The discourse around human rights often takes place at a level of abstraction that is divorced from the lived reality of many South Africans. Law students are also confronted by the lack of engagement with human rights by legal practice, despite the fundamental human rights guaranteed in the Constitution. These were the main themes which emerged from the human rights panel discussion hosted by the HF Oppenheimer Chair in Human Rights Law and the Law Faculty's Transformation Committee. Titled A Future in Human Rights? students of Stellenbosch University were exposed to panellists who have achieved significant victories for human rights in vastly different areas of the law. However, the common thread which unites these achievements is the positive impact on the lives of ordinary South Africans.

Professor Sandra Liebenberg described the panellists as individuals who have made creative use of the Constitution to advance human rights. For the panellists, a future in human rights for aspiring students means embracing your ideals and being cognisant of the fluid nature of a career in law. “Bring who you are to your job," was one piece of advice offered to students by the panellist Precillar Moyo, an attorney for the Equal Education Law Centre based in Khayelitsha. Being a candidate attorney at a corporate law firm can be a source of invaluable experience, but it does not mean that one is barred from pursuing human rights as a later career path. This was especially the case for panellist Odette Geldenhuys, who pursued various other career paths including documentary film making, before establishing ProBono.org much later in her career. She now works for Webber Wentzel's Pro Bono department where she continues to fight for the advancement of human rights. All the panellists emphasised that litigation should be a last resort, and should form part of a broader campaign of human right advocacy.

The concrete meaning we must ascribe to fundamental rights such as equality and human dignity do not take place in a vacuum. Panellist, Nomzamo Zondo, who is the Director of Litigation at the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) in Johannesburg, shared her experience of litigating on behalf of evicted persons. For Ms Zondo, equality and human dignity became more than litigation tools when acting on behalf of evicted persons. These rights must reflect the lived reality of those affected and it is the duty of human rights lawyers to engage with peoples and communities to understand how these rights can work for ordinary people according to Ms Zondo. She reminded the audience that, “human rights lawyers account to the people" and that “mobilised communities will change the world". Ms Zondo is also particularly fascinated in the politics of protest, and believes that more can be done in terms of the Regulation of Gatherings Act to ensure that it gives meaningful effect to the constitutional right of demonstration enshrined in section 17 of the Bill of Rights.  She also commented that the police should gravitate from the role of enforces, to facilitators of the right to protest.

The panel also underscored that there is potential in the open-ended nature of human rights to address contemporary and future injustices. Equality and human dignity illuminate all other areas of the law, and should be a basis for any successful human rights lawyer. In this regard, Ms Mudarikwa drew the students' attention to the involvement of the LRC in a complex case where intersex individuals were refused an application to change their sex because their current marriages were heterosexual in terms of the Marriage Act. Ms Mudarikwa emphasised that value-based legal reasoning should play an important part in legal education and the profession.

An interesting debate of the evening revolved around the balance of rights in the Constitution. Specifically, a question was raised about the freedom to religion and same sex marriages. Ms Mudarikwa stated that there is no hierarchy of rights within the Bill of Rights. She emphasised that the law is secular and that these rights do not compete against each other, but must rather be harmonised. This discussion was prompted by the recent decision of Gaum and Others v Van Rensburg and Others where it was ruled that the church cannot discriminate against same-sex couples who wish to marry within the church. Ms Moyo disagreed with Ms Mudarikwa on this matter as she stated that rights do clash and that it is the judiciary who is responsible to balance and limit them. She said that the matter was particularly complicated due to an impossible choice that is given to people: to either choose obeying religious values, or the rights and values in the Constitution. The audience was engrossed in this discussion, which raised important issues regarding how rights should be balanced and reconciled under the Constitution. As with most cases, there is no easy solution and the panel agreed that they would not be surprised if the case was appealed.

The evening ended with further networking and discussion over refreshments. The law students who were in attendance left with many new ideas and changed perceptions about the advancement of human rights. With the timing of the event being two days before National Human Rights' Day, students were given a better understanding of how far we had come in South Africa, as well as what the future of human rights in the country looks like. Most importantly, everyone in attendance was exposed to contemporary human rights problems that ordinary South Africans face and what the role of lawyers can be to advance the equal enjoyment of constitutional rights.

• Photo: Prof Sandra Liebenberg, HF. Oppenheimer Chair in Human Rights Law; Ms Nomzamo Zondo, Socio-Economic Rights Institute of SA; Ms Odette Geldenhuys from Webber Wentzel; Ms Precillar Moyo, Equal Education Law Centre; Ms Mandivavarira Mudarikwa, Legal Resources Centre; and Prof Bradley Slade, Chair of the Law Faculty Transformation Committee. 

​On 26 March, Dr Marina Joubert and Mr Martin Viljoen joined forces to present an Auxin session entitled Building your research profile: The rewards and risks of engaging with public audiences about your research and availing yourself to engage on other topical aspects

Being visible as scholar was the focus of this presentation. Martin first shared the advantages of communicating your scholarship with various public audiences using a diverse range of communication tools and platforms. He also focused on the support available in this regard at the university.

Marina then shared two journal articles on the topic of effective public engagement about our research. She encouraged responsible public science engagement across all research disciplines and focused on the importance of identifying and understanding the factors that influence researchers' behaviour as far as public communication about their work is concerned.
Both colleagues are available for consultations. Please feel free to contact them with your innovative and ground breaking research findings.
Twenty three staff members attended the session and in their feedback they indicated the value of having two speakers giving different perspectives about science communication. Participants also indicated that they will be more active in responding to pseudo-science and fake news and be careful about their own social media profiles.

The Siyakhula staff programme is being relaunched and expanded as part of the Employment Equity and Diversity Capacity Building Programme.

​Since 2016 more than 600 staff members at all post levels from different divisions and disciplines joined discussion sessions as part of this transformation competency series. The model of the Siyakhula staff programme has always been well received because it recognises the complexity of challenges faced by Stellenbosch University staff in a rapidly changing context. The programme capacitates staff with diversity knowledge by learning from one another, exploring attitudes and sharing skills to improve the quality of communication and relations.

Building on the success of previous years, the relaunched programme will continue as a partnership between Human Resources, the Transformation Office, the Equality Unit and the Disability Unit. Monica du Toit will still coordinate the programme in her new role as part of Human Resources and specifically the Employment Equity and Diversity Capacity Development Programme. The 2019 programme offers 18 different discussion themes that will address practical challenges such as diversity management, sexual harassment, racism and employment equity and improve empathy, mediation and facilitation skills, with an added theme to activate the creative side of staff to design inclusive and accessible spaces for all.

Over the years, many divisions have chosen this programme as a measurable way to implement transformation goals, but it has also become an opportunity for leaders to listen to staff experiences and to help ensure that inclusion efforts translate into authentic practices and behaviours.

From 2019 onwards, groups will be able to book the themes of their choice via this link: https://goo.gl/JheT2s; alternatively, you can contact Monica du Toit (mdt2@sun.ac.za) regarding specific needs or arrangements. 

The available programme options and content are outlined in the attached documents with the option of applying to participate in a central three-day programme or to book specific sessions for teams. The programme is offered at no cost to Stellenbosch University staff.

​​“I always admired Mother Theresa's compassion and commitment to helping people," says Linda Luvuno, who received her PhD in Conservation Ecology during the Faculty of AgriSciences' graduation ceremony on 2 April. “I dreamed of becoming a nurse so that I could do just that."

Growing up in eMpophomeni in Howick, Luvuno loved the grasslands. When she began to realise the impact of alien invasive species, it saddened her deeply.

“I grew up in a rural township where grass is pretty much life. We use it for all manner of things and so the impacts of woody encroachment could be devastating to communities. I realised that I didn't need to be a nurse to practically help people. In fact, contributing to a better society could take many forms and I see my research as one such way of doing so."

Luvuno's research was a collaboration between the Centre for Complex Systems in Transition and the Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology, both at the University of Stellenbosch.

In her thesis, titled Understanding social-ecological regime shifts: the case of woody encroachment in South Africa Luvuno builds on the ecological literature on encroachment to present a broader social-ecological understanding of woody encroachment. Humanity has been very successful in modifying the planet to meet the demands of a rapidly growing human population. As human activities have grown in magnitude, they have become increasingly interlinked with ecosystem dynamics, creating social-ecological systems. Increased human impacts on ecosystems are also leading to an increased occurrence of regime shifts: large, persistent changes in the structure and function of ecosystems and social-ecological systems that often have substantive impacts on the suite of ecosystem services provided by these systems, and on the well-being of people who live in them. As global changes accelerate, better understanding the drivers, impacts and risks of regime shifts has become a key need.

This knowledge has important implications for the formulation of management strategies that aim to either maintain existing desirable regimes, restore previous regimes where a regime shift has occurred, or facilitate transformation to new regimes in the novel planetary conditions we face.

A prevalent regime shift in savannas worldwide, and certainly in Luvuno's home province of KwaZulu Natal, is woody encroachment. Woody encroachment is a shift from a grassy savanna to a persistently woody savanna, and has direct implications for a variety of ecosystem services such as livestock grazing, and people's livelihoods that depend on these services. Much of the historical work on woody encroachment has focused on the direct drivers of the process, such as the role of fire or grazing in inhibiting or promoting encroachment. However, less is understood about how underlying social processes may impact these drivers, how ecological changes may feedback to affect some of these underlying social processes, how to monitor woody encroachment as a regime shift and how encroachment impacts ecosystem services and human well-being.

“A real highlight of my research was spending time back in Zululand interviewing community members and game reserve staff about woody encroachment. Living in the Cape for so many years, I'd forgotten how friendly Zulu people are and how much I missed grass! It seems so silly but the landscapes we grow up in can be attached to our identity. Being there was cathartic."

Linda hopes that her research will inform policy and management practices, emphasising the importance of understanding the social and ecological interactions that underlie woody encroachment.

​​​AUXINS hosted by:  The Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL)

Title of Presentation: Building your research profile: The rewards and risks of engaging with public audiences about your research and availing yourself to engage on other topical aspects.

Summary of Invitation: The CTL hereby invites you to a lunch-hour “padkos session” as part of the AUXIN Project. The AUXIN Project aims to create growth opportunities for SU lecturers.

Title and Name of Presenter(s): Dr Marina Joubert & Mr Martin Viljoen

Short Biography of presenter(s):

Dr Marina Joubert is a senior science communication researcher at the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST) at SU. She presents an online science communication course with a focus on Africa, and teaches public engagement with science as part of various postgraduate programmes. Her research interests focus on researchers’ role in public communication of science, online interfaces between science and society and the changing policy environment for public communication of science in Africa. She has been awarded numerous institutional and national awards for her contributions in the field.

Mr Martin Viljoen is the Manager: Media in the Corporate Communication Division of SU. He firmly believes that having a good media profile, has a direct positive influence on researchers’ research profiles. He regularly presents informal workshops on media relations and how to connect to the media.  Martin is a trained journalist but crossed over to corporate communications early in his career and has 20 years of experience in higher education in a media liaison capacity, but built up some street credentials in internal communications, corporate writing, publishing and public speaking. Every year he processes hundreds of media enquiries, requests and media releases.

Blurb (Including Conclusions and Implications for Teaching and Learning at SU)

Sharing your research with different audiences using a diverse range of communication tools and platforms to do so, is imperative if you want to build your research profile and academic stature.

Given the policy intention of the South African government (and specifically, the Department of Science and Technology) to encourage and support responsible public science engagement across all research disciplines, it is imperative to identify and understand the factors that influence researchers’ behaviour as far as public communication about their work is concerned.

This session will empower researchers to effectively engage with public audiences, through focusing on the why and how of effective public engagement about their research and other aspects. The presenters will focus on the benefits of such engagement as well as the support available at the institution.

Articles (Bibliographic information of 2 easy-read articles on the topic)

Joubert, M. 2018. Country-specific factors that compel South African scientists to engage with public audiences. JCOM. 17(04):C04.

Marcinkowski, F. & Kohring, M. 2014. The changing rationale of science communication : A challenge to scientific autonomy. Journal of Science Communication. 13(03):C04.

Key Words: Science communication; science engagement; Media relations

Date of Presentation: 26 March 2019

Time: 12:45 - 13:45

Venue: Den Bosch, 41 Victoria Street (opposite House Skuilhoek and directly behind the Conservatoire)

Please RSVP by completing the Google form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqtAwQGhYM9nKv0JeZVpkyhGew7LqVX79QLYMo-aZlHE7C9w/viewform?usp=sf_link

Enquiries: Ms Nothemba Nqayi, nothemban@sun.ac.za, 021 808 3717

Cancellations: If, for some or other reason, you are no longer able to attend the AUXIN, we request that you please CANCEL your registration at least 24 hours before the time, by contacting Ms Nqayi (contact details above). There are certain financial costs incurred by the CTL for each AUXIN, and the request is to minimise financial implications.

More Information: A podcast will be available on the CTL website after the session: www.sun.ac.za/ctl

​​A Stellenbosch University (SU) PhD student has been named as one of the world's top 30 young rising leaders in the literacy field.

The 27-year-old Nangamso Mtsatse, who hails from New Brighton in Port Elizabeth, has been selected to represent SU as one of the 30 literacy global leaders under the age of 30 by the International Literacy Association (ILA).

ILA is a global advocacy and membership organisation advocating for evidence-based literacy instruction and equitable educational policies. The list recognises rising leaders in the literacy field and Mtsatse is one of 30 selected from around the world.

Mtsatse, who registered for her PhD studies at SU in 2018, says she feels humbled and thankful that she is able to contribute to and be recognised in her field of research.

“I was nominated by Prof Johannes Cronje, Dean: Faculty of Informatics and Design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) – who I met through my involvement as an executive committee member at the Literacy Association of South Africa (LITASA). I received an email stating that I was nominated and have been shortlisted. Part of the application process required me to complete a lengthy bio about who I am and what I do in the literacy space. A few months down the line – I had even forgotten about it – I received an email saying I had been selected as one of the top 30 under 30 literacy global leaders."

Mtsatse says it was mind blowing for her as there were thousands of other applications and yet her story made the cut. She says her current work allows her to work with other young literacy leaders from across the world.

She holds a BEd degree in Human Movement Science and Sport Management as well as a BEd Honours and an MEd in Assessment and Quality Assurance from the University of Pretoria (UP).

She says her passion for improving reading in mother tongue can be supported by her current research at SU that focuses on reading literacy for African languages in the Foundation Phase.

Her research sheds light on how to teach African languages, the most effective teaching methodology to teach African languages that differs from the typical Western approach to teaching English and the quality and validity of reading assessments used for African languages.

Mtsatse also forms part of the Funda Wande team that was launched as a pilot project in three Eastern Cape districts. The programme is a teacher training and a development course that focuses on an evidence based way of teaching and reading in African languages.

What was once considered a debilitating illness that has seen MA Visual Arts student Marguerite Kirsten suffering various medical conditions brought on by chronic kidney disease, has now become the inspiration that secured the young artist from Blouberg the coveted 2018 Absa L'Atelier award.

Kirsten is currently in Paris, France where she is participating in an artist-in-residence programme at the Cité Internationale des Arts, which hosts up to 300 artists from across the world each year. It is thanks to winning the award that she is now participating in this programme.

The L'Atelier award is considered one of “Africa's most prestigious art competitions" and recognises and “rewards young visual artists aged 21 to 35 with the opportunity to develop their talents abroad".

Established 33 years ago and sponsored by Absa and the South African National Association for the Visual Arts (SANAVA), the competition currently draws entries from artists in 12 countries, including Nigeria, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Ghana, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mauritius, the Seychelles and Mozambique.

“I did not expect win this award at all," says an obviously happy Kirsten.

“I remember hearing the announcement, but I did not quite register it was me. Someone had to tell me 'that's your name on the screen'." 

Her residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts and living costs in Paris will be covered by the R330 000 prize money she won. During her time at the institute, she will also be working on art works for a solo exhibition that will be held at the Absa Gallery in Johannesburg upon her return.

After being selected as one of the top 10 artists in the competition, Kirsten spent two jampacked days in Johannesburg with the nine other finalists – including Stellenbosch University Visual Arts alumnus, Lemeeze Davids – participating in seminars on legal, financial and media training, gallery practice, how to write artist statements and engaging with Africa's top artists.

“When you see the top 100 exhibitions, you realise that there were many other artists who could have made the top 10. I was on cloud nine just making the top 10 already, so I was honoured and excited to be chosen as the winner of the Absa L'Atelier award."

Kirsten's work used LED lights, medical interviews, copper, laboratory glassware, and even urine, to depict her own struggle with a “diseased body" that was prodded and poked since she was five year's old.

“I started this piece at a time that I was struggling with my academics. In my second year, the renal damage I had suffered at a young age caused me to relapse. I found myself struggling to identify with what was happening to me and I was in a hurry to get a checkup and quick treatment so I could finish my second year. However, I had to be hospitalised in the end and that of course had an impact on my academics."

Kirsten explains it took a while to reconcile herself with the fact that she had suffered a relapse.

“Renal damage can be very painful and you spend a lot of time thinking about drinking enough water to ensure you do not become dehydrated. Also, as a student, there are times that you are in situations where alcohol is consumed, and you have to monitor how much you drink. I could not do sport either because there was the risk that my kidneys would become dehydrated. You spent a lot of time thinking about the kind of things that most people take for granted."

While altering her lifestyle was tough, reaching out her lecturers for support was even harder.

“I had repressed what I was experiencing and I reached the point where I had to ask myself, what was dignified about hiding my body. The reality was that I was living with a diseased body. I am not saying that this is my identity or who I am, but it is a part of my identity."

“It was time to accept my new reality and that I was sick and that meant altering my goals and responsibilities," adds Kirsten.

While away from university, she turned to the thing that brought her comfort – her art.

“It was a very therapeutic moment for me, to step back and separate myself from what I was creating."

In this time, Kirsten's older sister, a Visual Arts alumnus of SU was diagnosed with leukemia, which led to partial kidney failure. “She is in remission now, but her strength and positivity during that time were inspiring to me."

Bearing witness to her own sister's resilience while battling cancer, Kirsten started grappling with “how the body is rendered abject through the psychological effects of the medical industry", specifically her own body.

“The sounds you hear when viewing the installation reference the sounds you would hear in a hospital, like a heart rate monitor, a dialysis alarm or a ventilator machine. You also hear recordings of a discussion I had with a doctor in ER. It illustrates those intimate and uncomfortable discussions one has with doctors when talking about an illness."

“This embodiment attempts to strengthen and dignify my body that has become an object and instrument of the medical institution. The art work has an impact on the senses, but it is a dignifying moment, and even though the art installation can feel all consuming, much like how a disease can, it puts it into perspective for the viewer."  

Davids, who graduated with a BA in Fine Art from SU, was selected as one of the top 10 finalists along with Kirsten for her sculptural installation, called Thank You for My Lunch. It consists of cement pillars with ceramic vessels resting on top of some of them, filled with spices from her mother's pantry.

“I was inspired to work with food in this installation because food speaks to everyone – everyone eats, and everyone has certain foods they like and dislike. This would help people talk about my piece, instead of feeling alienated and intimidated by the possibility of “saying the wrong thing" about a piece of art. A lot of my work tries to undo the supposed scariness of the art world," explains Davids.

“It was also a tribute to my family's culinary history, in particular the cooking of my late grandmother and grandfather, who used these spices in their daily lives."

“As a 'coloured' person, this consists of heavily spiced dishes, curries, & sweetmeats. This cuisine came into being in the early years of the Dutch colonisation of South Africa – a cuisine that echoes my own hybrid identity, rooted in slavery. I have taken the raw substance, the reason the Dutch rounded the Cape – spices – and turned it into a map, an installation that the viewer can navigate through as I have tried to navigate my own history," she adds.

Davids, who is currently completing an Honours degree in Curatorship at the University of Cape Town, is still in disbelief that she was one of the 10 finalists.

“I didn't really expect anything, to be honest. I was shocked and happy for Marguerite and myself. I entered the competition because I was encouraged to do so by the people around me, and I only remembered when I got the call to say I was in the top 10. I still have mixed feelings about a lot of things, but my mother grounded me by saying that it was an indication that people saw potential in me, and that I shouldn't be so quick to dismiss my achievements. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity – it made me feel like I had to keep going as a creative person."

She may not have expected to be one of the 10 finalists, but Davids knew from a young age that she would be an artist.

“When I was in Grade 1 one of my friends told me I should be an artist because I could colour in the lines. I was very impressed by that compliment, even though I rarely colour in the lines these days. When I got older, my passion for art was re-ignited by one of my high school teachers, and I saw art as an opportunity to challenge the way people think."

Now that she is making art beyond the classroom, Davids has some advice to share with young artists.

“It's not a complete misperception that it can be hard to make money as an artist. It's a very difficult field. Not in that money is scarce, but just that you have to be very dedicated and committed to your craft, which is also extremely personal. You can't give up when it gets a little tough. I think it takes a lot of perseverance, but once you get into the field, there are absolutely enormous amounts of money going around."

“It's very possible and easy to make a sustainable living if you're consistent, consistent, consistent! Especially in the peak age of social media and online shopping: if you have a strong brand, you can sell water to a fish."

For Davids, being a finalist in the L'Atelier competition, has brought many opportunities to develop herself.

“Community is very important in the art world. I have met so many incredible people through this competition, who have helped me grow as an artist. No man is an island."

Adds Kirsten: “I think it is important to mention to emerging artists that if you get the opportunity to enter competitions like the L'Atelier, to enter it. You have nothing to lose. I spent two years making this work for my own purposes, but never did I think that I would win this prestigious award."

Photos: MA Visual Arts student Marguerite Kirsten (second from the right in the picture on the far right) won the Absa L'Atelier Award and will be travelling to France for an artist in-residence programme at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris this month. SU alumnus, Lemeeze Davids (third from the left in the picture on the far left), was one of the top 10 nominees to receive the award.

​​​​Every year, Stellenbosch University commemorates Human Rights Day on 21 March with the rest of the country as part of the institution's commitment to the South African Bill of Rights and consequently the right to human dignity, equality and freedom for staff and students.

Latching on to SU's specific values of respect, equity and compassion, SU strives to ensure that staff and students' rights to access higher education and be included in the total transformative experience – which is not just academically orientated but also co-curricular – are respected.

In line with Human Rights Day on 21 March, the focus this month at SU is on social justice. That is according to the 'Framework for stakeholder engagement at SU in 2019', approved by the Rectorate on 5 February (click on the hyperlinked title above to download).

“The theme of social justice resonates well with SU's overall guiding document, Vision 2040 and Strategic Framework 2019–2024, which was approved by Council in June last year and is being implemented from the start of this year," SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Wim de Villiers said.

“In terms of our Vision 2040, one of the formal aspirations of the University is to become a transformed and integrated academic community that celebrates critical thinking, promotes debate and is committed to democracy, human rights and social justice."

“One of the six new core strategic themes being implemented institution-wide is to build a thriving Stellenbosch University. Our Strategic Framework lists eight institutional goals for this theme, of which the first is to cultivate a University characterised by inclusivity, deep and intentional transformation, and diversity."

“One of the University's five new values is equity, which in our Vision 2040 is defined as restitution in response to our past legacy and fairness in our aspirations for the future."

When asked to share their views on human rights, students and staff members had the following to say:

• Prof Sandra Liebenberg, HF Oppenheimer Chair in Human Rights Law and Vice-President, United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: “Poverty and inequality are the two major challenges facing the human rights movement both in South Africa and globally. The growing gulf between rich and poor undermines not only civil and political rights, but also economic, social and cultural rights. We need to find urgent policy responses that address these interrelated challenges using the human rights principles of participation, accountability, non-discrimination, transparency and respect for human dignity."

• Prof Hester C Klopper, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategy and Internationalisation, Stellenbosch University: “We are celebrating Human Rights Day while the world is still reeling in shock following the brutal and deliberate killing of Muslims in Christchurch, New Zealand. And in a very ironic and surreal manner, this incident invariably brings back the gruesome images of Sharpeville and the atrocities of a wretched time in the history of our country. But even more paradoxical, is that in our quest for social and restorative justice we've experienced Boipatong, Marikana, the Life Esidimeni disaster and the ongoing killings at Glebelands, each representing grotesque violations of human rights. The common thread running through all these incidents is human life ravaged and destroyed on the altar of political and economic expediency. On this Human Rights Day, let us ponder and reassess our commitment to a just society characterised and guided by the sacredness of life, the value we attach to our common humanity and the limitless potential of the human spirit to do good. Our people and our country deserve nothing less."
  
  
• Dr Chris Jones, Unit for Moral Leadership:  “As we look back over the last 25 years, we should celebrate the promotion and protection of human rights, honour those who fought for our liberation and commemorate the rights and the constitution we enjoy today."
  
  
• Prof Nico Koopman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Social Impact, Transformation and Personnel: “When we commemorate and celebrate Human Rights Day, we remember our vision of a society where rights are implemented in service of dignity, healing, justice, freedom and equality."
  
  
• Prof Juliana Claassens, Chair of the Department of Old and New Testament and Head of the Gender Unit: “As more women and men are standing up, taking a stand, we may be reminded not only once a year, but once a week, that we will not have succeeded in cultivating a human rights culture until we have come to accept that human rights also constitute gender rights."
   
• Mr Bongani Mgijima, Director: SU Museum: “Human Rights Day always reminds me of the selfless sacrifices made by the men and women who came before us. Our freedom came at a huge cost and we must endeavour to use all the means at our disposal to create a non- racial, non-sexist society."
  
  
• Mr Leighton September, Secretary-General:  Students' Representative Council: “My definition of human rights is the right of every person to be treated equally to everyone else, and to be respected for who and what they are. Social justice according to my understanding cannot exist without its counterpart, social injustice, meaning that we have to address the injustices of the past and those in our current situation if we want to move forward to live in a truly equal society one day."​
  

The nominations for this year's SU Woordfees Woordtrofee Awards [Word Trophies] have been announced. The winners will each receive a trophy at an awards ceremony on the 4th of April.

The nominees (in alphabetical order) are:

Best Upcoming Artist(s)

Carpets

In Slavenhuis 39​

Raak

Visuele Arts: Best Exhibition

Elbé Coetsee (Lap se onthou)

Jean Theron Louw (My Afrika-wildehonde)

Theresa Jo Wessels [Die obsessie – Die emmer]

Classical Music: Vocal

Cecilia Rangwanasha (Verdi's Requiem)

Libertaskoor (Verdi's Requiem)

Lund Universiteitskoor (Hemispheres – Choral Music from South Africa and Sweden)

Stellenbosch University Choir

Classical Music: Instrumental

David Salleras (saxophone) & Christopher Duigan (piano) [Indigo]

Erik Dippenaar & Camerata Tinta Barocca (Glorious Baroque)

László Kuti (clarinet), Peter Martens (cello), François du Toit (piano) [Contrasts]

Olga Kern (Prestige-klavieruitvoering)

Best Technical Achievement

GodgOdgoD (production design: Wolf Britz & Ilana Cilliers)
SAMSON (music and musical direction: Shane Cooper)

SAMSON (video animation: Kirsti Cummings)

Sky en Czech (production design: Marí Borstlap)

Literary Recital (“Woordkuns")

Susanne Beyers (Dr. Hans Spatel en die boeksuster)
Juanita Swanepoel (Direction: 'n Oulap se rooi and Dr. Hans Spatel en die boeksuster)

Woutrine Theron ('n Oulap se rooi)

Best Supporting Actress in a Play

Martelize Kolver (Katvoet)

Greta Pietersen (Kleedkamer-blues)     

Esther von Waltsleben (Toutjies & Ferreira)

Best Actor in a Play

Wessel Pretorius (Kleedkamer-blues)

Richard September (Swerfgoed)            

Jodecee Solomons (Die gangsters)

Beste Ensemble in a Play

Babbelagtig

Die road trip

Kleedkamer-blues

Best Actress in a Play

Joanie Combrink (Toutjies & Ferreira)

Cintaine Schutte (Tien duisend ton)

Tinarie Van Wyk Loots (Katvoet)

Best Actor in a Play

Andrew Buckland (Endgame)

Jefferson J Dirks-Korkee (Rooilug)

Ben Pienaar [DEURnis (Net)]

Beste Director of a Play

Marthinus Basson (Die gangsters)

Wolf Britz & Nicole Holm (Toutjies & Ferreira)

Nico Scheepers (Katvoet)

Sylvaine Strike (Endgame)

Beste Woordfees Debut Play

Die road trip
Katvoet
Tien duisend ton

Best Play

Die gangsters

Katvoet

Rooilug

Toutjies & Ferreira

Contemporary Music: Best Solo Artist

Jo Black (Bring die hoop weer terug)

Joshua na die Reën (Someraarde)
Grethe van der Merwe (Inversie)

Contemporary Music: Best Group

Amazink Live: Season 6

Soweto String Quartet ontmoet Loki Rothman

Spoegwolf

Contemporary Music: Best Music Theatre

Katrina: Die dansende taal

Samson

Uit die bloute

The Woordtrofee Awards Ceremony will be held on the 4th of April in the Oude Libertas Theatre in Stellenbosch. The bestselling books on the writers's programme will also receive Woordtrofee Awards, and a number of special prizes will be awarded. For more information please contact Danie Marais at danie_marais@sun.ac.za or 083 325 3433.

​Stellenbosch University (SU) is abuzz with international activity, having received visitors from various parts of the world on its main campus this month. These included high-level delegations from France, the Czech Republic, Au​stria, Ghana, Mozambique and the United States, who are all seeking to establish ties or strengthen existing networks and partnerships with SU.

On Thursday 21 February 2019, SU and the Embassy of France in South Africa jointly presented a French Day. The day's activities included the launch of a new, bilateral collaboration on wine technology, which is a prominent sector in both France and South Africa. A delegation from France composed of representatives from the Institute of Vine and Wine Science, Inno'vin (the French wine innovation cluster) and the regional council of New Aquitaine visited campus and met with South African and French researchers. 

Mr Laurent Amar, consul general of France in Cape Town, also took part in the French Day activities, meeting with students, staff and members of SU's senior leadership. He joined Prof Hester Klopper, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategy and Internationalisation, at a student mobility event where scholarship opportunities in France were discussed.

Welcoming Mr Amar to campus, Prof Klopper informed students about the University's partnership with the Embassy of France, which is “opening doors for SU students" by promoting international student mobility. The French Day at SU, she said, was “a very good example of international collaboration in higher education, seeking to develop French-South African scientific and university cooperation". This collaboration is one of many the University has established over the years in its efforts to expand internationalisation: Currently, SU has institutional agreements with 109 universities in 42 countries on five continents. 

In line with its core strategic theme of purposeful partnerships and inclusive networks, the University also welcomed delegations from the University of Pardubice in the Czech Republic, the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Austria, Michigan State University in the United States, the University of Ghana, and Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique this month.

Also on the international front, the Confucius Institute at Stellenbosch University (CISU) hosted a Chinese lantern festival to celebrate Chinese New Year on 19 February​. The event was attended by representatives of the Chinese Consulate in Cape Town and residents of Stellenbosch and surrounds. It featured performances by the local Chinese community and organisations, local schools as well as staff members from the CISU, which forms part of SU International. 

Members of SU's senior leadership welcoming a delegation from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Austria to campus

Photo: Anton Jordaan

​​Stellenbosch University (SU) will be awarding 3 128 degrees and diplomas – including 953 master's and 158 doctoral degrees at its April 2019 graduation ceremonies this week. Four honorary doctorate degrees will also be awarded. Six ceremonies will be held at the Coetzenburg Centre in Stellenbosch from Tuesday, 2 April to Friday, 5 April 2019.

Stellenbosch University will bestow the four honorary doctorates upon the Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University in the UK, Prof John Latham; the unofficial global guardian of numerical mathematics, Prof Lloyd N Trefethen of Oxford University; a champion for transformation in education who has made outstanding contributions to science, engineering and education in Africa, Dr Shirley Ann Jackson and a foremost South African winemaker and industry leader, Mr Jan Boland Coetzee respectively at these graduation ceremonies.

Coetzee will receive the degree Doctor of Science in Agriculture (DScAgric), honoris causa on Tuesday, 2 April at 17:00, Latham the degree Doctor of Commerce (DCom), honoris causa on Wednesday, 3 April at 10:00, Jackson the degree Doctor of Engineering (DEng), honoris causa on Wednesday 3 April at 17:00 and Trefethen the degree Doctor of Science (DSc), honoris causa on Friday, 5 April at 10:00.

The University will again be awarding a record number of doctoral degrees. Together with the December 2018 graduation ceremonies (the two ceremonies form the 2018 academic year) 308 doctoral degrees are to be awarded – slightly more than the 305 of 2017.

The schedule of the April graduation ceremonies is as follow:

• Tuesday, 2 April at 17:00: Faculties of AgriSciences and Medicine and Health Sciences
• Wednesday, 3 April at 10:00: Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (Group A) and at 17:00 Faculties of Theology, Engineering and Economic and Management Sciences (only BAccLLB, BAcc, BAccHons, MAcc degrees)
• Thursday, 4 April at 10:00: Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (Group B) and at 17:00 the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (excluding BA Law)
• Friday, 5 April at 10:00: Faculties of Science, Education and Law (BA Law, LLB and postgraduate qualifications in Law) and Military Science

Ticket system in place

As the seating in the Coetzenburg Centre is limited, and SU has to comply with national legislation and municipal by-laws, only a specific number of admission tickets for guests will be allocated per graduate.  Click here for more information.

Parking in Stellenbosch

Heavy traffic is expected on all the main roads to Stellenbosch as well as in town. Graduates, parents and friends are kindly requested to arrive early to avoid traffic jams and to ensure parking spots.

Guests should allow for enough time to park their vehicles and walk to the Coetzenburg Centre. Please note that food and sugary drinks are not allowed in the Centre.

Graduates with disabilities, or who are injured or sick and cannot move onto the stage, should call the Client Services Centre at 021 808 9111 or email info@sun.ac.za to arrange for the awarding of their degrees in front of the stage.

• Visit www.sun.ac.za for more information

Streaming

All the graduation ceremonies can be followed live on the internet at www.sun.ac.za/streaming

​

Although Dr Calvin Ullrich (28) does not know where his career path may lead in the future, he does know that he has to come back to Stellenbosch University (SU) one day. SU is his home, he says, even though his love for it is both “deep and complex".

Ullrich arrived in Stellenbosch from Germany a few days ago to receive his PhD degree in Systematic Theology at the SU's third graduation ceremony on Wednesday (03 April). He has to head back to Ecumenical Institute at the Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany soon after the graduation to continue his work as a research fellow.

This trip is but one of many world trips he has undertaken in his life, which started in Fish Hoek, Cape Town. He lived here until he was 16. “My family then moved to Qatar where I finished high school. After school, I lived in the USA for a year. In 2011, I came to Stellenbosch and started my bachelor studies in Theology."

He resided in Metanoia Residence where he later became Prim. As he continued his studies, first obtaining his bachelor's degree in Theology up till his master's degree, SU also became a physical home to him. His parents remained overseas where they were part of expat communities.

After completing his master's degree in Theology cum laude, he continued with his PhD studies straight away. This led him to Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen where he continued his research for two semesters. This was part of an exchange programme arranged by SU's International Office. In 2018, he also completed a research visit at Christ Church in Oxford, before accepting a job offer as a research fellow in Bochum.

He describes his journey with theology as motivated less by the search for spiritual fulfilment, than by the pressing nature of societies' challenges, especially in South Africa.

“I was always quite inspired by the life of faith. But I became so terribly disillusioned when I encountered certain manifestations of it – in particular, where it seemed to corrupt politics and weaken societal cohesion. For this reason, I am deeply invested in the South African situation. For me, the study of theology brought out the deep injustices in our society.

“That is something that continues to motivate me to pursue academic research. I think South Africa deserves nothing less than a careful, close and diligent reflection on the issues affecting all of us," he says.

His theoretical and philosophical orientated dissertation is consequently an attempt to reflect on the social implications of faith in a secular world. Some of the questions he asked, included: How can we still have faith in a positive relationship with politics? How is faith still possible when it seems as if everyone is losing faith?

Until the day he is able to return to Stellenbosch, he will continue his work in Bochum and use this to sharpen his language skills, network and learn valuable lessons from other contexts.

And of course, he will stay connected to his home – SU. He already agreed to assist the SU Alumni Office in establishing a Maties Hub for expat Maties in Germany. He will also be appointed as a research associate at the Faculty of Theology at SU.

Ullrich supports philosopher James K Smith's words that “human beings are what they love". If this is true, one can understand why Ullrich shares some of the same qualities as this University – qualities such as excellence in quality-driven research, innovative ideas and compassion to bring change to society.

Stellenbosch University (SU) is bestowing four honorary doctorates at its April graduation ceremonies upon champions of transformation in education who have made outstanding contributions to science, engineering and education in Africa.

The four recipients are:

• Mr Jan Boland Coetzee (Doctor of Science in Agriculture (DScAgric), honoris causa):

Coetzee is honoured, amongst others, for his pursuit of excellence in the development of technology and management in the South African wine industry and in the crafting of fine South African wines; and for his engaged citizenship to improve the working and living conditions of farm workers.

• Dr Shirley Ann Jackson (Doctor of Engineering (DEng), honoris causa):
  
  Jackson is honoured for her role as a trailblazer in the academic sphere and her commitment to the transformation of higher education; and for her outstanding contributions to science, engineering and technology.
• Prof John Latham (Doctor of Commerce (DCom), honoris causa):
  
  Latham is honoured for his visionary, courageous and innovative leadership in skilfully steering his academic institution to greatness through troubling times.
• Prof Lloyd N Trefethen (Doctor of Science (DSc), honoris causa):
  
  Trefethen is honoured for, amongst other things, his remarkable scholarship and his astonishing body of work advancing the global popularisation of mathematics; and for generously sharing his expertise to help cultivate a new generation of mathematical scientists on the African continent.

Together with the December 2018 graduation ceremonies (the two ceremonies form the 2018 academic year) 308 doctoral degrees are to be awarded – slightly more than the 305 of 2017.

The University will be awarding 3 128 degrees and diplomas at its six April graduation ceremonies at the Coetzenburg Centre in Stellenbosch from Tuesday, 2 April to Friday, 5 April 2019. This includes 953 master's degrees and 158 doctoral degrees. 

The shocking discovery of a tumour on his brain brought Andrew Steiner's studies to an abrupt standstill only one year into his MEng course at Stellenbosch University (SU) in 2017. But he did not allow this unplanned interruption to deter him and on Wednesday, 3 April 2019 Steiner received his MEng (Chemical Engineering) degree during SU's graduation ceremony for the Faculty of Engineering.

Steiner says that when he started his MEng course at SU in 2016, he was very optimistic and confident that he would complete his degree in the two years required.  

“I honestly didn't expect that anything was there. When I was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2017, I had to take a year off for the five brain surgeries and for recovery. During my season of hospitals, meningitis, surgeries and recovery, I was very grateful for my family support and fortunately, the NRF granted me an extension bursary so that I could finish off my masters.

 “When I called home to tell my mom that I had passed, it was a struggle not to cry. We were all so overjoyed. My oral presentation and closed exam went seriously well. I always enjoyed maths and problem solving and chemical engineering is a discipline that draws strongly on those two. Initially I just applied for this course because I had the marks and my dad is a chemical engineer from Switzerland, but I realised I wouldn't be happy doing anything other than chemical engineering."

Steiner's MEng research focused on degradation of furfural, which is a platform chemical, produced from biomass such as sugarcane bagasse, corncobs or wood. His thesis shed new light on how to minimise degradation. Furfural can be processed further to produce many products from cosmetics and fragrances to nematocides and fungicides to Lycra material and rocket fuel.

He essentially added a piece to the puzzle of understanding furfural production so that it can be produced more effectively (making it cheaper), which will allow more industries to turn to furfural instead of petrochemical-based chemistry.

Although Steiner is very happy to be done with his studies, he says he will miss the beautiful Stellenbosch mountains and wine farms. He is also grateful for the support from the SU disability unit, who helped find student volunteers to assist him when he returned to campus after his recovery. “This group of students volunteered to take turns to walk with me to and from campus. It was all organised by the disability unit of SU. Those students literally barely knew me and they signed up to help me out, which was so amazing."

Steiner says that while overcoming his illness and returning to SU to complete his studies, his faith and realising that finding his purpose and meaning in life was more important than ever.

“Students seek to find purpose or meaning in a good time, achievements, success and relationships, but to put it very simply: That's all meaningless and fades in time. The only constant and the only thing worth living for is our heavenly father. I'm not for a moment saying that God and success, relationships, etc. are mutually exclusive. I'm just saying that He is the only thing that will give satisfaction, fulfilment, peace and purpose. Seek Him first and those good things will be added to you."

Steiner advises his peers and prospective students to use every opportunity to study and advance their education. “Study something because you love it and not because you think it'll get you into a position where you'll earn well."

He plans on working in Switzerland in the bioresource engineering field because he believes this industry is doing important work to mitigate climate change and would like to be involved in that.

Samantha Adams has always felt like a professional student. After completing a bachelor's and an honours degree in Psychology at Nelson Mandela University, she knew that would not be the end of her academic studies.

When she returned from South Korea in 2008, where she taught English for almost two years, she continued her postgraduate studies at Stellenbosch University (SU) and graduated with another honours degree, this time in Industrial Psychology, in 2010.

“When I graduated with my honours degree, one of my younger sisters was at the graduation as well. She asked me when I was going to finish my studies and I said to her, 'You see that person in the red gown? When I get to wear that, that's when I'm going to finish.'"

And on Thursday (04 April 2019), Adams was finally able to wear that red gown when she graduated with a PhD in Industrial Psychology at the graduation ceremony for Group B of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) at SU.

“I had a very clear idea of what I wanted to achieve. I wasn't always one-hundred percent sure how I was going to get there, but I knew that's what I wanted and I was willing to do whatever it took to get there."

Adams has been a lecturer in the Department of Industrial Psychology at SU for eight years. On Thursday, she became the first PhD graduate from the Graduate School for Staff in Economic and Management Sciences (StEM) programme.

STEM is a support programme that gives faculty staff an opportunity to work part-time on their PhDs over four to five years. The programme was established as part of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences' research strategy and in 2014, the first full-time PhD students started work on their three-year research projects.

“Even though the programme did not guide the process of my PhD, it was definitely a massive support financially as well as socially, providing an opportunity to share experiences with other people who were in the same boat. The PhD can be a lonely process; it can seem like it's an insurmountable project and I hope that through what I have been able to achieve others will see that it doesn't have to be this big scary mountain that you have to climb on your own. I hope that it will encourage my colleagues, and that it will give them hope that it is possible, despite the many responsibilities, challenges and obstacles that come with working and studying at the same time."

Through the support of the StEM programme Adams was able to take a year sabbatical from her lecturing work so that she could focus on completing her PhD studies successfully.

“I was lucky that my research was closely related to my teaching. Through my whole PhD process, it has really informed the type of lecturer and teacher I am now. Even though I've been lecturing for eight years now, I still feel like I can relate to the students. I still have an idea of what it is like to be a student. Hopefully, that also informs the way that I teach and interact with them and that it will help me to be the best lecturer I can be."

For more information on the StEM programme click here.

The blind South African Paralympic and World Championship medal winner in swimming, Hendri Herbst, is receiving his LLM (Master of Law) degree at the sixth graduation ceremony of Stellenbosch University (SU) on Friday (5 April).

Originally from Letsitele close to Tzaneen in Limpopo and now living in Stellenbosch, Herbst managed to obtain his master's degree despite many challenges ranging from swimming practices, master's degree research to visual impairment.

The year 2018 was more difficult than the previous year, he says. He struggled to find a balance between his studies and swimming practices, but with perseverance, he pulled through.

“I adapted to the workload and I actually enjoyed the year. I must say, the academic work received a bit more of my time than the swimming," says Hendri, who does not even consider taking a break before commencing with his doctoral studies.

“I am going straight on to the doctoral studies. I must keep on going while I am in motion," he says like a true champion who does not want to lose motion in a swimming pool.

Herbst was also offered the opportunity to apply for a joint PhD degree between Stellenbosch and Hasselt University in Belgium through the SU International Office. As soon as funding has been finalised, he will commence with his studies. With this joint studies he will spend three months per year in Hasselt.

 Herbst was also in the news last year when he won a discrimination case against a restaurant where his previous guide dog, Stan, had been refused entry. This happened when Hendri and his family visited the restaurant in December 2014. Stan died of cancer in December 2017.

 The Equality Court ordered a settlement between Hendri and the restaurant owner. They paid R50 000 in damages to Herbst and had to make a R50 000 donation to the Guide Dogs Association.

“I am satisfied with the outcome of the court case. I hear some restaurants changed their signage and have new notices stating 'no animals, except guide dogs'."

His new dog, Julian, is growing more and more attached to Hendri, and they are seen together all the time. Julian will even go up the podium with Hendri when his degree is bestowed upon him on Friday.

“This young dog is doing well. I spoil him a bit; he is even sleeping in my room on my bed."

Hendri is presently training for the IPC World Championship in August this year. He will compete in the 50 m and 100 m freestyle items.

• Herbst won bronze at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London and gold and silver at the 2016 European Champs.
• He was born partially blind due to vitreous hyperplasia and secondary glaucoma. Over the years he has lost the rest of his vision.
• Hendri was only six weeks old when his parents enrolled him for a drown-proof course as a precaution for his poor eyesight. His love for swimming started then.
  

Stellenbosch University's Coetzenburg sport complex was named Best Stage venue of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic.

Mr Jerry Laka, Director: Maties Sport, received the award on behalf of the University.

Stage 5 – the Queen stage of the 2019 Epic – finished at Coetzenburg on Friday and Saturday's Stage 6 was held at Coetzenburg before the 1200 mountain bikers left the fields on Sunday morning to finish the gruelling mountain bike stage race at Val de Vie Estate outside Paarl.

Coetzenburg C was turned into a helipad, while all the fields between the Danie Craven stadium and the main cricket pitch were transformed into the race village.

Other venues of this year's Cape Epic included UCT, Hermanus and Oak Valley.

“Coetzenburg is a special place, and this award would not have been possible without special people like the Maties Sport team, whose aim it is to always strive for operational excellence," said Chief Director of Maties Sport, Ms Ilhaam Groenewald.

“Special recognition must go to SU Facilities Management, especially Mr Louis Fincham, as well as our Maties Sport events team consisting of Mr Laka, events coordinator Ms Cindy van der Merwe, admin officer Ms Kim Coetzee, and all other support staff.

“Thank you to Cape Epic team for choosing us and we look forward to hosting many more Cape Epic events."

Previously the Cape Epic used Spier Wine Estate, Stellenbosch High School and Boschendal Wine Estate when visiting Stellenbosch. 

​On 26 March, Dr Marina Joubert and Mr Martin Viljoen joined forces to present an Auxin session entitled Building your research profile: The rewards and risks of engaging with public audiences about your research and availing yourself to engage on other topical aspects

Being visible as scholar was the focus of this presentation. Martin first shared the advantages of communicating your scholarship with various public audiences using a diverse range of communication tools and platforms. He also focused on the support available in this regard at the university.

Marina then shared two journal articles on the topic of effective public engagement about our research. She encouraged responsible public science engagement across all research disciplines and focused on the importance of identifying and understanding the factors that influence researchers' behaviour as far as public communication about their work is concerned.
Both colleagues are available for consultations. Please feel free to contact them with your innovative and ground breaking research findings.
Twenty three staff members attended the session and in their feedback they indicated the value of having two speakers giving different perspectives about science communication. Participants also indicated that they will be more active in responding to pseudo-science and fake news and be careful about their own social media profiles.

Four full-time staff members of the Faculty of AgriSciences were among the 30 students in the faculty to receive their doctorates this week. They are oenologist Dr Marianne McKay, agricultural economist Dr Jan Greyling, Dr Jeanne Brand, who is an expert in the sensory qualities of wine, and wood production scientist Dr Phillip Crafford.

During the 2018 academic year (which includes December 2018 and April 2019) a total of 45 doctorates in fields of AgriSciences were awarded – a new record for the Faculty.

In all, 184 students of the Faculty of AgriSciences graduated this week. Of these, 46 successfully completed master's degree studies in different fields.

Timber as a sustainable building material

Dr Phillip Crafford is a lecturer in the Department of Forest and Wood Science. He received his PhD in Wood Product Science by comparing the environmental sustainability of certain building practices in South Africa. In particular, he found that timber and other wood-based construction generally has a far lower environmental impact than buildings that use cement, brick and steel.

“Our green building rating tools, however, do not sufficiently reflect this well documented environmental benefits of using wood," he believes.

He hopes that South African homeowners will increasingly turn to timber as the preferred green building material, as it is a renewable resource. Dr Crafford regards timber building as a way by which households can reduce their dependency on fossil fuels, and help to reduce the effects of global warming in general.

The history and politics surrounding South Africa's maize farms

Dr Jan Greyling of the Department of Agricultural Economics took a historic look at the development of South Africa's maize industry during the 20^th century. In particular, he studied how changing policies have shaped the industry.

“During the 20^th century, changes in agricultural policies had a definite influence on the production and productivity of maize farming in the country. It influenced where people decided to grow maize," he notes.

During the 1940s to 1980s, favourable policies stimulated an expansion in maize production into relatively lower yielding marginal production areas in the Western Free State and North West province.

“This spatial reallocation of production lowered productivity but investments in improving plant material, farming practices and infrastructure increased the suitability of the drier production areas," he explains. “This enabled production to remain in some of the marginal areas after the supportive policies were removed. “

The influence of smoke taint on red wines

Dr Marianne McKay of the Department of Viticulture and Oenology has been lecturing to prospective winemakers at Stellenbosch University since 2007, and has been commended for her scholarship of teaching and learning.

Given the frequency, scale and financial implications of veld fires in traditional wine regions of the Cape in recent years, the subject of her PhD in Oenology is very topical.

If wines are produced from vineyards that have withstood veld fires, grapes absorb certain compounds from the smoke, and these may cause off-odours or so-called smoke taint in the end product. Dr McKay completed a sensory study and looked at how these compounds interact to produce olfactory effects or smells in red wines.

“This sensory information helps to clarify effects on the aroma of the wine that cannot be understood if the wine is only analysed chemically," explains Dr McKay.

She hopes her findings will help winemakers decide whether to use smoke-affected grapes or not, and to increase awareness of these issues in the wine industry.

Sensory profiles of wines

Dr Jeanne Brand manages the Sensory Laboratory of the Department of Viticulture and Oenology, and regularly guides sensory tasting panels through their work.

She says because of its complexity wine is not so easy to describe. She compared four rapid methods that sensory panels commonly used to test and describe wines. She evaluated each method in terms of its cost-effectiveness and usefulness to the wine industry and for research purposes.

"It's important to choose the right wine profiling method, based on the experiment you want to do," she believes. "One must also weigh up each method's practical limitations."

Her findings highlighted two methods that in particular allow tasting panels to best distinguish between products: the CATA method and sorting.

With CATA (which stands for "check-all-that-apply") a list of attributes is provided to people who serve as judges on sensory tasting panels. They must then make their choices accordingly. With sorting, all the products are given to a tasting panel. They then sort them according to the differences and similarities between the products in terms of sensory properties such as taste and aroma.

The other 26 students in the Faculty of AgriSciences who also received their doctorates on 2 April were:

• Dr Adrian Adams (Soil Science) - Lipid humification by soil clays

• Dr Abiodun Alawode (Wood Product Science) - Properties and potential use of Irvingia gabonensis and Irvingia wombolu kernel extracts as an eco-friendly wood adhesive
• Dr Francois Bekker (Entomology) - Spatio-temporal analyses of fruit fly populations in selected areas of the Western Cape
• Dr Richard Bwala (Aquaculture) - Development of a cost-effective system of ovoviviparous low-salinity production of Artemia nauplii as live food for the larvae of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus: Burchell, 1822)
• Dr Chad Cheney (Conservation Ecology) - An evidence base of improving management effectiveness of alien plants in protected areas: relationships of scale, efficiency and strategy
• Dr Obert Chikwanha (Animal Science) - Feed supplement and meat preservative potential of red grape (Vitis vinifera) pomace in lamb production
• Dr Glynnis Cook (Genetics) Characterization of citrus tristeza virus variants and their influence on symptom expression in grapefruit
• Dr Gerida de Groot (Food Science) - Genotyping South African wheat cultivars for hardness alleles
• Dr Marcela Espinaze (Conservation Ecology) - Parasites of African penguins: diversity, ecology and effect on hosts
• Dr Chantelle Human (Food Science) - The physicochemical properties and stability of aspalathinin micro- and nanoencapsulated green rooibos extract formulations
• Dr Zaharan Hussein (Food Science) - Bruise damage susceptibility of pomegranates and impacts on fruit quality
• Dr Imke Kritzinger (Horticultural Science) - Postharvest moisture loss in Japanese plums
• Dr Linda Bandile Luvuno (Conservation Ecology) - Understanding social-ecological regime shifts: the case of woody encroachment
• Dr Francis Munalula (Wood Product Science) - The growth response of selected Zambian hardwood species to changing climatic conditions
• Dr Ziyanda Mpetile (Animal Science) - The genetics of ovine resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes
• Dr Megan North (Animal Science) - The potential of quercetin to improve performance and meat quality in rabbits
• Dr Maria Shipandeni (Animal Science) - Modulation of starch digestion for productive performance in dairy cows
• Dr Leigh Steyn (Entomology) - The development of a management strategy for the control of the Cape grapevine leafminer, Holocacista capensis (Lepidoptera: Heliozelidae) in South African's table grape vineyards
• Dr Vernon Steyn (Entomology) -Integrated management of false codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta, on stone fruit and table grapes
• Dr Etienne Terblanche (Viticulture) - The impact of grape ripeness level on the berry and wine composition and potential wine style of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Pinotage
• Dr Michaela van den Honert (Food Science) - Antibiotic resistance prevalence in livestock and wildlife species in South Africa
• Dr Nadia van der Colff (Wine Biotechnology) - Exploring consumers' risk perception in wine retail decision-making: insights for Chenin blanc
• Dr Julia van Schalkwyk (Conservation Ecology) - Beta-diversity across different scales in the Cape Floristic Region: how well does a biosphere reserve capture this invertebrate diversity
• Dr Gideon van Zyl (Plant Pathology) - The use of Adjuvants to improve fungicide spray deposition and control of Alternaria brown spot in citrus
• Dr Haile Wale (Forest Science) - Pattern and dynamics of remnant dry Afromontane forests: A case study in Northwestern Ethiopia
• Dr Liesl Wiese (Soil Science) - Mapping soil organic carbon stocks by combining NIR spectroscopy and stochastic vertical distribution models: A case study in the Mvoti River catchment, KZN, South Africa

Photo caption:
The four staff members of the Faculty of AgriSciences are Dr Phillip Crafford, Dr Jan Greyling, Dr Marianne McKay and Dr Jeanne Brand.
​

Two great-granddaughters of one of Stellenbosch University's pioneers received their doctoral degrees together during the institution's April graduation ceremonies. They are oenologist Dr Jeanne Brand and clinical psychologist Dr Derine Louw. Their great-grandfather, Professor JM (Jimmy) le Roux, was one of the two founding members of the SU Faculty of Engineering in the 1940s.

As luck would have it, the ceremonies during which doctoral degrees were presented to students in the SU Faculty of AgriSciences and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences were held together this week. It meant that there could be one big family celebration.

For her PhD in wine biotechnology, Dr Brand studied the best ways to use to compile a rapid sensory profile about wines. Dr Louw received a PhD in Psychiatry for a study on the treatment of people suffering from trichotillomania or hair pulling disorder.

The cousins continue a proud academic family history associated with the University and are the first of Le Roux's great-grandchildren to obtain doctorates.

Prof Le Roux was a resident of Dagbreek men's residence and studied at SU between 1922 and 1926. He obtained his own doctorate at the age of 28. He was the principal of Franschhoek High School before being appointed in 1940 to help Professor Harry Reitz set up a new degree in engineering at SU.

Prof Le Roux later also established the Department of Applied Mathematics at SU. A bronze plaque in the General Engineering building acknowledges his contribution. His son-in-law and Brand and Louw's grandfather, Prof Jacobus Marius Louw, later lectured in civil engineering.

Wine profiling

Dr Brand's doctorate in wine biotechnology is a natural extension of her day-to-day work. She has been part of the SU Department of Viticulture and Oenology since August 2011 and manages the Sensory Laboratory. This is where panels of wine tasters come together to taste, evaluate and describe specific wines that are part of the Department's training and research projects.

"In the food and beverage industry, there is a growing demand for cost-effective profiling methods with which one can quickly set up a sensory profile on how a product such as wine or food smells, tastes and looks," she explains.

She says because of its complexity, wine is not so easy to describe. Dr Brandt compared four rapid methods that sensory panels commonly use to test and describe wines. She compared each in terms of its cost-effectiveness and usefulness to the wine industry and for research purposes.

"It's important to choose the right wine profiling method, based on the experiment you want to do," she believes. "One must also weigh up each method's practical limitations."

Her findings highlighted two methods that in particular allow tasting panels to best distinguish between products: the CATA method and sorting.

With CATA (which stands for "check-all-that-apply") a list of attributes is provided to people who are the judges on sensory tasting panels. They must then make their choices accordingly. With sorting, all the products are given to a tasting panel. They then sort them according to the differences and similarities between the products in terms of sensory properties such as taste and aroma.

Dr Brand's research was conducted under the supervision of Dr Hélène Nieuwoudt of the SU Department of Viticulture and Oenology, Prof Tormod Næs of the University of Nofima in Norway, and Prof Dominique Valentin of the University of Burgundy in France.

Dr Brand, who has a background in chemistry and wine biotechnology, completed all of her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Stellenbosch University. She lives between Stellenbosch and Paarl. She grew up in Stellenbosch and the Southern Free State, and matriculated from Hopetown High in the Northern Cape in 1998.

Treating hair-pulling disorder

Dr Louw has been working at Stikland Hospital in Cape Town since 2010 as a senior clinical psychologist. She is also a lecturer at Stellenbosch University and often trains prospective psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, medical students and those studying dietetics.

For her doctoral degree in psychiatry, she focused on the treatment of a condition called trichotillomania or hair pulling disorder. People who suffer from it are constantly pulling on their hair. Their hair thins considerably, and some people even develop bald spots on their scalp.

"The visible consequences of this causes further stress among patients," explains Dr Louw, who says that trichotillomania is not an easy condition to treat.

She showed that an existing cognitive training programme that is successfully used for other conditions can also be used to the benefit of trichotillomania patients. Sixteen patients followed the programme over the course of five weeks and 25 sessions. It strengthened their working memory, and the brain paths that come into play when controlling the urge to pull out their hair.

"The treatment paid off, even three months after the sessions were completed," says Dr Louw. "Because so many sessions are needed, it is, however, a fairly expensive form of treatment. It can be done online, which on the positive side means that people do not have to travel to and from therapy sessions, and can also follow the programme after hours."

Her supervisors were Prof Christine Lochner of the US Department of Psychiatry and Prof Dan Stein of the University of Cape Town's Psychiatry Department. Both are attached to a unit of the Medical Research Council's Unit for Risk and Resilience in Mental Health.

Dr Louw, who lives in Durbanville, matriculated from Sentraal High School in Bloemfontein in 2000 and then obtained her undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications at Stellenbosch University, UNISA and the University of the Free State. This includes qualifications in play therapy and clinical psychology.

Photo caption:

Dr Derine Louw (with blond hair) and Dr Jeanne Brand are the first great-grandchildren of a pioneer of Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Engineering to receive their doctorates.