The Department of Physics recently hosted a Womxn in Physics lunch to highlight the issue of under representation of women in Physics and to encourage current students to consider further studies in the field. At this event two PhD students shared their journey and tips for success with the students and staff who attended.
At the annual NRF Awards function where recipients for top honours in the science and research field are announced, Professor Ed February, Department of Biological Sciences, was announced as the recipient of the Hamilton Naki Award. This award honours individuals for achieving world-class research performance despite considerable challenges.
UCT palaeoscientist, Associate Professor Emese Bordy, from the Department of Geological Sciences at UCT was among the international team of scientists from UCT, University of the Witwatersrand, Oxford University and the South African National Museum, who discovered a new species of a giant dinosaur, Ledumahadi Mafube, in the Free State Province.
Dr Melissa Densmore, Department of Computer Science and UCT's ICT4D, was recently awarded the prestigious $500 000 National Academies Keck Futures Initiative (NAKFI) Challenge grant. She will be one of a group of researchers from across the globe using the funds to address maternal and child health issues through a digital communication project.
Dr John Woodland, a Fellow in the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, has just one a special award from the Royal Society of Chemistry for the creative plays that he has co-written and co-directed to ignite an interest in chemistry among schoolchildren.
For most residents of Ocean View, internet access is unaffordable. There’s no public Wi-Fi and school internet is not available at night or on the weekend. But now that’s all set to change, thanks to a collaboration between University of Cape Town (UCT) researchers, iNethi Technologies and Ammbr Research Labs (ARL South Africa). Dr Melissa Densmore, from the Department of Computer Science and the head of ICT4D and Dr David Johnson, head of Ammbr Research Labs (ARL) and an adjunct senior lecturer at UCT, were awarded the OpenCellular Grant by the Facebook Telecom Infra Project.
The Metrological and Applied Sciences University Research Unit (MeASURe), was officially launched on Wednesday 29 th August in the the Department of Physics at UCT. This unit will play a crucial role in boosting the prominence of measurement-based research in South Africa.
Professor Renee C. Kraan-Korteweg, Department of Astronomy, was awarded the Minister's Special Award in the field of Astronomy at the 2018 South African Women in Science Awards Ceremony.
South Africa’s sole Queen’s Young Leader Awards winners for 2018 are UCT students Siposetu Mbuli from the Faculty of Science, and Thamsanqa Hoza, from Commerce, who visited Buckingham Palace recently to receive their honours from Her Majesty the Queen.
Young African scientists face persistent barriers which cause them to leave their own countries, and even academia. This means the continent’s work force loses highly trained people who are crucial for scientific and technological advancement, and for economic development. Associate Professor Amanda Weltman, from the Department of Mathematics, was among participants at the Global Young Academy who recently met to address some of these issues.
Dr Sarah Fawcett, a researcher and lecturer at UCT’s Department of Oceanography, has been elected to the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS), an organisation that aims to be the voice of the country’s young scientists and to help bridge the gap between science and society.
More than 650 pupils from 45 schools throughout the Peninsula participated in the regional finals of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, held at the UCT Sports Centre over the weekend. Science Faculty staff and studentswere involved in organising the event, judging the entries and providing interactive science displays for the public to enjoy.