Mathematics Education lecturer scoops NRF-NGER Symposium’s top research prizes #R2bP
The newly conceptualised Next Generation and Emerging Researchers Symposium, hosted recently by the National Research Foundation (NRF) saw Nelson Mandela University’s Makhosi Madimabe-Mofokeng win the best poster presentation and overall winner.
The 2024 NRF-NGER symposium held in Johannesburg brought together a diverse group of up to 300 delegates featuring stakeholders from South African universities, NRF executives, and industry leaders to support upcoming researchers and explore research and networking opportunities in line with the NRF’s 2030 vision of “research for a better society”.
Madimabe heeded the call to action by NRF, which the University’s Research Office promulgated.
“As a PhD candidate in the Thuthuka Grant programme currently in the third year of my studies, I saw this opportunity as a valuable chance to advance my academic journey,” she said.
“I felt compelled to apply, recognising that, if successful, it would allow me to connect and exchange knowledge with fellow postgraduate and emerging researchers at a national scale”.
“Such a platform would not only enable me to showcase my research but also provide an avenue to engage in meaningful academic discourse, needed for my scholarly development, which will contribute to my growth as a researcher”.
Mandela University shines at international nanotechnology conference
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Doctoral students from Nelson Mandela University’s DSI-Mandela Nanomedicine Platform, Zenande Pali (Pharmacy) and Itumeleng Zosela (Physiology) shined at the recent International Conference on Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology in Rome, Italy.
Right: Zenande Pali and Itumeleng Zosela
Ms Pali won the Best Poster Presentation Award and Ms Zosela served as a moderator facilitating discussions and promoting exchanges during some sessions.
Both students are supervised by Professor Saartjie Roux, Interim Research Chair of the platform and Ms Pali is also co-supervised by Dr Ntokozo Dambuza, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology.
The conference, themed “Nanoscience Unveiled: From Discovery to Application in Advanced Nanotechnology”, brought together leading researchers from around the world to showcase groundbreaking advancements in the field.
The students could experience the latest developments in nanoscience and network with global researchers and they expressed their gratitude to the Research Development Office for funding their attendance.
The students’ accomplishments highlight the excellence and global impact of the University’s research in nanomedicine.
Professor Darelle van Greunen honoured with InspiringFifty Africa award - #R2bP
Nelson Mandela University’s Darelle van Greunen, a Distinguished Professor of Information Technology, was awarded the prestigious InspiringFifty award on 10 November. The award honours 50 remarkable women making impactful contributions across Africa’s tech ecosystem, inspiring the next generation of talent, and driving forward diversity and inclusion.
Prof Van Greunen’s role as the Director of the Centre for Community Technologies (CCT) at Mandela University, positions her as a trailblazer, who has consistently demonstrated that technology can be a powerful enabler of social transformation.
Her career has been defined by her innovative approach to research and her passion for using technology to improve lives.
Under her guidance, the CCT has emerged as a key player in delivering influential community-driven technological innovations that improve healthcare, education, and quality of life.
Her efforts have been particularly fruitful for marginalised communities, where she has worked to create opportunities for youth and women to enter the tech workforce and gain the necessary skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.
Science students win category in national Intervarsity Brewing and Tasting Challenge
Nelson Mandela University’s Biochemistry and Microbiology postgraduate student team won the “Best Beer label Design” category and R 10 000 at the recent annual national Intervarsity Brewing and Tasting Challenge.
From left, Microbiology laboratory technician Dr Sharon Pelo, who led the team with Bridget Ferreira (MSc), and Finn Harris, Kate Weddell and Nicholas Gregoriou, all honours students.
The winning label was for their beer named Tide Rider and their company, the “Tides Brewing company”.
The competition was hosted by the Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein, for university students from various STEM disciplines.
It serves as a platform for academic networking and to connect graduates interested in pursuing a career in brewing with industry partners, such as SAB, Heineken and the craft brewing community.
“We are extremely proud of their achievement!’, said Dr Sharlene Govender, senior lecturer in Microbiology.
ISISUSA Jazz Fest Concert 2024 – A Celebration of Past, Present and Future Thoughts on Democracy
On 15 November 2024, Nelson Mandela University’s South Campus Auditorium will come alive with the sounds of jazz at the ISISUSA Jazz Fest Concert, an event that promises to resonate far beyond the concert hall.
Marlon Louis and Feya Faku
Presented by the University’s Arts Culture and Heritage Department, in association with the Music and Performing Arts Department, the concert marks a unique collaboration of education, community and artistic excellence, anchored in the theme “Improvisation and Syncopation: Re-Imaginations”.
Gqeberha-born jazz icon, Feya Faku, celebrated globally for his masterful trumpet work and rich history in South African jazz, will headline this year’s fest concert. Known for his collaborations with legends like Abdullah Ibrahim and Victor Ntoni, Faku’s artistry embodies the festival’s commitment to musical dialogue, cultural heritage and democracy.
Under the musical direction of Marlon Louis, head of Victoria Park High School’s music department, Faku will lead a programme featuring both Victoria Park High students and Nelson Mandela University’s talented students and alumni.
National hockey mentor calls time on international career
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After calling time on his international career last week, top Gqeberha hockey coach Cheslyn Gie can reflect on three successful years at the helm of the national men’s team.
Madibaz Sport hockey manager Cheslyn Gie, pictured here at the Paris Olympics, is vacating his position as head coach of the South African men’s team after three years in the saddle.
Gie, who is also the hockey manager at Mandela University, started his association with the Proteas as assistant video analyst against Germany in 2009.
He served as assistant coach from 2017 and was named interim head coach in 2022, after which the position was made official in January this year.
However, the Madibaz mentor acknowledged that every coaching position came with a shelf life due to the intense scrutiny and pressure to deliver results.
South Africa’s victory in the inaugural Nations Cup in Potchefstroom in 2022 and qualifying for the FIH Pro League – a global competition serving as a qualifier for the World Cup – is one of his favourite memories.
The South Africans started that tournament as the sixth-ranked team out of eight but wins over France, Pakistan, Korea and then Ireland in the final showed that they were an outfit on the up.