Apple farmers and apple exporters suffer significant losses due to core rot, a major post-harvest disease of apples caused by certain fungal species. The symptoms of core rot include a mouldy core, dry core rot and wet core rot on the inside and around the core cavity of apples. Red Starking, in particular, is susceptible to core rot, with over 20% decay caused in single consignments leading to a rejection at export destinations.

And while it is difficult to identify the species responsible for core rot, a new study at Stellenbosch University (SU) found that molecular methods might just do the trick. The study was published recently in the European Journal of Plant Pathology.

“Currently, the identification of fungal species that cause core rot is labour intensive and requires trained personnel and laboratory facilities. Molecular methods are promising tools for species identification, which would enable targeted control strategies," says Dr Julia Meitz-Hopkins from the Fruit and Postharvest Pathology Research Programme in SU's Department of Plant Pathology. The study was conducted by Meitz-Hopkins, Elaine Basson and Dr Cheryl Lennox who is the leader of the Fruit and Postharvest Pathology Research group.

The main objective of their study was to identify the Alternaria and Penicillium species sampled from symptomatic core rot fruit and inoculum sources such as air, overwintered mummied fruit and mites on the fruit in different apple orchards by using molecular techniques.

As part of the research, core rot-infected apples were collected from two 'Starking' orchards in the Koue Bokkeveld region in the Western Cape during the pre- and postharvest seasons, while Alternaria and Penicillium fungi were isolated from potential inoculum sources, grown in a petri dish and identified.

Meitz-Hopkins points out that their study was the first to report the Alternaria eureka and Penicillium polonicum species as potential core rot pathogens. They also identified Penicillium ramulosum and Penicillium expansum as the most commonly occurring species associated with wet core symptoms.

“Dry core rot-causing Alternaria were identified morphologically in over 70% of infected apples during preharvest and 40% postharvest," says Meitz-Hopkins.

“Furthermore, Penicillium caused wet core rot in 64% of cases during preharvest and in 36% of infected apples during post-harvest."

The study also reported that Alternaria and Penicillium fungi are commonly associated with core rot and it's difficult to identify them by only looking through the microscope, since their form, structure and shape can be identical.

Meitz-Hopkins further states that “controlling postharvest pathogens is complicated by the fact that infection might occur at any time from the bloom or during fruit development, depending on the disease-causing fungi."

“Fungicides are usually registered for specific disease-causing pathogens, since they have varying control efficacy on different species."

“Another complication is that fungal spores, such as Alternaria, could be carried into the apple cavity by certain mites and therefore, the use of fungicide during the blooming period alone might not be effective to control all fungi that cause core rot."

Therefore species identification of the organisms that cause core rot is required, adds Meitz-Hopkins.

She says the use of molecular techniques to quickly and reliably identify disease-causing fungi would allow for the monitoring of quarantined micro-organisms.

Meitz-Hopkins adds that an integrated management strategy should be implemented where chemical control should be used in combination with sanitation practices, both in the orchard and in the pack house.

• Source: Basson, E; Lennox, C.L; Meitz-Hopkins, J.C. 2018. Morphological and molecular identification of fungi associated with South African apple core rot. European Journal of Plant Pathology.

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES ONLY

Dr Julia Meitz-Hopkins

Fruit and Pathology Research Programme

Department of Plant Pathology

Stellenbosch University

Tel: 021 808 9177

E-mail: juliam@sun.ac.za 

        ISSUED BY

Martin Viljoen

Manager: Media

Corporate Communication

Stellenbosch University

Tel: 021 808 4921

E-mail: viljoenm@sun.ac.za

Earlier this year, Stellenbosch University (SU) Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Wim de Villiers completed the Cape Town Cycle Tour to raise money for student bursaries. Now he intends running the Cape Town Marathon on 23 September 2018 to fight student hunger on our campuses.

He is one of 110 staff members, ​alumni, students and friends of the University who have registered for various races hosted this weekend by the Sanlam Cape Town marathon as part of SU's #Move4Food campaign.

Prof De Villiers will be running the full marathon (42,2 km). He has created a fundraising page on the GivenGain platform, where he explains as follows:

“Why is this even necessary? Has the state not increased its funding to students? Yes, that's true, but not all students in need of support get it, and those who do often find it does not go far enough to cover meals and other living costs.

“A recent study by the National Research Foundation revealed that more than 30% of university students are food insecure. And this affects not only their academic results, but their fundamental human dignity.

“Students at SU decided to do something about it. They are creating food banks to ensure that none of their mates go to class on an empty stomach. Along with our Division for Development and Alumni Relations, they have launched a campaign to raise R10 million in 100 days to make it sustainable over three years. The campaign started on 20 August, and will conclude on Giving Tuesday, 27 November.

“The initiative is called #Move4Food, and it has my full support. I would greatly appreciate yours."

• To sponsor Prof de Villiers, please visit http://bit.ly/SU-VC-Move4Food
• To see all the #Move4Food fundraising projects created by students, staff members, alumni and friends of SU, please visit http://bit.ly/Move4Food-projects
• For more information on Campus Giving Day, which forms part of this campaign, please click here

​"Women are changing Engineering … for the better!" says Prof Deborah Blaine, Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. She was one of the speakers at the annual Women in Engineering afternoon hosted by die Faculty of Engineering, Stellenbosch University (SU), on 12 September 2018.

Approximately 160 Grade 10 to 12 school girls (from the Cape Peninsula, Boland and Swartland) who excel in Mathematics and Physical Sciences, attended this year's function. 

In 2003, August Engelbrecht (the then Faculty Officer) introduced a Women in Engineering afternoon to promote Engineering as a career amongst women. Mr Engelbrecht, who is now responsible for recruitment and student retention at the Faculty, says: "From the inception of this initiative, we invited role models in the engineering fraternity - industry, academia and current students - to share their experience and the reasons why they think engineering is an excellent career choice for women."

The girls were blown away by the enthusiasm of the four speakers. Dr Magreth Tadie, lecturer in the Department of Process Engineering, set the scene with these words: "This is not a lecture or a lesson - let's have a conversation about Engineering." 

Final-year Civil Engineering student, Lauren October, outgoing Chairperson of the SU Engineering Students' Council, shared some of her thoughts: "I want to be successful. Engineering has given me so much confidence and Stellenbosch has given me the opportunity to work with strong women. Engineering will educate you in ways you never thought possible."

Prof Blaine said that the lecturers at the SU Faculty of Engineering want to provide the best possible space for students to become the best they could be. She noted: "You do not have to try to be 'one of the guys'. You have your own space in Engineering. Women understand people better and have more patience. Therefore, women engineers play a very important role in their profession. Women are changing Engineering for the better."

Prof Blaine listed the tips by top female engineers given to students for graduate career success: 

1. Seek out role models and mentors.

2. Don't underestimate the value of communication and people skills in Engineering.

3. Female engineers don't need to 'man up'.

4. Exude confidence while at work.

(See targetjobs.co.uk)

She stressed that it is possible to be an engineer, a wife and a mother, as she manages to fulfil all three roles (with a little help, of course!).  

Robyn Goff, a Maties industrial engineer with six years' industry experience, kicked off her talk by telling the audience that she never even considered engineering as a career. "Boy, what a good mistake that was!" she joked. She sketched her career path as an industrial engineer over the past six years. This included positions in the bakery industry, in the corporate world as well as in the mining industry. It was quite clear that she loves her job and the challenges it brings. "Being an engineer, is a privilege," she told the young ladies in the audience.

Ms Goff concluded by sharing a few lessons she has learnt:

1. Find you own voice.

2. Work hard and work smart.

3. You don't have to do it alone.

4. Not everyone is going to like you. And that's okay.

5. Take time out.

Over the past 15 years the Women in Engineering initiative has delivered good results. Mr Engelbrecht explains: "Many of the girls who attended the function decided to take on the challenge to study Engineering. Through this event we managed to dispel the myths that Engineering is a career for 'men only', that it is a 'dirty job for nerds' or 'too difficult for girls'."

Currently, about 25% of Maties BEng students are women. What is more, since 2003, four female engineering students from this Faculty won the coveted Chancellor's Medal, which is presented annually to a final-year or postgraduate student for outstanding achievements. This medal is the highest honour Stellenbosch University can bestow on a student. 

Main photograph:

The speakers from the left are Lauren October. Robyn Goff, Prof Deborah Blaine and Dr Margreth Tadie.

​

The role of women in the Bible and theological teaching has been an ongoing topic of discussion and debate among theologians and society for a long time. 

At the bi-annual Dawid W. de Villiers Memorial Lecture, Prof Allan Boesak gave some new insight on the role of women in theology, which he believes has led to many misinterpretations and the world's patriarchal traditions of today. The memorial lecture was held on Tuesday (18 September 2018) at Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Theology, which honours the life and teachings of the late Prof Dawid de Villiers. A former lecturer at the faculty Prof de Villiers played a leading role in church life and theological training at the university.

Prof Boesak's lecture series titled: Learning, Unlearning, and Re-Reading: Black Liberation Theology and Lessons from the Women largely focused on the analysis of the biblical scriptures in the Old Testament where the woman Miriam challenged the patriarchal traditions and the leadership of Moses, one of the Bible's most iconic early prophets.

In his lecture, Prof Boesak challenged the patriarchal roles and suggested that many traditional theological teachings have been used to oppress others and been used to portray a God that is not for all humankind.

“Until we know what kind of God we worship we cannot begin to fathom what kind of people we should be, let alone who we are now. Unless we all learn the worth of our common humanity and cherish the ties that bind us, in all our actions and embrace the cry of the campaign against gender-based violence, that says 'This ends now!' Every time we say these things it creates a new lie and every time a lie is created we offer pre-emptive justification for the next killing, the next rape and the next racist act. There has always been the notion that God only speaks to and through men, which excludes women, but the story of Miriam in the Bible should challenge us to think about this differently," said Prof Boesak.

________________________________________________________________________________

MORE ABOUT PROF ALAN BOESAK

Prof Boesak Allan Boesak studied Theology at the age of 22 years old at the Theological Seminary of the Dutch Reformed Mission Church. He continued his studies at the Theological University at Kampen in the Netherlands where he was awarded a Doctor's degree in Theology in June 1976, a week before the Soweto Uprisings.

When he returned to South Africa, he served the church in various ecumenical positions, including as Moderator of his church, Senior Vice President of the South African Council of Churches, and President of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

Boesak's involvement in public life and South Africa's freedom struggle began in 1976. In 1983, he called for the formation of the United Democratic Front, which would grow into the largest, nonviolent, non-racial anti-apartheid formation in the history of the struggle. He became their most visible leader at home and abroad. He worked with Mr Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu, Rev. Frank Chikane and a whole array of world leaders to end apartheid.

Prof Boesak is the recipient of thirteen honorary Doctor's degrees and several awards among those, the Robert Kennedy Human Rights Award and the Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Award. Recently he was inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. International Board of Preachers at Morehouse College. He is also the author of 22 books and has been teaching across the world. Prof Boesak continues his teaching and preaching while remaining active in global struggles for human rights.

Photo: Stefan Els

The Information Governance (IG) Division at Stellenbosch University (SU) recently (14-16 August 2018) again successfully presented its annual Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS) Institute at the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West.

At the event, staff members of the IG participated directly in the expansion of institutional research in Southern African higher-education institutions. Also in attendance from SU were representatives from the Registrar's Division, Information and Technology, Academic Planning and Quality Assurance, and Human Resources.

This year's event, attended by a record number of 137 representatives from the country's 26 higher-education institutions, was coordinated by SU's Mr Leon Eygelaar and Ms René Robbertze, respectively Director: Institutional Information and officer at Institutional Research and Planning.

Prof Ian Cloete, Senior Director: IG, opened proceedings. He was followed by guest speakers Ms Jean Skene (Director: HEMIS, Department of Higher Education and Training), Prof Lis Lange (Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, University of Cape Town), Ms Hannelie van Rensburg (Director: Academic Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Department of Higher Education and Training), Prof Monie Naidoo (Director: Programme Accreditation, Council on Higher Education), Mr Jerall Toi (Senior Institutional Information officer, SU) and Dr Cornelie Crous (researcher and senior lecturer, University of the Free State).

“Being a university of excellence pioneering new development requires more than only investment in teaching, research and community interaction. It also requires in-depth institutional research to implement the various policies regulating higher-education institutions more effectively," Cloete said in his opening address.

Institutional research refers to a range of activities supporting, among others, decision taking, policy making, policy analysis, quality assurance, effective management, projections, modelling and planning in higher education.

Concurring with Cloete, Eygelaar said, “South African – indeed, Southern African – institutions have an increasingly urgent need for institutional research on higher-education matters. The HEMIS information, available at institutional and at national level from the Department of Higher Education and Training, is probably one of the most important resources for institutional research."

The annual HEMIS Institute creates a platform for discussing HEMIS matters relating to students, staff and physical facilities and for strengthening existing higher-education networks and establishing new ones. The event is one of the highlights on the calendar of the Southern African Association for Institutional Research​ (SAAIR), one of nearly 50 other international institutional research associations affiliated with the American Association for Institutional Research (AIR).

More about HEMIS

HEMIS is the higher-education management and information system for state-subsidised tertiary institutions and contains information on, for example, students, staff, physical facilities and postdoctoral students. It forms the basis for the calculation of, among others, the teaching inputs and outputs, research outputs and subsidy allocations of tertiary institutions.

• ​Photo: Attendees at this year's HEMIS Institute.
  
• Photog​rapher: Hennie Rudman
  

Hard work is rewarded. 

This is what Linda Kallis, an honours student in Financial Management, experienced this year when she was selected – based on her excellent undergraduate marks – as one of nine Maties to attend a two-week long summer school at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium.

Linda, who obtained her BCom degree cum laude in 2017, was not aware of the programme originally, but was identified to take part together with three other students of the Department of ​Business Management.

“I couldn't believe that something like this could happen to me. Is was my first trip abroad and everything felt unreal until we boarded the aeroplane."

The programme consisted of four modules of which each student had to choose two. In addition to the academic responsibilities they also had time for cultural outings to places such as the European Parliament in Brussels and the battle fields of World War I in Flanders.

“My highlight was our visit to the European Parliament. It was an enriching experience to stand in the place where iconic speeches by people such as David Cameron, Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May, John Major and Emmanuel Macron have been delivered.

“We also visited Flanders Fields, the cemetery and garden of remembrance for soldiers who sacrificed their lives in World War I. It gave me goose bumps to listen to the stories and see the memorials and it made me realise how precious life really is." 

The exchange programme has influenced Linda's outlook on life.

“I have learnt that the world is much bigger than we realise. There are so many opportunities for us to seize – we just need to be willing to take the first step. I also realised how much I love South Africa. Europe is wonderful, but to be back where I belong is the best feeling ever. It puts your whole life in perspective."

Now that she is in the home straight of her studies at Stellenbosch, Linda is making plans for her future.

“I have always been a hard worker and positive about new phases in my life and I will always cherish my time at Stellenbosch University.

“I am currently engaged in interviews to take part in a graduate programme at an asset-management company so that I can get exposure to all the divisions within the company before I decide where I would like to work permanently."​

​The people of Stellenbosch need to reach out the each other in order to address the inequality that still exists in the town.

This was the gist of a panel discussion at a Heritage Function held at the Stellenbosch University (SU) Museum on the Stellenbosch campus on Tuesday (18 Sept 2018). Miss Renee Hector-Kannemeyer from Matie Community Services moderated the discussion which was hosted by SU and the Stellenbosch e-Bosch Heritage Project, and formed part of SU's Centenary commemoration.

The panellists were Mr Yeki Mosomothane from the Centre for Student Structures and Communities at SU, Mr Dennis Moss, an architect based in Stellenbosch, Ms Stephané Conradie, a doctoral student in the Department of Visual Arts at SU, and Mr Shirle Cornellisen from SU's Faculty of Theology.

In his contribution, Mosomothane said we still see inequality, poverty and a lack of services in certain parts of Stellenbosch.

“We still grapple with a lot in this town. We have not really acknowledged the different Stellenbosch communities."

“It is important that people from Stellenbosch find each other. We are all entangled and that's a reality that we can't run away from."

Mosomothane said we need to ask ourselves how we can build inclusive communities in Stellenbosch.

He did mention that there are people who are doing good things in Stellenbosch but our collective efforts need to be heightened.

Echoing Mosomothane's sentiments, Moss said the inequality in an area like Kayamandi is in stark contrast to the abundance of opportunity elsewhere in Stellenbosch.

“You can't believe that is possible that we tolerate this in a constitutional democracy."

Moss said the people of Stellenbosch are separated from each other culturally, socially, economically and physically.

He added that we haven't yet succeeded in creating a sustainable future for the town.

Reflecting on the history of Stellenbosch, Conradie said she came to realise that there are a lot of things that residents of the town don't know about each other.

Focusing on inequality in sport in Stellenbosch, Cornellisen highlighted the need for accessibility to sporting opportunities, especially for children from historically disadvantaged communities.

“Businesses and the University should take a closer look at how they can invest in these areas," said Cornellisen.

• Main photo: Stellenbosch
  
• Photo 1:  Stephané Conradie, Dennis Moss, Yeki Mosomothane, Shirle Cornellisen and Renee Hector-Kannemeyer during the panel discussion.
  
• Photographer: Anton Jordaan
  

A proposed research centre that will study the interpretation of the authoritative scriptures of three religious constituencies in South Africa – Christianity, Islam, and Judaism – can help to promote dialogue between these religions, improve their relations and contribute to greater social cohesion in the South African society.

This is, in short, the vision of a project of creating the Centre for the Interpretation of Authoritative Scriptures (CIAS) at the Faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University (SU). This project gained momentum last week (13 September) during a multidisciplinary workshop for the Development of a Theoretical Basis of the proposed CIAS at STIAS.

The workshop was attended by role-players from different disciplines and religious constituencies from Stellenbosch University and other institutions in South Africa as well as the neighbouring country Botswana. Speakers at the conference were professors Louis Jonker, Jeremy Punt, Aslam Fataar, Marius Nel, Xolile Simon, Reggie Nel, Nuraan Davids, Christo van der Merwe, and doctors Ntozakhe Cezula, Peter Nagel, as well as postgraduate students Slindile Thabede, and Paul Adebayo (all from SU), professors Abdulkader Tayob, Sa'ddiyah Shaikh (both from UCT), Muhammed Haron (University of Botswana), Rashied Omar (University of Notre Dame, and imam of the Kenilworth Mosque), Klippies Kritzinger (from UNISA) and Ashraf Dockrat (from UJ).

Picture: People involved from the beginning of the project are, from left, Prof Marius Nel, Prof Jeremy Punt, Dr Peter Nagel, Prof Xolile Simon,  Prof Louis Jonker

and Dr Ntozakhe Cezula.

Prof Eugene Cloete, Vice-Rector: Research and Innovation at SU, indicated in his opening address at the workshop that he supports this project as it is aligned with the vision of SU of being a research intensive university. It is important to SU to not only identify relevant research areas but also to see to what extent the research will make an impact on society.

“We have identified specific areas of research where we think the areas are important. Collaboration nationally and internationally is extremely important. Unfortunately, universities in South Africa has the mind-set that they are in competition with one another. This has led to no natural cooperation between one another. We need to share knowledge and collaborate with one another."

“I am pleased about the focus of the Centre that will be on research. It falls in with the strategy of SU. I want to congratulate and thank the initiators of the project. It will be important for all of you to listen to each other, there will be different perspectives, which is fantastic. Path out the research path for the next five years and beyond, make sure the networks are solid, that the research is good and then we will see the benefit to society at large of what you are doing," said Cloete.

The idea of establishing CIAS came from Prof Louis Jonker from the Faculty of Theology who investigated the status of religion studies in authoritative scriptures in the country. 

“I was disappointed to find that – although there are many institutions (from religious communities to universities) offering religion studies, it seems that there are not many who focus specifically on the interpretation strategies of the authoritative Scriptures, and therefore on the interchange and discourse among these traditions, and that while we are all aware of the fact that religion plays such a prominent role in social cohesion or social conflict in society," Jonker said.

Even SU has no institutional unit focusing on religion studies. The former Department of Biblical Studies at SU was transformed into a Department of Religion Studies after 1994, but then gradually disappeared from the scene, said Jonker.

The scriptures of the Old and New Testaments in Christianity; the Qur'an in Islam; and the Hebrew Bible in Judaism not only serve a more restricted function in defining the rituals and customs of these religious communities, but also have a more general impact on the world views, beliefs, ethical values, and ideological positions of members of these religious communities.

The focus in CIAS will therefore be on:

1. the origin of these scriptures and their becoming authoritative (including the relationship between the formation of authoritative scriptures and imperial ideology);
2. the historical traditions of interpretation and re-interpretation within and among these scriptures;
3. the hermeneutical traditions that dominated the history of interpretation of these scriptures;
4. the role of these hermeneutical traditions in the SA society; and
5. the possibility of bringing these traditions in discourse with one another.

The project is planned to run up until 2020 in preparation for establishing the proposed Centre. Until then the academics will study existing literature on the topic and develop expertise in the field. A research infrastructure for the Centre will be created and in this process a postdoctoral fellow will be appointed for the next two years. At least five research papers on topics related to the Centre and the involvement of a doctoral student to focus on the related topic are also in the pipeline for next year. Fundraising efforts will continue during 2019 and 2020 in order to ensure that the Centre will be sustainable from 2021 onwards.

Any interested persons may contact prof Louis Jonker (LCJ@sun.ac.za) for more information.

​Marius Meyer of the Department of Industrial Psychology at Stellenbosch University has received an honorary doctoral degree from the Vaal University of Technology (VUT). The award was part of the spring graduation of the Faculty of Management Sciences held at the VUT campus in Vanderbijlpark on 11 September.

Dr Meyer, a well-known human r​esources (HR) thought leader, has been a human resource development practitioner, consultant, academic, board member and manager for the past 24 years. As the former chief executive of the professional body for HR practitioners, the SA Board for People Practices (SABPP), he was responsible for the quality assurance of 82 learning providers, as well as the HR accreditation of all universities in South Africa.

“I have a passion for leadership, strategy, governance, change management and people development," Dr Meyer said. He recently received a life-time achievement award from the SABPP board, and was subsequently retained as HR Standards Thought Leader for SABPP. 

Dr Meyer previously lectured at the Universities of South Africa and Johannesburg and is still involved in academic work for North-West University and the Midrand Graduate Institute. He was an advisory board member of the African Society for Talent Development and a founding member of Talent Talks, South Africa's first talent management platform and magazine. He also facilitated training and consulting interventions for more than 200 companies.

His most recent output is South Africa's first national HR governance framework, which includes the first national set of human capital metrics for companies. The framework serves as a blueprint for HR directors in order to add value to boards, councils and other governing bodies of organisations.

​Finding ways of preventing TB in pregnant and breast feeding women in the safest way possible for mom and baby was the objective of the study Prof Gerhard Theron presented at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences' (FMHS) Annual Academic Day.

“There is a lack of data on isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) during pregnancy. Pregnant women were excluded from previous randomised-controlled trials. The results of the study presented are vitally important because we need to know how to use IPT correctly during pregnancy and while breast feeding. These results will also inform the World Health Organisation (WHO) to develop guidelines," Theron said during his presentation entitled Randomized trial of safety of isoniazid preventive therapy during or after pregnancy. Theron is with the FMHS' Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

The study was part of the International Maternal Paediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials (IMPAACT) Network P1078 phase IV. This multi-centre trial was conducted in 13 sites across eight countries, of which three were in South Africa, and involved 956 HIV-positive, pregnant women. The study evaluate the safety of immediate versus deferred IPT among HIV-infected women in high tuberculosis (TB) incidence settings. IPT is recommended to prevent active TB disease.  

The mothers were randomly assigned to receive 28 weeks of IPT either during pregnancy (immediate) or at 12 weeks after delivery (deferred). 

There was a low TB incidence in both the deferred and immediate groups. However, the results showed a statistically significant difference of adverse pregnancy outcomes between mother-infant pairs randomised to IPT during pregnancy and mother-infant pairs randomised to IPT after delivery, with more adverse outcomes among those who received the therapy during pregnancy. 

The study therefore showed that deferring IPT to after delivery may be advisable. Based on these results, the researchers concluded that WHO recommendation to initiate IPT during pregnancy in HIV-positive women on antiretroviral therapy may need re-evaluation.

The impact of research over the next 100 years was the topic that members of the Social Impact Committee in the Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University (SU), discussed at their symposium in August 2018. This symposium was one of the Faculty's special Centenary commemoration events, as the Faculty, like SU, was established in 1918.

Concerns about education and training deficits among youth in the agricultural sector shaped the objectives of two of the Faculty's Social Impact (SI) initiatives. The concept of an agricultural training hub at Mariendahl Experimental Farm is rooted in a commitment to facilitate knowledge transfer to youth in agriculture who do not have access to mainstream post-matric education. Mr Henk Stander of the Department of Animal Sciences pointed out that, whatever the outcomes of urgent land reform efforts in the country, there would be a need for support, training and research to realise food security, to manage ecological infrastructure, and to maintain livelihoods. Upgraded facilities at the farm to ensure world-class learning are included in the concept and are expected to benefit SU students. 

Ms Marianne McKay and colleagues from the Department of Viticulture and Oenology collaborated with the Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA) to deliver a service to youth from resource-poor communities. These students have an interest in the wine industry, but cannot access university degree programmes for various reasons. The student-centred curriculum is customised to the needs of previously disadvantaged youth aged between 18 and 25. Independent and internal assessments demonstrate 90% employability of PYDA graduates, increased access to the wine industry and high retention rates, and valued partnerships between the Academy and SU.

The spread of the pathogenic fungus Phytophthora spp. in the Cape Fynbos lead PhD student Joey Hulbert to solicit the help of citizens to gather samples across the Western Cape. Three boys from Khayelitsha, a mother-daughter team from Stellenbosch, and a nurseryman all ended up in the lab of supervisor Dr Francois Roets to process samples at the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology. Samples from ordinary citizens have resulted in extraordinary finds. Naming rights have gone to three contributors for new species found. The three boys from Khayelitsha have expressed a keen interest to join SU to start careers in conservation ecology.

Mr Norman Daniels and Mrs Anna Joorst, members of the Genadendal Honeybush Knowledge Partnership, shared some insights as SI partners. Since 2012, 11 postgraduate students under the supervision of Ms Rhoda Malgas at the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology have benefited from the research support, local knowledge and wisdom of residents at Genadendal in the Overberg. Rhoda demonstrated how participatory research methodologies lead to increased local ownership of findings. Collaboration with local partners has also resulted in opportunities for student training in various disciplines. Planned outputs include a community seminar later this year, the publication of a local journal featuring the results of student projects since 2012, and a workshop with conservation agencies at Genadendal.

In his opening remarks, the Vice Dean: Research, Prof Kennedy Dzama, noted the importance of elevating the status of SI to the same level as that of Research, and Teaching and Learning in the Faculty. Poor attendance at SI events would seem to belie the genuine interest and hard work of staff and students across the Faculty. Tangible staff recognition, practical support from heads of departments and improved visibility of SI initiatives may help to embed SI in the Faculty more firmly.

If you or others in your department are involved in Social Impact initiatives, please register your project with the Division for Social Impact on their website, or contact Faculty liaison Mr Mawethu Nyakatya nyakatya@sun.ac.za for further details.

If you would like to join the Committee, or would like to know more about our work, please contact Dr Evodia Setati (setati@sun.ac.za) or any of the other members in the Faculty. Members of the SI AgriSciences Committee in 2018 are:

• Animal Sciences: Dr Annelin Molotsi; Mr Henk Stander
• Conservation Ecology and Entomology: Dr Shayne Jacobs; Ms Rhoda Malgas
• Forest and Wood Science: Dr Levuyo Tyhoda
• Viticulture and Oenology: Ms Marianne McKay; Dr Evodia Setati

Author: Ms Rhoda Malgas (rmalgas@sun.ac.za) on behalf of the Social Impact Committee, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University

Photo's:  Mrs M McKay & Mr H Stander

​

​

The impact of research over the next 100 years was the topic that members of the Social Impact Committee in the Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University (SU), discussed at their symposium in August 2018. This symposium was one of the Faculty's special Centenary commemoration events, as the Faculty, like SU, was established in 1918.

Concerns about education and training deficits among youth in the agricultural sector shaped the objectives of two of the Faculty's Social Impact (SI) initiatives. The concept of an agricultural training hub at Mariendahl Experimental Farm is rooted in a commitment to facilitate knowledge transfer to youth in agriculture who do not have access to mainstream post-matric education. Mr Henk Stander of the Department of Animal Sciences pointed out that, whatever the outcomes of urgent land reform efforts in the country, there would be a need for support, training and research to realise food security, to manage ecological infrastructure, and to maintain livelihoods. Upgraded facilities at the farm to ensure world-class learning are included in the concept and are expected to benefit SU students. 

Ms Marianne McKay and colleagues from the Department of Viticulture and Oenology collaborated with the Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA) to deliver a service to youth from resource-poor communities. These students have an interest in the wine industry, but cannot access university degree programmes for various reasons. The student-centred curriculum is customised to the needs of previously disadvantaged youth aged between 18 and 25. Independent and internal assessments demonstrate 90% employability of PYDA graduates, increased access to the wine industry and high retention rates, and valued partnerships between the Academy and SU.

The spread of the pathogenic fungus Phytophthora spp. in the Cape Fynbos lead PhD student Joey Hulbert to solicit the help of citizens to gather samples across the Western Cape. Three boys from Khayelitsha, a mother-daughter team from Stellenbosch, and a nurseryman all ended up in the lab of supervisor Dr Francois Roets to process samples at the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology. Samples from ordinary citizens have resulted in extraordinary finds. Naming rights have gone to three contributors for new species found. The three boys from Khayelitsha have expressed a keen interest to join SU to start careers in conservation ecology.

Mr Norman Daniels and Mrs Anna Joorst, members of the Genadendal Honeybush Knowledge Partnership, shared some insights as SI partners. Since 2012, 11 postgraduate students under the supervision of Ms Rhoda Malgas at the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology have benefited from the research support, local knowledge and wisdom of residents at Genadendal in the Overberg. Rhoda demonstrated how participatory research methodologies lead to increased local ownership of findings. Collaboration with local partners has also resulted in opportunities for student training in various disciplines. Planned outputs include a community seminar later this year, the publication of a local journal featuring the results of student projects since 2012, and a workshop with conservation agencies at Genadendal.

In his opening remarks, the Vice Dean: Research, Prof Kennedy Dzama, noted the importance of elevating the status of SI to the same level as that of Research, and Teaching and Learning in the Faculty. Poor attendance at SI events would seem to belie the genuine interest and hard work of staff and students across the Faculty. Tangible staff recognition, practical support from heads of departments and improved visibility of SI initiatives may help to embed SI in the Faculty more firmly.

If you or others in your department are involved in Social Impact initiatives, please register your project with the Division for Social Impact on their website, or contact Faculty liaison Mr Mawethu Nyakatya nyakatya@sun.ac.za for further details.

If you would like to join the Committee, or would like to know more about our work, please contact Dr Evodia Setati (setati@sun.ac.za) or any of the other members in the Faculty. Members of the SI AgriSciences Committee in 2018 are:

• Animal Sciences: Dr Annelin Molotsi; Mr Henk Stander
• Conservation Ecology and Entomology: Dr Shayne Jacobs; Ms Rhoda Malgas
• Forest and Wood Science: Dr Levuyo Tyhoda
• Viticulture and Oenology: Ms Marianne McKay; Dr Evodia Setati

Author: Ms Rhoda Malgas (rmalgas@sun.ac.za) on behalf of the Social Impact Committee, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University

Photo's:  Mrs M McKay & H Stander

The PPS Foundation, one of Stellenbosch University's (SU) regular donors, has joined SU's first ever 24-hour Campus Giving Day to donate 50 boxes of non-perishable food items to stock food banks on our campuses. These 50 boxes each contain 36 packets and each packet can feed up to 6 adults, which amounts to 10 800 meals.  

SU's Giving Day forms part of the recently launched #Move4Food campaign - a student led initiative that aims to raise R10 million in donations (cash and goods) in 100 days to ensure that for the next three years, no SU student will have to bear the indignity of going hungry.

Vuyo Kobokoane, PPS Foundation Executive Head, says the organisation is aware of food scarcity experienced by tertiary students and through partnerships with various universities, they have been exposed to a myriad of issues faced by students. As a result, the Foundation was able to narrow the area of focus down to food security, over and above their other interventions.

The PPS Foundation partnered with Rise Against Hunger Africa (RAHA) to contribute towards alleviating food insecurity experienced by students in various academic institutions. As part of the PPS Foundations Employee Volunteerism Programme, PPS employees at their head office in Parktown, Johannesburg, packed 25 000 food packs for the cause.

Want to help us #Move4Food?

Giving Day kicked off at 13:00 on Thursday, 20 September and comes to an end at 13:00 on Friday, 21 September on our Stellenbosch campus. Activities include a 24-hour spin-a-thon in the Neelsie Student Centre and a “Koshuis Rugby Derby" on Friday. Matie residences will also be involved in a telethon to request alumni to support the cause and SU has partnered with the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon taking place this weekend to galvanise staff, students, alumni and friends to #Move4Food. 

SU Rector, Prof Wim de Villiers, who earlier this year participated in the Cape Town Cycling Tour to raise money for bursaries, will once again be sweating for a good cause as he takes on the full marathon (42,2 km) to fight student hunger on our campuses.

• For more information about the PPS Foundation and its programmes, visit www.pps.co.za/foundation or email info@ppsfoundation.co.za
• For more information on #Move4Food, visit http://www.sun.ac.za/english/donors/Documents/Move4Food_ENG.pdf
  
• Photo: PPS Foundation's Lydia Siziba can be seen here with some of our Matie students.
  

Plan all you like, the Kruger National Park comes with its own agenda, as members of the TB Research group found out during their recent week-long stay.

A week in the Kruger Park sounds like many people's idea of an ideal holiday, but for the Animal TB Research Group, there was a lot more at stake during this trip than game viewing and a few braais.

Not only was research done, (which involved the drawing of blood samples drawn from various animals to test for bovine tuberculosis), but talks were also held with various stakeholders, such as veterinarians, other researchers and park officials. And to top it all, there were quite a few encounters (both expected and unexpected) with various animals, some, big, some small and some enormous. And some downright scary.

The visit also helped the students understand where and how their research has an impact on real-life situations by highlighting the important conservation consequences of the group's research.

Just to get there was a two-day trek, and the week was jam-packed with planned activities:

• Monday (Orientation)
  

• Tuesday (Elephant capture)

• Wednesday (rhino capture)

• Thursday (buffalo day and meetings with park staff and veterinarians from the area)

• Friday (rhino day)

• Saturday (lab work)

That was the plan, anyway. On Monday, there was an unexpected opportunity to go with the state veterinarians to sample some wild dogs. By 3.30 on Tuesday morning, the camp was bustling as everyone got ready and dressed (and had a strong cup of coffee) before going to look for an elephant bull. Not most people's usual Tuesday morning programme. Everyone left the Veterinary Wildlife Services offices and labs, and some students were fortunate enough to get an air lift to the site in one of the park's helicopters, usually used during the game-capturing process. For many this was their first encounter with such a huge animal in the wilderness. After the successful capture, sampling (which included a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) using a custom-made 3 metre endoscope and blood collection), and the subsequent recovery of the elephant, the team headed back to base camp.

An elephant post-mortem

But the day was far from over, as, upon return to base camp, a sudden opportunity presented itself to do a full elephant post-mortem examination on another elephant. The team made its way to the field site. This was also a great learning experience with trained veterinarians at hand to explain and answer all the questions the students had.

It had been a long day, so everyone enjoyed a quick dinner and went to bed early to prepare for the next day.  Wednesday's procedures were performed on four rhinos that are housed in bomas as part of the TB project. The students got some great hands-on experience with regards to the collection of samples such as blood and BALs. This also helped the students get a better understanding of what impact their research had on real-life situations when it came to testing various species for bovine tuberculosis.

Thursday was supposed to be a day filled with buffalo, but as with the rest of the week, there were surprises in store. In the bush, things do not always happen on schedule. Two hyenas came in early in the morning that had been removed from the Skukuza tourist camp. These animals were sampled on the bed of the bakkie by the team – quite an experience for many of the students.

Open forum with stakeholders

Later in the day the group was also involved in conversations with different stakeholders, including KNP veterinary staff and state veterinarians and technicians from surrounding areas. This was a great platform to share the last five years of work done by the SU Animal TB Research Group in an open forum.

Friday morning started at 03:30 as the team set out to find a rhino for the day's capture. This was the first opportunity to collect BAL samples from a rhino in the wild. The capture was part of an anti-rhino poaching campaign, and the cameras were rolling during the entire procedure, highlighting the important conservation consequences of the group's research. Afterwards some students had the opportunity to fly back to base camp, giving them an opportunity to see the magical Kruger landscape from the air.

It was time for the farewell braai, where the events and experiences of the week could be relived around the fire. Then mopping up work on Saturday with the last of the lab work on the agenda – and then finally a twilight game drive, where yet another surprise awaited: a standoff between buffalo and lions to cap an unforgettable few days.

This exhilarating week brought home to the students just how valuable these wildlife samples were, what dangers were involved in collecting them, what the risks to the animals were, and just how much time was spent on collecting even a single sample. May this experience continues to inspire them to achieve what they have set out to do in their careers.

And then there was the long road home. But the trip was worth every single kilometre.

Language editing: Susan Erasmus

Photos supplied by Eduard Roos

They were spinning, cycling, walking and running... Stellenbosch University (SU) students, staff and alumni have come out in full support of the student-led #Move4Food campaign - raising close to one million rand in cash and donations thus far.

This initiative aims to raise R10 million (cash and goods) in 100 days to ensure that for the next three years, no SU student will have to study on an empty stomach.

"The response has been phenomenal," says Karen Bruns, Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations at SU. "We are so grateful to everyone who has decided to #Move4Food and we urge others to take up the challenge to help our students reach their R10 million target."

Prof Wim de Villiers, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor showed his support for this campaign by running the full Sanlam Cape Town Marathon of 42.2km in a time of 4:16:16 on Sunday. Prof De Villiers, who has raised almost R128 000 thus far, was one of 110 staff members, alumni, students and friends of the University who registered for various races hosted by the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon as part of the #Move4Food campaign.

"We are proud to be led by a man who'll go 42.2kms and more to raise money for hungry students," Bruns adds.

While some ran the marathon, alumni, staff and students also did other things since the launch of this campaign on 20 August. Alumnus, Folkers Tullki-Williams, based in Helsinki, hiked the 375km across Estonia to raise R10 000 for #Move4Food, becoming the first South African to complete this hike. 

Staff member, Desmond Thompson, did the Coast2Karoo Cycle Race - completing it in 5:23 for #Move4Food. Thompson reported that he had “plenty to be grateful for - no falls and no punctures".

Last week students staged an awareness-raising 24-hour spin-a-thon on 12 stationary bikes in the Neelsie Student Centre. They cycled over 8 000 kilometres throughout the day and night, with music, energy and passion. This event drew attention to the huge lunchbox created by Engineers Without Borders Maties, a student society made up of 2nd and 3rd year engineering students.

A total of 15 095 items of non-perishable food were deposited into the lunchbox over the 24 hours - exceeding the target of 15 000 food items. A major contribution of 10 800 meals delivered by the PPS Foundation helped to further boost the collection, along with a significant contribution of products by the Spar franchise in the Neelsie.

According to Cheryl Benadie, Donor Relations Manager at SU, the #Move4Food movement is creating unity amongst our student body. “As this campaign evolves, it is inspiring to see Maties gain a greater understanding of the silent struggles faced by fellow students – and their dedication and passion to do something about it is contagious."

Benadie says the food items will be distributed by the social workers on our Stellenbosch and Tygerberg campuses. “This will offer a welcome respite as the limited students' NSFAS funds tend to have run out by the start of the fourth term, causing poor exam performance and prompting dropping out of their programmes by food insecure young people from financially stressed households".

On 22 September, the Maties Equestrian Club rode through Stellenbosch, handing out pamphlets and raising awareness about #Move4Food. They are also going to grow vegetables using their energy and inexhaustible supply of horse-produced fertiliser to contribute to the cause.

A Residence Rugby Derby and residence LevelUp Dance4Food video challenges were further activities in the Move4Food student campaigning.

"Our students have spent months bringing this campaign to life and I am proud that the Development and Alumni Relations Division has been able to support them in doing so," says Bruns.

"The fundraising challenge is now out there, our first million rand in cash and in donations has been raised. We'd really like to raise nine million more!"

Bruns says challenges have been put to alumni in Asia, Europe, the UK, and the Americas. "We still have a very ambitious target to reach, so get on board! Whether you run, spin, dance, surf or donate your lunch money, you can still #Move4Food."

The #Move4Food campaign ends on International Giving day or “Giving Tuesday", on 27 November 2018.

• Make a small contribution towards #Move4Food. https://www.givengain.com/cc/su100/
• For more information on this campaign, visit http://www.sun.ac.za/english/donors/Documents/Move4Food_ENG.pdf
• Videos: https://www.instagram.com/matiesalumni/
• Photo gallery: https://www.facebook.com/pg/stellenboschalumni/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2127348323992077 ​
  

​During its 25 years of existence, Stellenbosch University (SU) International has provided study-abroad and exchange opportunities to thousands of SU students, affording them an international experience of note. Given the chance, many students have gone on mobility programmes at partner institutions only in Europe, North America, Asia or Australia. This is about to change – SU students can now take part in short mobility programmes at 26 partner institutions on the continent. 

In September 2018, five Students' Representative Council (SRC) members from the Stellenbosch and Tygerberg campuses travelled to the University of Ghana as part of a leadership development programme. The group, accompanied by staff members from Student Affairs and SU International, visited the West African country to connect with peers and to visit places of interest, such as the Ghana House of Parliament, the South African Embassy and the National Museum. In March 2019, another group of Matie students will travel to Egypt to take part in the American University in Cairo residential life exchange programme. Here, they will participate in a rich cultural experience, creating meaningful connections with their North African peers. Further to this, SU International has also created student exchange opportunities for students studying BCom International Business, with Strathmore University in Kenya hosting two students for the second semester in 2019. ​

Nico Elema, Manager of the Centre for Collaboration in Africa (CCA) at SU International, says that the University strives to nurture networks and collaboration connections and encourages students to take part in mobility programmes on the continent. “Students, for the most part, are interested in opportunities abroad. We want to make it attractive for students to consider opportunities on the continent." 

Over the years, a number of initiatives has been implemented to foster relations where students and staff can engage with peers on the continent. Both academic and support services staff can take part in mobility programmes, collaborating with other researchers or going on benchmark visits. For postgraduate students, mobility opportunities exist in programmes such as the Transdisciplinary Training for Resource Efficiency and Climate Change Adaptation in Africa programme, which provides doctoral and master's training to postgraduates from six leading African universities. 

What sets the new programmes apart from previous ones is that they are specifically targeted at undergraduate students and student leadership, who will spend a short period at identified partner institutions. Nico says that the University is exploring ideas to develop short programmes on the continent further. For the CCA, a benchmark programme is the Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven/SU Think Tank, managed by SU International, Student Affairs and the Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Institute. The think tank allows 15 postgraduate students to interact with peers at the KU Leuven in Belgium. Engaging via the internet, e-mails and video conferencing facilities, students participate in monthly seminars. The year-long programme culminates in a two-week visit, where the different groups visit the KU Leuven or Stellenbosch. 

“We hope the Cairo residential life exchange programme and University of Ghana leadership development programme will develop into annual programmes. Ideally, we would like all incoming SRC members to participate in the Ghana leadership programme and to host our peers from the University of Ghana. This experience should give them an appreciation for the continent, ploughing back into student leadership on their return."

Visiting Ghana are from left; Nico Elema, Kevin Oira, Minette Sieberhagen, Aluwani Ramarumo and Anele Mdepa

Picture: Angelo Jephtha

Seven different bacteria and several yeasts and fungi which are commonly found all around us – and even inside our guts - were used to create a living microbial display, on show in a glass cabinet in the foyer of the JC Smuts building at Stellenbosch University until this Friday only.

“This is a unique opportunity to get a glimpse of the rich diversity of microbes in and around us, captured together in one display," explains Dr Heinrich Volschenk, part of the team of staff and students in the Department of Microbiology who planned and executed this unique example of microbial art.

Taking some inspiration from the creators of the bacterial billboard for the movie Contagion, the microbes were selected specifically for their bright colours and safety. The raison-d'être for the display is, of course, to celebrate the University's centenary.

Thus far, the microbes have surpassed all expectations.

“Because of the cold weather, they are growing slower than expected. But now the different colours are more evident, as well as the different morphologies," says Mrs Trudy Jansen, also from the Department of Microbiology.

You will, for example, now be able to recognise the smelly green mould that forms on that orange which has been lying forgotten at the bottom of your bag. Or the blueish, grayish mouldy stuff on last week's sandwiches.

If you look really closely, while holding up your breath long enough, you will also be able to observe the traces of microscopic small mites which have since colonised the display cabinet: “They are in the air all around, but we cannot see them. Now we can observe how they have appeared out of thin air to feed on the abundance of food available," Jansen comments.

On social media, fellow microbiologists simply can't wait for the next update: “It is 24 hours later – our super reliable Serratia is growing like crazy. Some fluorescent green Pseudomonas coming through, and numerous orange and pink yeasts starting to show up. By tomorrow the yellow Micrococcus luteus should make its appearance?", wrote Dr Shelly Dean in a Facebook post. There were also daily updates on Twitter from @volschenk:

And for a video to see how this display came about, visit https://www.facebook.com/stellenboschuniversity/videos/699363127110615/

On the photo below, the microbial art team from SU's Department of Microbiology are, from left to right, Odwa Biko, Zoë Bhana, Dr Heinrich Volschenk, Shakier Samie, Lindsay Faure, Ivan Harris, Dr Shelly Deane, Caylin Bosch, Dr Thando Ndlovu, Jane de Kock, Prof. Alf Botha, Trudy Jansen, Wendy Wentzel, Monique Waso, Tersia Conradie, Kathryn Griessel, Warrick Sitzer, and Marisa Valentine. People involved, but not in the photograph: Prof Wesaal Khan, Tania van der Merwe, Méshelle Gey van Pittius, Ludwig Brocker, Alno Carstens and Elzaan Booysen

​​A book which traces the steps of the first pioneers who laid the foundations for training and research in various disciplines in the natural sciences at Stellenbosch University, will be available from 1 October 2018.

The book, A Particular Frame of Mind – Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, 1918-2018, also documents the contributions of various individuals to the establishment of research fields such as nuclear physics and polymer science in South Africa.

Prof. Chris Garbers, former professor of organic chemistry from 1958 to 1978 and president of the CSIR from 1980 to 1990, writes in the Foreword that key institutions such as the SU's Faculty of Science have contributed “to transforming South Africa from a mainly rural society to an industrial giant on the African continent".

“The book is a succinct summary covering the past one hundred years, with the exposition of diverse scientific findings in layman's terms, as well as the documentation of anecdotes about various eccentric characters. The book is further enhanced by the insets of colleagues with specialist knowledge and understanding of contemporary developments in science," he continues writing.

This limited edition red linen hard case book is embossed with foil on the front and spine, and contains more than 200 photographs and images from the SU Archive, the Africana section of the SU Library, and various artefacts from departmental collections, including scientific images of historical and current research.

“The reader will obtain a vivid and striking view of the particular way of thinking of the historical and current natural scientist," explains Professor Piet Swart, emeritus professor at SU and one of the editors of the book.

According to Professor Louise Warnich, the first female dean of the Faculty of Science, the book is an attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of the first one hundred years of tertiary education and research in natural sciences at the University. Several of the department's founding histories have now been documented for the first time.

“In the process several staff members took on the challenge to open storerooms and dust off old documents and equipment. In the Department of Botany and Zoology, for example, we found an expenditure book dating from 1918, with entries documenting the buying of 19 rabbits and 20 doves. We also found the oldest photo to date of the very first professor of mathematics and natural science, Professor George Gordon, surrounded by a group of eight students, dating from circa 1880."

She says the Faculty of Science is very much aware of the scars left by apartheid: “Now, and over the next few decades, we have the opportunity to do things differently. The compilation of this book showed us that what we do today, and how we do it, will make a difference to the lives of those coming after us."

Book specifications

Red linen hard case book with foil embossed on cover and spine, covered with a dust jacket with French folds and individually shrink wrapped. Available in Afrikaans or English.

Paper: Text printed on 157 gsm Gold East Matt

Format: 280mm deep and 280mm wide

Extent: 200 full-colour pages plus endpapers

ISBN English edition: 978-0-7972-1731-7

ISBN Afrikaans edition: 978-0-7972-1730-0

Publication date: October 2018

Price: R780 (discount available on orders of four and more)

How to order the book

To order your copy, send an e-mail to science2@sun.ac.za, upon which you will receive an invoice with payment details and information about when and where to collect your copy. If the book must be sent via courier, the cost will be added to the price of the book.

​A book which traces the steps of the first pioneers who laid the foundations for training and research in various disciplines in the natural sciences at Stellenbosch University, will be available as from 1 October 2018.

The book, A Particular Frame of Mind, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, 1918-2018, also documents the contributions of various individuals to the establishment of research fields such as nuclear physics and polymer science in South Africa.

Prof. Chris Garbers, former professor of organic chemistry from 1958 to 1978 and president of the CSIR from 1980 to 1990, writes in the Foreword that key institutions such as the SU's Faculty of Science have contributed “to transforming South Africa from a mainly rural society to an industrial giant on the African continent".

“The book is a succinct summary covering the past one hundred years, with the exposition of diverse scientific findings in layman's terms, as well as the documentation of anecdotes about various eccentric characters. The book is further enhanced by the insets of colleagues with specialist knowledge and understanding of contemporary developments in science," he continues writing.

This limited edition red linen hard case book is embossed with foil on the front and spine, and contains more than 200 photographs and images from the SU Archive, the Africana section of the SU Library, and various artefacts from departmental collections, including scientific images of historical and current research.

“The reader will obtain a vivid and striking view of the particular way of thinking of the historical and current natural scientist," explains Professor Piet Swart, emeritus professor at SU and one of the editors of the book.

According to Professor Louise Warnich, the first female dean of the Faculty of Science, the book is an attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of the first one hundred years of tertiary education and research in natural sciences at the University. Several of the department's founding histories have now been documented for the first time.

“In the process several staff members took on the challenge to open storerooms and dust off old documents and equipment. In the Department of Botany and Zoology, for example, we found an expenditure book dating from 1918, with entries documenting the buying of 19 rabbits and 20 doves. We also found the oldest photo to date of the very first professor of mathematics and natural science, Professor George Gordon, surrounded by a group of eight students, dating from circa 1880."

She says the Faculty of Science is very much aware of the scars left by apartheid: “Now, and over the next few decades, we have the opportunity to do things differently. The compilation of this book showed us that what we do today, and how we do it, will make a difference to the lives of those coming after us."

Book specifications

Red linen hard case book with foil embossed on cover and spine, covered with a dust jacket with French folds and individually shrink wrapped. Available in Afrikaans or English.

Paper: Text printed on 157 gsm Gold East Matt

Format: 280mm deep and 280mm wide

Extent: 200 full-colour pages plus endpapers

ISBN English edition: 978-0-7972-1731-7

ISBN Afrikaans edition: 978-0-7972-1730-0

Publication date: October 2018

Price: R780 (discount available on orders of four and more)

How to order the book

To order your copy, send an e-mail to science2@sun.ac.za, upon which you will receive an invoice with payment details and information about when and where to collect your copy. If the book must be sent via courier, the cost will be added to the price of the book.

Photographer: Clive Hassall