Nine UCT researchers among NSTF-South32 Awards finalists
28 May, 2019
This year, nine University of Cape Town (UCT) researchers, in a total of 14 categories, have made it to the final round of the NSTF-South32 Awards, which the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) considers the ‘Science Oscars’. The NSTF-South32 Awards are held annually to celebrate South Africans who make outstanding contributions in science, engineering and technology.
The winners will be announced at a gala dinner on Thursday 27 June.
This year – the 21st anniversary of the awards – will include a special theme award for ‘Materials for inclusive economic development’. This recognises 2019 as the United Nations’ International Year of the Periodic Table. The award will go to the researcher who has made an outstanding contribution to research in materials science and the development of materials to support relevant aspects of economic development in South Africa.
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The learning curve of UCT graduates’ trans-Africa cycle
27 May, 2019
Inspired by what they learnt at the University of Cape Town (UCT), five young graduates are taking a year out to cycle from Cairo to Cape Town, to explore Africa up close from a developmental perspective. Interacting with local people to hear about their needs is key to their OurAfricaPolePole endeavour.
The five cyclists in the OurAfricaPolePole (pole pole means “slowly, slowly” in Swahili) team are Suzanne Lambert (civil engineering), Michelle Rorich (economic development), Robbie Rorich (electromechanical engineering), Jess McCormack (landscape architecture) and Angus Teeton (African music and technology). They are travelling with a Norwegian final-year medical student, Shanga Balendran. Michelle Rorich spoke to Helen Swingler via email from Kenya.
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Training wannabe techies
20 May, 2019
Ever wondered what it takes to programme a robot to move in a certain pattern or specific direction? If you’re in grades 10, 11 and 12, you could soon find out – and have a go at getting a robot to do your bidding.
The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) School of Information Technology (IT) is co-hosting a six-day holiday camp from 1 July aimed at providing high-school pupils with an opportunity to experience the world of technology and coding first-hand, and to find out more about possible careers in the tech space.
The holiday camp is being run in collaboration with CodeSpace Academy, a tech academy that trains and equips students with the skills they need to excel in the global IT industry.
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