that are unsuccessful at first, will become a learning opportunity, instead of an outright rejection."

Another uphill and stressful battle for young scientists in Africa is the pressure to get their research published in quality journals. Several problems may result from this situation, including low quality articles, the temptation to publish in “predatory" journals and scientists who don't see any benefit in undertaking research that is creative or focused on local societal impact. 

“Young researchers need help to identify appropriate journals and they need constructive feedback that can help them improve their research papers, instead of outright rejections," Professor Prozesky said.

When young scientists become internationally mobile, it helps them to overcome many of the challenges we have identified, Professor Prozesky adds. 

Working abroad for a period of time helps them to access future funding, develop new research skills and develop professionally. “However, due to family obligations it is more difficult for some women to take advantage of international work opportunities."

The editors think that The Next Generation of Scientists in Africawill be useful for researchers who are interested in African research systems, African policy-makers who work with science funding and organisations interested in African science and its funding. 

• The Next Generation of Scientists in Africacosts R299 or can be downloaded for free at http://www.africanminds.co.za/dd-product/the-next-generation-of-scientists/.
  
  

Support from industry partners and other patrons of the Faculty of AgriSciences' golf day strengthens the faculty's bursary fund, which directly benefits disadvantaged students.

This is according to Prof Danie Brink, dean of the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University (SU). “In our centenary year, we look to the future and consider how we can provide quality education and widening access," he says. The faculty uses this bursary fund to provide financial support to academically deserving students. “Without this financial boost, many students simply cannot continue their studies," he points out.

The faculty's annual golf day took place Thursday, 15 November. It was hosted at the De Zalze golf estate, with 120 people participating. The main sponsors of this year's fundraising event were Yara Africa Fertilizer and Van Loveren Family Vineyards.

Yara regularly sponsors the faculty's golf day. According to Jurie de Kock, commercial manager of Yara, the company gladly supports the faculty's fundraising efforts. “By contributing to the faculty's bursary fund, we are helping to build a sector that is willing and able to advance farming,'' he says. De Kock believes the bursary fund helps to ensure that SU graduates are well-equipped to enter the workplace. It also strengthens the knowledge base which is needed to ensure future progress of the agricultural sector.

This is the fourth year that Yara has sponsored this golf day. The recently also sponsored three postgraduate bursaries for students in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture respectively - two in 2017 and one this year. The company currently also sponsors two postgraduate bursaries for students in the Departments of Agronomy and Horticulture. It also supports research projects at these departments that involve practice-oriented research, mainly on calcium nutrition in the local fruit industry. Yara further sponsors all the fertilisers required annually by the Department of Agronomy in its research glasshouses.

Yara is a supplier of crop nutrition in more than 150 countries. It has a marketing network for products and services for all crop types across the Western Cape and also other designated areas of South Africa.

In turn, Phillip Retief of the famous Van Loveren family estate says it is vital for industry partners to help build a knowledge base in the sector. “We regard the faculty as an important partner to expand knowledge and skill levels." Retief believes that Van Loveren's support of the golf day - and thus the faculty's bursary fund - will contribute to quality education. “This sponsorship also gives us the opportunity to promote our brand and establish partnerships through networking."

Van Loveren is a well-known family cellar located in the Robertson valley. The Retief family, a third generation of wine-lovers, has been involved in wine-making on this farm since 1937. The Retiefs consider themselves to be proud custodians of time and opportunity - traditions, knowledge and passion (for wine-making) are transferred from one generation to the next. This includes their closely held ties with SU where Wynand, Hennie and Phillip Retief graduated.

Van Loveren is regarded as one of South Africa's leading wineries. Some of their brands include Van Loveren, Christina, Tangled Tree, Rhino Run and the popular Four Cousins. Closely following and predicting consumer trends drives product innovation and the most recent examples of this are the Almost Zero de-alcoholised 'wine' as well as the only Pinot Grigio Rosé, perlé-style wine on the South African market, Perlé de Jean.

The winning team was from the department of Agri-Economics, proff Mohammad Karaan, Burhan Karaan, Dikeledi Mosime and Ronald Ramabulana.

​Scott Cameron, a postgraduate student in Physics, is the recipient of both the Meiring Naudé medal for the best BScHons student in Physics as well as the Dean's Medal for the best BSc-student in the Faculty of Science at Stellenbosch University.

Scott, who matriculated from the Heartwell Private School in Johannesburg, says he has always been excited about the idea of gravitational ways, quarks and strings, but only applied to study Physics as his second choice. However, when he was accepted for Physics, he knew it was the right choice for him.

“I have worked really hard over the last few years, but not because I wanted that piece of paper which says I have a degree. My motivation has always been to know and understand things, and to learn useful skills along the way."

His advice to fellow students is to learn “anything and everything" from your own and other fields: “It will help you to get a new perspective on the problem you are trying to solve. Being able to apply skills from other fields in your specific area of expertise will always give you an edge above the rest. Don't just live in one box."

He is currently pursuing an MSc in Physical and Mathematical Analysis, focusing on numerical approximations for Bayesian model comparison specifically aimed at neural network applications to large datasets.

He explains that “with this approach, one can compare quantitatively how well different models describe a particular dataset using intelligent search methods to optimize hyperparameters."

Scott says he is honoured and grateful for the awards, and the recognition of his hard work: “It will certainly help me to stay motivated and continue working harder for my MSc and possibly PhD."

The John Todd Morrison Medal for Best MSc student in Physics in 2017 went to Philipp Uhrich for his thesis “Noninvasive measurement of dynamic correlations in spin systems", which he completed under the guidance of Prof. Hermann Uys, holder of the CSIR/SU research chair in Quantum, Optical and Atomic Physics, and Prof. Michael Kastner from the National Institute for Theoretical Physics (NiTHEP).

​​A Computer Science student from Stellenbosch University, Cameron Raven, developed a software programme that can translate sheet music to Braille and vice versa in real time.

Cameron developed the system specifically to assist in the teaching of music up to Grade 3 level at the Pioneer School for the Visually Impaired in Worcester. The work was done as part of his BSc Honors project in Computer Science under the guidance of Professor Lynette van Zijl, well-known for her work on computer-assisted technologies for the blind and deaf.

Cameron says his program differs from similar systems in that it can be used in real time in the class room: “Teachers will be able to translate from a digital version of sheet music to Braille and send the file over a local area network to the learners' Apex machine at their desk. The Apex machine then reads and interprets this file to give the equivalent Braiile Music Notation for the learner to use and read the music," he explains.

The learners will also be able to write their own music on their Apex machines which is then saved in Braille and sent back to the teacher. The music is again converted to sheet music for the teacher to read.

Mr Hannes Byleveldt, Deputy Principal at the school, says music as a subject has been taught at the school since its inception in 1877: “Music is one of the most important building blocks in the development of the blind learner and is the source of much joy and meaning in their lives. Several of our learners follow the UNISA curriculum, which means they will be able to study music after school."

One such example is former learner Michelle Nell, currently enrolled for an MA in Music Education at Stellenbosch University.

The school is also home to the South African Braille Music Library, the only library of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. With nearly 1 300 titles, ranging from beginners' pieces to complex pieces by composers such as Beethoven and Lizt, it serves users from all over Africa.

Earlier this year, SU and the Pioneer School signed a collaboration agreement with the view to support e-learning and enhance the quality of education at the school.

“With the help and support from Stellenbosch University, we want to use technology to revolutionise the teaching and use of braille in the classroom and in real life," Mr Byleveldt says.

As part of the collaboration agreement, the Computer Science Division also donated six Lenovo desktop computers to the school. The computers became available after the upgrading of equipment in the Natural Science's Computer Usage Areas. Mr Andrew Collett, senior technical officer in the Computer Science Division and an MSc student, made sure the computers were technically ready for the school to use.

“Now they only have to tell us what is the next project on their wish list for 2019," concludes Prof. van Zijl.

On the photo, from left to right, Ms Elizma Berlyn (marketing), BSc student Cameron Raven, Prof. Lynette van Zijl, Mr Andrew Collett, Mr Hannes Byleveldt (deputy principal) and Mr Michael Bredenkamp, principal of Pioneer School.

​​To pay homage to former president Nelson Mandela and “Ma" Albertina Sisulu, who were both born a 100 years ago, the Military Academy at Saldanha, will this year kick off their annual endurance race from Qunu in the Eastern Cape – the village Nelson Mandela grew up in.

The Military Academy houses the Faculty of Military Science of Stellenbosch University (SU).

Students of the Military Academy has been planning, funding and taking part in Trans Enduro for more than 30 years. The race is held to raise funds for the Military Academy's MASIZA community outreach programme, while the students are also involved in social impact projects along way such as cleaning streets and neighbourhoods, painting school buildings, and visiting retirement homes.

The MASIZA programme this year focuses on the Girl Child and early childhood development. Students collected sanitary products and will hand these out at certain schools along the way.

Thuma Mina

The theme of TRANS ENDURO 2018 is “Thuma mina" (Send me) – in response to President Cyril Ramaphosa's call during his inaugural State of the Nation address in parliament on 16 February 2018 for South Africans to “accept the call to selflessly serve the embattled nation".

“The entire exercise is planned and executed by the Academy students. This develops their leadership skills and enhances their understanding of the practical issues related to community service. In return, communities get exposed to the high calibre of the young men and women serving in defence of the country," says Lieutenant Colonel Morné Booÿjens, Chief Military Instructor at the Military Academy and serving as mentor to participants.

Nine teams, including land, running, log, signal, media, cycling and sea teams – travel from the Eastern Cape to Saldanha over a period of 11 days, staying over in towns along the way.

While the cycling team covers a certain distance on bicycles, the sea team travels along the coast with two rubber dinghies, and the land team drives with vehicles from town to town collecting money, while the log team prepares for the other teams' arrival. There is also a running team that covers a distance of 10 km each day.  At certain points the teams change.

Also, it is tradition that the mayor of each town writes a short letter of goodwill to the mayor of the next town. The letter is handed to the exercise commander who delivers it to the mayor of the next town.

Each morning will see a short opening ceremony as organised in conjunction with the various mayoral committees of municipalities along the way.

Opening ceremonies take place daily at the following venues:

• Liaise with Major Herklaas Jantjies at 074 793 7740 for more information.

MORE ABOUT EXERCISE TRANS ENDURO

Exercise Trans Enduro's existence can be traced back to approximately 33 years ago, when a group of Military Academy students organised an adventure race from Port Elizabeth to Saldanha. 

The Race was conducted through the use of 2 inflatable rubber ducks, and it roughly followed the route of the Trans Agulhas adventure race.

Through the years it changed and students used this opportunity to collect money along the route as part of the competition for the “Smoeg" trophy at Stellenbosch and all the money went to Maties Community Service.

A cycling component was introduced in 1998 that cycles the route along the N2.

The community services team was introduced in 2002 and the focus shifted from collecting money to doing community service along the road. The running team was introduced in 2014.

In 2018, as part of the centenary celebrations of the late President Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu the starting point will be in Qunu, the birth place of Nelson Mandela. 

​

“The best interest of the user is the only interest. Libraries have been at the heart of the knowledge project from the start and, as the world keeps on changing, we too have to adapt or be left behind – the same goes for libraries."

These were the opening remarks from Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU), at the 15th Stellenbosch University Library Symposium. The symposium welcomed more than 160 delegates at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, where the symposium was held over a day and a half, from 15 to 16 November 2018.

The symposium was a gathering not to be missed by those wanting to keep up with the latest cutting edge trends in library and information science. This year's theme was entitled “Smarter libraries: User experience (UX) in action".

According to Ellen Tise, Senior Director of the Library and Information Service, Stellenbosch University, it was a natural progression to focus on this theme at the symposium. “Over time, technology has changed not only people, but libraries too. This year we focus on user experience – UX – design, which is based on the idea that products and services should be designed with the user in mind. The user has always been central to what we do at libraries, but now we have to do more research to make sure we keep up with trends and our users."

Many libraries have undertaken research that would fall under the umbrella of UX. Ethnographic research is a popular method in UX research, which includes the study of user behaviour related to information searching, how people use library websites and how people use and interact with library spaces.

Three sessions at the symposium focused on the following themes, all related to UX:

• Smarter libraries through technology
• Smart library design: Spaces and facilities
• Using UX research for smarter services and resources

Among the 15 speakers during these sessions were Ned Potter, an academic liaison librarian at the University of York, Alex Ball, a research data librarian at the University of Bath, and Abeer Al Kuwari, Director of Research and Learning Services at the newly established Qatar National Library.

According to Prof De Villiers, it is important that the libraries of the future not only think about connecting people to the great cloud of information and development in the digital age, but also about connecting people to each other.

“This gathering comes at a very special moment in Stellenbosch University's history. We are marking the centenary of Stellenbosch University and it is fair to say that Stellenbosch University has become a leading research-intensive higher education institution, not only on the African continent, but also worldwide. Throughout the years, the Library and Information Service has made a very crucial contribution to the University," said Prof De Villiers.

Click here to find out more about the Stellenbosch University Library Symposium.

In the photo above: (left to right): Ms Ellen Tise (Senior Director: Library and Information Service, Stellenbosch University), Prof Wim de Villiers (Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Stellenbosch University) and Mr Lars Binau (from Technical University of Denmark and a speaker in Session 1 of the symposium).​

Photos by Anton Jordaan. 

SU’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences works closely with SALT, an NPO for social justice that seeks to bridge the gap between public and private healthcare. “Accessibility, education and information need to be there for the most vulnerable in our communities as well. We are passionate about women’s health in its entirety: mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and socio-economic,” said Sandra Warne of SALT. “We also assist women in applying for ID books, birth certificates and grants and offer a counselling service ranging from unemployment and life skills to prostitution and human trafficking. We believe in equal rights and dignity for all.”

During the course of the year, Johnson & Johnson’s baby products division provided training and information on baby baths and massage and basic skin care for newborns and children to SU’s midwifery students. The information and skills were then passed on to the mothers at SALT. Forty-three students gave informational talks to 120 women and they were coached in the topics of immunisations, breast examinations, diarrhoea and danger signs, contraception, baby massage and baby baths. The women could then pass this information on to family, friends and community members. “As a midwife I can improve the lives of women and children and make an impact on the first 1 000 days of a child and beyond,” said Sr Amy Howes.

“What we learnt is the importance of developing personal skills by speaking in a language that a woman can understand. We empower women by educating them and this will help strengthen our community and our nation. Our desire is to re-orientate health services from the treatment of disease and traumas to the prevention thereof. By creating a supportive environment for health services, we create a non-judgemental attitude towards people’s choices, lives and opinions. We want all women to know that we are here for them. This also creates a trust environment – it is very important that nurses have a non-judgemental attitude. The realities of women in different communities, such as lack of transport money, can prevent them from accessing a pharmacy in cases of emergency, for example for anti-diarrhoeal medication. One has to look at the problems realistically and inform them of what they can do in an emergency for themselves or their children. It was a humbling experience to witness the big social need within the community and the need for basic education,” said Sr Amy Howes.

During the course of the year, advanced midwifery students partnered with SALT and had a wellness day with 80 women. They took blood pressure readings, weight and BMI and performed urine analyses and pregnancy tests to get a general idea of the women’s health. They held a talk on reproductive health and family planning and spoke about antiretroviral adherence. They provided oral and injectable contraceptive options on the day and once again, it was highlighted that the women do not have access to basic information and have inadequate access to basic preventative healthcare measures.

On 7 August, as part of women’s month, in collaboration with SALT and Pink Drive, students conducted breast exams for the women of Dunoon and the public. They saw 158 women and did breast exams, health education and demonstrations about breast self-examinations. Women with access to private medical care did not need any follow-up. Sixty women were referred for follow-up, five of which were malignant and did not have access to private medical care. This shows an unequal experience in terms of women who have access to private healthcare and those who do not.

There is a serious lack of access to information among women in Dunoon and a lack of access to basic healthcare. The existing healthcare is overburdened and results in long waiting periods that cannot accommodate follow-up periods for women needing injectable contraceptives. As a result, unplanned pregnancies arise. There were many other issues raised as well – social, emotional and mental health issues. Students were there to listen to the women and could contribute to the fight against breast cancer.

Students involved in this initiative experienced personal growth in terms of project management skills, increased their personal knowledge and gained the opportunity to be of service to this community. The gap between public and private healthcare needs to be bridged. There needs to be more collaboration between SU, the DoH and NPOs in this regard and more of these health promotion and screening days going forward. 

​​​What is the appropriate response to the echoes of historical wounding that extend far beyond the generation that experienced the trauma directly? What strategies might quell the haunting repercussions of genocide, slavery, colonial oppression, and mass violence that play out in the lives of affected individuals and groups from both sides of these acts?

These are some of the questions that delegates to an international conference themed Recognition, Reparation, Reconciliation: The Light and Shadow of Historical Trauma will deliberate on. Inspiration for the conference is the 20th anniversary of the report of the TRC.

RENOWNED KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

• Prof Homi Bhabha, Harvard University, world's premier postcolonial literary theorist (Thu 6 December, 09:00): A Memory of Neighbours: On History and the Afterlife.
• Prof Cathy Caruth, Cornell University, prominent scholar of Trauma Theory and author of foundational texts in the field (Fri 7 December 08:30): Death and Life at the Site of Address
• Prof Michael Rothberg, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), well-known scholar on trauma, memory and postcolonial theory (Sat 8 December, 08:45): The Implicated Subject: Rethinking Political Responsibility
• Prof Achille Mbembe, Wits University, public intellectual and major figure in the fields of African history, politics, and social science Sat 8 Dec: 17:00 (lecture open to the public)
• Jacqueline Rose (University of London) and Jessica Benjamin (New York psychoanalyst) are both internationally known for their work on the relationship between psychoanalysis and feminism and their engagement with the politics of Israel-Palestine (Sun 9 December 15:45): What Light Might Psychoanalytic Attention to the Inner Life Throw on the Repetitions of History?

• Lindiwe Hani will speak about meeting Janusz Walus, the man who assassinated her father, Chris Hani.
• Candice Mama and Siya Mgoduka, whose fathers were killed in operations in which Eugene de Kock was involved, will reflect on their thoughts on de Kock. Mgoduka will also be in conversation with his mother, Doreen Mgoduka, about her forgiving de Kock.
• The legacies of conscription into the South African Defence Force during the years of apartheid will also be addressed.

SU will honour Homi Bhabha with an honorary doctorate at its December 2018 Graduation Ceremony.

The conference ends on Sunday 9 December with an event to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the submission of the report of the TRC and to honour Archbishop Tutu for his work. A music theatre performance by the Rwandan group Mashirika, curated by multiple award winning artist Hope Azeda will perform a piece about healing and reconciliation titled “Africa's Hope."

• Access the conference website here and the programme here​. 
  

​A new 'pearl white' freshwater crab species has been discovered in the 'forgotten' Eastern Cape forests of South Africa.

Prof Savel Daniels, a molecular taxonomist at Stellenbosch University, says crabs are relatively well studied in South Africa but for some reason forests have been neglected in sampling efforts.

“Nobody has ever intensively sampled the forests in the Eastern Cape where we (incidentally) found the species at Mbotyi," he told the FBIP.

The study formed part of the Eastern Cape Forest project, one of the Large Integrated Projects funded by the Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP).

Mbotyi is a picturesque forested region northeast of Port St Johns and adjacent to the East Coast of South Africa.

'Sympatry'

The crab, which shimmers in the presence of light, was collected from under stones found in small streams which flow towards the coast.

In a case of what phylogeographers call 'sympatry' the pearl white crab lives alongside a known rust brown species belonging to the African freshwater crab genus Potamonautes.

Like a divorced couple who still share the same house, the two related [but genetically distinct] populations are sympatric because they exist in the same geographic area and thus frequently encounter one another without breeding.

In a sense Daniels was lucky to have discovered the specimen with its striking colour difference compared to its counterpart, P. sidneyi.

In recent times and particularly with invertebrates, such discoveries, where the scientist has a clear morphological difference as a 'lead' for identifying a potential new species, are rare.

'Colour morphs'

In Daniels' line of work he often encounters 'cryptic species' where animals which are similar to the human eye are genetically very different. In other cases animals look different but show no significant genetic differences – different 'morphs'.

Daniels set out to answer whether the two crabs were indeed different species, or less spectacularly, two superficial 'colour morphs' with the one being pearl white and the other rust brown.

Back in the laboratory at the Stellenbosch University Evolutionary Genomics Facility samples from both groups of animals were subjected to DNA sequencing, looking at three genes known by geneticists as 'COI, 12S rRNA, and 16S rRNA'.

DNA sequence divergence

The DNA sequence divergence (i.e. the genetic difference) for the COI gene, usually a primary marker in animal genetic studies, was striking at 13.42%.

To gain a better perspective on divergence values molecular taxonomists need to look at which values from prior studies were used to designate something as sufficiently different to be called a 'new species'.

Daniels' paper, published in the Journal of Crustacean Biology, cited two prior studies with values ranging from 2.8% to 14.7% in the one, and 7.9% between two species in the other.

There could be no doubt that the shimmering pearl white specimen from Mbotyi was a new species to science.

Daniels found no morphological characteristics with which to distinguish P. sidneyi from the new Mbotyi species except for the striking colour difference. The latter was inspiration for the naming of the new species, one of the few opportunities for creativity in describing a new species.

As a tribute to the Xhosa people of the Mbotyi region Daniels decided to give the newly discovered crab the species epithet of mhlophe, meaning 'white' in isiXhosa.

He says the discovery is important as it highlights the biodiversity of the area, and further establishes the region as a 'biodiversity hotspot', a tourism draw card.

“Tourism in the region creates a lot of sustainable job opportunities," he says.

The Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP) is a long-term programme to generate, manage and disseminate foundational biodiversity information and knowledge to improve decision-making, service delivery and create new economic opportunities.

• FBIP on Facebook and Twitter
  

For more details contact:

Contact:             Dane McDonald  

Designation:     Science communicator

Cell:                 +27 (0) 72 1299 649

Email Address: d.mcdonald@sanbi.org.za

Website:                           http://fbip.co.za/

​

Ms Susan Njeyiyana, a lecturer in the General Linguistics Department, recently received a Promising Young Linguist award for a poster she presented at the prestigious 20th International Congress of Linguists that was hosted in Cape Town.

Njeyiyana, Deaf and uses South African Sign Language (SASL) as her first language while she also understands English and Setswana and  teaches South African Sign Language (SASL) Acquisition for L2 first year students in the department. 

“It was an amazing feeling to receive this award. Initially I couldn't believe that I was selected out of the many other excellent posters that were on display during the conference. I was certainly pleasantly surprised and it's fuelled my ambition to further my studies even more," she says. 

Her poster topic was born from her Honours degree which focused on research she conducted to “establish whether there is evidence of SASL dialects in schools for the Deaf".

“The history of Deaf education goes back to the apartheid era, where many schools for the Deaf were established by different religious groups. Some by nuns from Ireland while others were established by nuns from Germany and also the Dutch Reformed Church."

The first school for the Deaf in South Africa was opened in 1863 by the Irish Dominican Order. Quoting Philemon Akach, she explains: “This school, from its inception, catered for all race groups, and used signed language as a medium of instruction." 

However, the nuns who taught at this school were from Ireland and their sign language instruction had originated in France in the 18^thcentury. 

“In my studies I found that many sign languages have documented the phenomenon of signers adapting their lexical items for a number of reasons. The focus of this study was on so-called 'school-lects', a term which refers to the transmission of sign language in schools for Deaf children."

Referring to Gary Quinn (2010) who is Assistant Professor at Heriot Watt University, Scotland , she explains that like Quinn, who studied the role that school-lects play in regional variation in British Sign Language (BSL), she is interested in researching the impact of these school-lects on lexical variation in SASL.  

“I found that although the participants of the study retain some lexical items from their school-lects, the data seems to show that the retention of school-lects is decreasing, in other words, there is more change. The reasons for this are the abolishment of apartheid, and using similar variations and SASL curriculum implementation since the coining of new signs and terms for linguistic terminology by different groups in South Africa."

Her own childhood has also formed her and her interests as an academic. Njeyiyana, who was born in Soweto, is one of four siblings of which three are Deaf. She attended The Dominican School for the Deaf in Hammanskraal and finished matric at St Vincent School for the Deaf. 

“Drawing from my personal experience as a Deaf child who had to move between two very different schools for the Deaf, it was clear that the signs I learned from Hammanskraal was very different to that of St Vincent. Through my research I want to investigate the transmission of signs in an individual from one space to the next, where some of the 'older' signs seem to disappear and are being replaced by new signs which is due to more language contact occurring."

“Today there is no more apartheid and we have access to social media where Deaf people from anywhere can visually communicate with each other over vast distances, creating more opportunity for signed languages to influence each other which gives us more rich variation in sign languages."

Speaking to Njeyiyana, her passion for her work as an educator is apparent. It is therefore surprising to hear that she had not been sure what to study upon completing her matric in 1993.

“I was unsure of which direction to study and eventually ended up doing a course in Graphic Design, which was a reflection of my creative nature. However, my ability and talent as a SASL poet was spotted by SLED where I became one of the founding members and also worked for 16 years. During my time there I was afforded the opportunity to study SASL in-depth which led to me teaching SASL to groups of hearing people and being trained as a facilitator for adult learning events," she explains.

In 2014, she attended a short course on SASL poetry at the University of the Witwatersrand. 

“This was where my passion was ignited. A few years later I decided to further my studies and chose to attend Wits University to complete my Honours degree in South African Sign Language Linguistics. No sooner had I finished my studies, when I heard about the opportunity to work at Stellenbosch University. I immediately jumped at the chance to apply and was pleasantly surprised when I was informed that I would be joining the team."

Njeyiyana is married with two children, who currently still reside in Gauteng while she sets up a home in the Western Cape. 

In South Africa, as is the case in many other countries across the world, Deaf persons are a “linguistic minority" and “often overlooked".

“As with many other smaller groups, the natural thing for big communities to do, is to push them aside. And this is very true of the Deaf community. Accessibility is our main barrier as a Deaf community. Access to information, education, social events and access to the world around us. We receive information in a visual way and we don't have the choice to be hearing, like you would have the choice to learn another language," says Njeyiyana.

However, adds Njeyiyana, those who are able to hear have a choice to adapt and fit in with the Deaf by learning sign language. 

“And that is why I'm here, to build that bridge, however small it may be, between the Deaf and the hearing worlds, through teaching SASL Acquisition in the General Linguistics Department of Stellenbosch University. It's not about 'helping the poor Deaf', but rather creating the space where we can be true equals." 

She hopes that her achievements thus far will encourage other Deaf persons to consider a career in academia.

“I want to show the Deaf youth that being a Deaf academic is possible and my way of getting them to the point of being able to attend a higher institution of learning after school, is through the Learning and Teaching Support Material project which I'm involved with at Stellenbosch University. This project develops teacher material for teaching SASL in the classroom in the schools for the Deaf. As with hearing children who learn a spoken language, Deaf children are only now able to learn SASL as a subject. I have a passion for developing SASL literature and more specifically sharing my knowledge of SASL poetry through workshops and interacting with the children."

Photo: Ms Susan Njeyiyana, a lecturer in the General Linguistics Department, recently received a Promising Young Linguist award for a poster she presented at the prestigious 20th International Congress of Linguists that was hosted in Cape Town. (Lynne Rippenaar-Moses)

Dr Martin Heine, a joint post-doctoral research fellow in the Institute of Sports and Exercise Medicine (ISEM) and the Division of Physiotherapy, has become the first person from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) to be awarded the prestigious AXA post-doctoral fellowship.

The award is for his work on patient-centred rehabilitation programmes for people with chronic diseases living in low-resourced settings.

The core of his fellowship revolves around a randomised clinical trial in about 300 patients with non-communicable disease to test the feasibility of a patient-centred rehabilitation intervention designed specifically for a low-resourced setting.

Heine, who moved to South Africa from the Netherlands about two years ago, will conduct his research at a rehabilitation centre in the underserved area of Bishop Lavis, outside Cape Town.

Explaining the purpose of his research, he said: “Africa is seeing a shift, from a strong prevalence of communicable diseases – like HIV/AIDS and TB – towards non-communicable diseases, including illnesses like diabetes, stroke and cardiac conditions.

“While over the past decades, there has been a tremendous – and remarkably successful – drive to reduce the burden of communicable diseases we are now faced with the increasing challenge of dealing with the increase in non-communicable diseases, particularly in complex urban settings.

“In many Western countries, rehabilitation programmes are increasingly disease-specific and specialised (e.g. cardiac rehabilitation) but in Africa, a lot of people present themselves with more than one medical condition. We believe that, for the proper management of our more complex patients, we must take a holistic, patient-centred view into our programme."

Heine said the rapid increase in non-communicable diseases and the lack of management of these illnesses, is expected to hamper poverty reduction initiatives in developing countries. “While the benefits of rehabilitation are well established in high-income settings, there is insufficient evidence on how and to what benefit patient-centred rehabilitation can be offered and studied in low-resource settings."

AXA is a global insurer with a philanthropical arm which funds a number of fellowships each year within specific themes (www.axa-research.org).

Heine said he felt very privileged to have been awarded the fellowship. “I have been tasked to instigate a new research thrust specifically around the management of chronic disease in low-resourced settings. Hence, I'm honoured for AXA to acknowledge our work, to acknowledge the fact that this is a priority for future clinical research, and their belief in me as one of the future leaders in this field."

He continued: “The research I'm doing now has significant direct and tangible benefits to the patient and community which is making my work much more rewarding. I hope that through my work I might be able to contribute to the good health, well-being, and equity of underserved communities."

​​​(Picture) Mr Simthembile Xeketwana, Prof Johan Malan, Prof Mokgale Makgopa and Ms Phumla Kese​

On the 20/11/2018 the isiXhosa unit in the Department of Curriculum studies hosted Prof Mokgale Makgopa, under the banner of the CoPAL Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of African languages, the sub-committee of Universities South Africa (USAF). This community of practice aims among other things “… to provide a structured opportunity for members of faculty to collaborate, network and exchange ideas on issues of common interest or concern, as well as recommending strategies for the sector to enhance access and success in the teaching and learning of African languages in the public universities."

The visit by Prof Makgopa was specifically to the Faculty of Education at SU as he was tasked by the CoPAL to solicit the progress and practice of African Languages in the Faculties of Education in South Africa. Furthermore, the community is in the process of acquiring this information with the intention of “benchmarking, developing, advocating and sharing good practices and relevant information needed to advance the teaching of African Language in schools".

It is for this reason that the isiXhosa unit took part in this initiative, where the academic staff involved in teaching isiXhosa in the Education Faculty and the acting Dean Prof Malan, reported on the progress, successes and challenges of teaching isiXhosa at SU. The issue of collaboration, was also at the centre stage in this meeting, where it was resolved that collaboration is needed today more than ever. Furthermore, there is a need for the CoPAL to formally invite the faculties of education in the country to join this community, since the African languages are not only taught in African languages' departments.

In light of the SU language policy which recognises isiXhosa as a language of teaching and learning, to be part of communities of practice such as CoPAL further confirms that at SU we are part of a bigger family and we need to continue sharing good practice through our research and teaching and learning initiatives.

“Justice goes beyond the courts, the lawyers and the judges. Everything you do has consequences."

Speaking to a large audience at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences' (FMHS) at Stellenbosch University's (SU) Dean's Distinguished Leader Lecture series recently, Professor Thuli Madonsela asked aspirant and current healthcare professionals, visitors and academic and administrative staff to consider how they can work toward building improved systems, processes or policies which will further serve to advance healthcare in South Africa.

Madonsela, who is currently the Chair for Social Justice and Law in the Faculty of Law at SU, completed a seven-year term as South Africa's Public Protector in 2016. In her talk, entitled Social Justice and Ethical Leadership, she referred to a number of cases she worked on as the country's public protector, all of which pointed to incidents that appeared to be lawful, but were seemingly unjust.

She said the country had come a long way after more than two decades of democracy, but that socio-economic disparities and blatant discrimination in the areas of health, education, housing and other rights promised in the constitution continued to impede proper structural change.

In her talk, Madonsela spoke in particular of a family who had taken their father to hospital after he had fallen ill. Three days later, the family, who lived in a rural area in South Africa, came back to visit him but he was nowhere to be found. The hospital found the remains of a human being behind the hospital building, but by the time his wife registered this matter with the Public Protector's office in 2016, the DNA test results for those remains had been outstanding for more than ten years.

“Would this case have landed on my desk if this man had been an Oppenheimer? You see, even in healthcare, money goes to money. You would therefore agree with me when I say there is a link between poverty and health. Go into South African townships and you'll see there are no private hospitals…in many cases there's no car or money to get to a public one either. That is why we need to enhance state capacity to pass laws that reduce poverty and inequality," she maintained.

Madonsela, who is involved with a number of programmes aimed at addressing structural inequality in South Africa, recently hosted the first Social Justice M-Plan Expert Roundtable in Stellenbosch. The M-plan (Mosa-plan) recognises Ms Palesa Mosa, whose arrest as a 13-year-old pupil on June 16 1976, followed by detention without trial and torture, meant that she was denied an education and an ability to realise her human potential.

A number of SU speakers attended, including the FMHS Dean Professor Jimmy Volmink. The M-Plan is aimed at catalysing the process of ending poverty and equalising life opportunities by 2030 as envisaged in the National Development Plan (NDP).

“As we walk out of this room today, I want you to think about this: Who are you here to serve? Think carefully about the things you do on a daily basis and remember that social justice touches each of us in ways that we might not yet recognise. We must develop leadership competencies in our own way to help reduce inequality…otherwise Ubuntu is nothing but a philosophy to maximise human survival."

Caption: Prof Thuli Madonsela meets with the FMHS Dean, Prof Jimmy Volmink, and other guests at the FMHS Dean's Distinguished Leader Lecture.

​​According to an announcement by the Foreign Ministers of Germany and France, Ms Vuyiseka Dubula-Majola, Director of the Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management at Stellenbosch University, is one of 15 recipients worldwide of the 2018 Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law.

This is the third year in which France and Germany are awarding the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law to coincide with Human Rights Day on 10 December.

In their announcement, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas of Germany and Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian of France stated: “In this 70th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Germany and France have chosen to honour 15 individuals who have campaigned courageously to protect human rights.

“They also stand proxy for the many other human rights defenders whose efforts remain unrecognised and who are often subjected to great iniquities in their fight for justice. Our gratitude, recognition and respect goes to them for putting the Declaration's words into actions."

Having completed two of her postgraduate qualifications at Stellenbosch University, Dubula-Majola became a lecturer at the Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management and later its Director. She herself had been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 2001.

In congratulating Ms Dubula-Majola, the Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Prof Ingrid Woolard, said she was delighted to see her work recognized in this way. “Vuyiseka is an exceptional role model to all of us – she is brave, passionate, dedicated, focused and yet humble. We congratulate her on this international recognition of her unwavering commitment to improving the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS and working towards interventions that will reduce transmission.”

Dubula-Majola has also been included in the book A to Z of Amazing South African women, a publication that honours the contribution of women to South Africa's past, present and future. Other names in the book include Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Fatima Meer, Caster Semenya, Natalie du Toit and Thuli Madonsela.

In the book they refer to Dubula-Majola as a “heroine for our times" - someone who has beaten all the odds and is still working actively to improve the situation.

“I welcome challenges. That is how we grow," she said.

• The other winners of the 2018 Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law are:
  Mr Yu Wensheng (China), Ms Aminata Traoré (Côte d'Ivoire), Mr Mohamed Lotfy (Egypt), Mr Alfredo Okenve (Equatorial Guinea), Mr Nityanand Jayaraman (India), Ms Chak Sopheap (Cambodia), Ms Hessen Sayah Corban (Lebanon), Ms Memo Mekfoula Mint Brahim (Mauritania), Mr Daoud Nassar (Palestinian territories), Ms Liz Chicaje Churay (Peru), Mr Oyub Titiev (Russia), Mr Anwar al-Bunni (Syria), Ms Sirikan Charoensiri (Thailand), Ms Susana Raffalli Arismendi (Venezuela).

​​​​In 2018 SUNCEP offered, for the 19^th consecutive year in the Stellenbosch region, an Expo for Young Scientists platform for learners to exhibit their research projects. Learners from 33 schools from the Stellenbosch region, as far and wide as Bredasdorp, Touws River, Bellville, Paarl and Kraaifontein came to Stellenbosch to showcase their projects.

A total of 370 learners were involved and they exhibited 296 projects in total. The majority worked individually and some in pairs.  60.5% of the participants were girls.

One hundred and three judges voluntarily gave their time to judge the exhibited projects. There were 186 medals awarded in total – 39 gold, 70 silver and 77 bronze. Several special prizes were awarded to deserving learners who won in their respective entered categories. The majority of these prizes were afforded by Stellenbosch University's Faculties of Sciences, AgriSciences, Engineering and Arts and Social Sciences.

Sixteen projects were chosen to represent the Stellenbosch region at the national Expo (also called the International Science Fair or ISF) held in Boksburg, Gauteng. Participants at ISF came from all 35 regions in South Africa.

The learners who represented the Stellenbosch region at the 2018 South African's International Science Fair (ISF).  

Photo: Public Domain

The Stellenbosch region's learners did us proud and came home with three special prizes, two gold medals, seven silver, 4 bronze medals, three highly commended awards, and one learner chosen for possible international participation.

In 2019 Expo in the Stellenbosch region will be 20 years young! A celebratory Expo, worthy of this achievement, are being planned! Please visit our website for more details: www.sun.ac.za/stbexpo.

​​​​​​​​​​​​Planners and conservationists now have access to a new tool that uses dragonflies as indicators of the health of freshwater systems in Africa. ​