THREE US FULBRIGHT SCHOLARS TO WORK AT UKZN FOR A YEAR

Front from left: Ms Jill Derderian; Dr Salim Washington
and Ms Amanda Bixler; Back from left: Professor Dasarath Chetty;
Dr Heather Dalmage; Dr Brian Augustine and Ms Megan Ellis.

Three American Fulbright scholars will conduct research and deliver lectures at UKZN during the coming year.

The scholars are Dr Salim Washington, Dr Heather Dalmage and Dr Brian Augustine.

The Consul General of the United States of America hosted the visitors at a reception where they received a warm welcome from academics, UKZN Executive Management, and Fulbright Alumni.

In her welcome address Consul-General Ms Jill Derderian said: “This Fulbright programme is one of the great things we have. It makes a big difference to the excellence of the people who participate because they contribute to academia and research in different ways. We hope the programme doesn’t change in terms of the contribution it makes to people.”

PARENTS’ DAY

Professor Sabiha Essack, Dean of the
Faculty of Health Sciences addresses parents.

More than 3 000 parents attended Parents’ Day on the Howard College, Pietermaritzburg and Westville campuses on January 24.

The Graduate School of Business’ Music Recital Hall on the Westville campus was filled to capacity. To accommodate the 1 800 parents who traveled from all over South Africa, screens were set up at the COMSA Lounge and Recital Hall foyer.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Law and Management Studies, Professor John Mubangizi, assured parents that the quality of education offered at UKZN was of an international standard. “UKZN has committed itself to building an institution that meets global academic standards,” he said.

Welcoming parents to the Pietermaritzburg campus Parents’ Day, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science Professor Pete Zacharias assured parents that their children’s time at UKZN would be fruitful: “I want to assure you that we will do everything as a University to look after your children,” he said.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Humanities Professor Fikile Mazibuko welcomed 1000 parents to the Howard College campus. “Students are a community in transit. We commit ourselves to making that transition a valuable experience that adds value to their lives. I believe that during their stay your daughters and sons will add value to scholastic, research and outreach endeavours and to the history of the University,” she said.

TOP NRF RATING FOR RESEARCHERS

Professor Michael Henning.

Professor Steve Johnson.

Prolific UKZN researchers, Professor Steve Johnson and Professor Michael Henning, have been placed in the elite A category of the National Research Foundation (NRF) following the high quality and impact of their recent research outputs.

The NRF rating process involves a rigorous evaluation by at least six reviewers or peers who scrutinise an applicant’s last seven years of research. The impact of an applicant’s work in their field and their standing as a researcher in the South African and international community are also considered. The A rating is given only to researchers who are considered world leaders in their fields of expertise.

Pietermaritzburg-based Professors Johnson and Henning, whose A ratings are valid from January 1 this year to December 31, 2014, join fellow Faculty of Science and Agriculture A-rated researchers, Professor Pat Berjak and Professor Rob Gous.

UKZN ACADEMIC IN GENEVA FOR MEETING ON FOOD MARKETING TO CHILDREN

Professor Shahida Cassim of UKZN’s Faculty of Management Studies was a member of a group of experts assembled in Geneva, Switzerland, recently under the mandate of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to provide technical advice in developing a set of recommendations to control the marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverages to children.

The group was formed in response to a WHO World Health Assembly Resolution in May 2007 on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases. Part of the Global Strategy makes reference to promoting “responsible marketing, including the development of a set of recommendations on the marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverages to children, in order to reduce the impact of food high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars or salt”.

Childhood obesity today has been described as unprecedented in the history of mankind. Globally, at least 155 million school age children are overweight or obese according to statistics from the International Obesity Taskforce.

UNIQUE INVESTIGATION INTO AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS UNDERWAY AT UKZN

Ms Marion Young and Mr Shaun Groenink.

Second year Masters student from the School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness on the Pietermaritzburg campus, is conducting research to find an innovative way to analyse, serotype and detect African Horse Sickness (AHS) with a single test within a few hours. This would mean that the cost of the experiments and analysis time for serotyping will be drastically reduced. In addition to the importance of virus identification and early warning systems, the implications for control of AHS are significant. Aside from the emotional impact, and loss of use in traction, transport and sport and recreational sectors, the control of AHS is critical in terms of export, quarantine procedures and vaccine research in South Africa, in which AHS is endemic.

Mr Shaun Groenink, who began his research in 2008 under the supervision of Animal Science Lecturer and Equine Research supervisor, Ms Marion Young, said the current diagnostic procedures for serotyping are lengthy and costly and the development of a rapid assay method to identify AHS serotypes is imperative.

AHS is an arthropod-borne disease of equids. This means that the virus infects a biting insect (the Culicoides midge), multiplies within that midge and is then transmitted to the equid host. AHS is caused by the African Horse Sickness Virus (AHSV). In horses, the virus is the most virulent, with mortality rates of between 70 percent and 95 percent. In the last 10 years, South Africa has experienced more than 20 different outbreaks each year, with one year having 196 different outbreaks.

MEDICAL STUDENTS SIGN HIPPOCRATIC OATH

First year Medical students taking the
Hippocratic Oath at the dedication ceremony.

The Hippocratic Oath was signed by 223 first year medical students at the 16th Dedication Ceremony held at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine.

The aim of the ceremony is to encourage students to respect the human body – whether living or dead - as well as to record appreciation to community members who have pledged to donate their bodies after death.

The 20 cadavers donated for medical research will be the students’ first contact with a human body in their medical practice.

The ceremony organised by the Discipline of Clinical Anatomy is traditionally held on the Friday before first year medical students start their studies.

UKZN HOSTS COURSE ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATER RESOURCES

Participants in the Climate Change and Water Resources workshop
held in the School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental
Hydrology at UKZN's Pietermaritzburg campus.

Training the trainer was the focus of a Waternet Workshop held at UKZN’s Pietermaritzburg campus where the emphasis was on integrated water resource management (IWRM) as a tool for adaption to climate change.

UKZN’s School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology (BEEH), together with partners, Cap-Net and the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa, conducted the course for a variety of stakeholders from the SADC region.

Non-African contributors included the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, the Netherlands Government and the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency.

Considered the regional expert on integrated water resource management, BEEH was approached as a key partner to run the southern African workshop. Similar workshops have been conducted in Central America and northern Africa. The course at UKZN was oversubscribed with about four times as many applicants as places available.

NRF RATING FOR EDUCATION PROFESSOR

Professor Dennis Francis.

Professor Dennis Francis of the Faculty of Education has been awarded a C3 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF).

Professor Francis is the Head of School: Social Science Education based on the Edgewood campus. His rating - awarded because of the quality and impact of his research - is valid for administrative purposes from January 1 this year to the end of 2014.

The category in which he has been placed is defined as follows:

"Established researchers with a sustained recent record of productivity in the field who are recognised by their peers as (1) having produced a body of quality work, the core of which has coherence and attests to ongoing engagement with the field and (2) demonstrated the ability to conceptualise problems and apply research methods to investigating them."

Incentive funding is attached to Professor Francis' rating with the intention that he can develop his research programme and again be successful when re-evaluated.

CECIL RENAUD SCHOLARSHIPS FOR UKZN HONOURS GRADUATES

Mr Daniel de Kadt.

Miss Caili Forrest.

UKZN Honours graduates, Miss Caili Forrest and Mr Daniel de Kadt, have won Cecil Renaud Scholarships enabling them to study at leading universities in Britain later this year.

Worth 21 000 British Pounds (about R296 940) each, the scholarships will allow Miss Forrest to pursue a Master’s Degree in Geography and Environmental Management, while Mr de Kadt has aspirations to read for his Master’s Degree in Political Science. Both hope to study at Cambridge University.

The Cecil Renaud Scholarship, initiated by the Cecil Renaud Trust, is awarded annually to postgraduate students who display sound leadership skills, have the potential to make a positive contribution in their chosen career and excel academically.

UKZN CONTRIBUTES TO GLOBAL HEALTH POLICIES & SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Professor Salim Abdool Karim Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) has been appointed to serve as the Chairperson of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Group (STAG) for Reproductive Health and Research, at the World Health Organization (WHO) based in Geneva. The Advisory Group is comprised of about 30-40 leading scientists from all over the world who provide WHO with expertise in contraception, pregnancy, infertility, abortion, sexually transmitted infections and reproductive health services.

The main task of this Advisory Group is to review the content, scope, and dimensions of the Human Reproductive Program and to make recommendations for research priorities.

Professor Abdool Karim, who served as the Vice-Chair of STAG for the last three years was selected by the WHO to serve as the Chairperson for 2009 and to Chair the 2009 meetings of the Group.

Professor Abdool Karim said that the appointment is in recognition of the quality of South African science. “I think this Group provides an important service by assisting WHO in trying to find ways to improve reproductive health,” he said.

PRESENTATION IN CHINA

Mr Mathaba at the Conference in
China.

Mr Nhlanhla Mathaba, Masters’ student in Agriculture on the Pietermaritzburg campus, presented a paper in Wuhan, PR China at the 11th International Citrus Congress. He was funded by the Citrus Academy and the Faculty of Science and Agriculture.

The theme of the congress was “Diversity and Development” and Mr Mathaba’s paper was titled ‘Influence of Hot Water and Molybdenum Dips on the Production of Total Antioxidants in Lemon Rind during Cold Storage and the Ability of Such Compounds to Scavenge Reactive Oxygen Species’.

“It was my first international experience … (and) what I saw there was special … (I have) never had an international perspective of the citrus industry. (I met) experienced researchers and authors of many scientific papers I have referenced before … presenting at an international congress was a life time experience,” said Mr Mathaba.

NEW HEAD OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

Professor William Daniels.

Newly-appointed Head of Medical Sciences at UKZN, Professor William Daniels, is a man on a mission.

The charismatic former University of Stellenbosch Head of Medical Physiology is excited about his new appointment.

“I am so happy to be here because I want to make a difference. I am a very motivated individual - especially when it comes to my work - so I think my stay here will be a fruitful one,” said Professor Daniels.

Professor Daniels said one of the major challenges would be to build on the foundation his predecessor, Professor Cephas Musabayane, had established.

“He has done so much for the Department and his academic credentials speak volumes. I think it will be a huge challenge for me to build on what he has achieved. But I have trust in my abilities and I know I will be up to it.”

NEW HEAD OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY SCHOOL SPELLS OUT HER PRIORITIES

Dr Fatima Suleman.

Enhancing research, working on the possibility of increasing the first year student intake and introducing new modules for undergraduate and postgraduate students are priorities for newly-appointed Head of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Dr Fatima Suleman.

Responding to her appointment, Dr Suleman said: “I applied for this position because I wanted to make a difference at the School. I’m humbled by my success and excited to work with a team of 20 staff members to raise the profile of the Institution both nationally and internationally.”

With a clear plan in mind for the School, Dr Suleman hopes to secure the necessary funding to increase research output by academic staff.

LONG-AWAITED BOOK ON THE ZULULAND WILDERNESS LAUNCHED

Professor Donal McCracken.

Dean of Humanities, Development and Social Sciences, Professor Donal McCracken, expressed jubilation as he launched his long-awaited book and pet project, Saving the Zululand Wilderness: an Early Struggle for Nature Conservation, at a poignant event held at the Botanic Gardens in Durban.

Saving the Zululand Wilderness is about the onslaught on the "three pillars" of the Zululand and Maputaland wilderness and the efforts made to preserve them from the destruction that seemed imminent and inevitable.

The pillars referred to are the wild game of Zululand - which include the Big Five: elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard, lion and hippopotamus; the aviflora and in particular the game birds, and the Zululand indigenous forests.

The book also tells the story of the local African population's attitude to nature, its ritualistic role in society and what game products were used for.

HEALTH SCIENCES STUDENTS COMMIT TO ETHICS

Students pledge to be ethical health sciences practitioners at the
Faculty of Health Sciences Oath Taking and Awards Ceremony.

About 159 final year Health Sciences students pledged to be ethical health practitioners during the Faculty of Health Sciences Oath Taking and Awards Ceremony in December last year.

Students within the disciplines of Audiology, Dental Therapy, Oral Health, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Speech-Language Pathology and Sport Science (Biokinetics) made the commitment before sponsors, community leaders, parents and staff at the MH Joosab Hall on the Westville campus.

The event also served to recognise the Faculty’s top students and acknowledge sponsors of the Health Sciences Endowment Fund which the Faculty established in June last year.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Health Sciences, Professor Leana Uys, said the Oath Taking Ceremony was one of three symbolic events for health professionals – the other two being the graduation ceremony and registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

UKZN ACADEMIC SHARES FUSION ART VIEWS IN PORTUGAL

Professor Suria Govender (right) together
with dancers Mr Sandile Khoza (left) and Mr
Sibusiso Ndebele of the Suria Langa Dance
Company.

Accomplished dancer and Lecturer at the School of Language, Literature and Linguistics, Professor Suria Govender, shared her views on fusion art during a recent lecture at the Nova University of Lisbon in Portugal.

Professor Govender, Director of the Suria Langa Dance Company, presented a paper titled: ‘Many Cultures one Nation: A Question of Identity’ which defined intercultural art forms in South Africa and examined criteria used in the evaluation of dance fusion.

The lecture was one of a series of activities Professor Govender presented to the Portuguese community, after she was invited by the South African Ambassador to Portugal, Ms Tandiwe Profit-McLean, to participate in the South African Heritage celebrations.

CURRENT HIV AND AIDS PROGRAMMES NEED TO BE REASSESSED

Professor Alan Whiteside (left) and Mr Leonard Okello.

An urgent reassessment of existing HIV and AIDS programmes is needed to curb the rising number of infections in Africa.

This finding emerged from a Health, Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division (HEARD) seminar titled: ‘Basic HIV and AIDS: Where we Are and Where we are Going’, held on the Westville campus.

Addresses were delivered by Professor Alan Whiteside, Executive Director of HEARD and visiting International Head of ACTIONAID, Mr Leonard Okello of Kenya.

The seminar delved into the current challenges facing African countries in stemming increased HIV and AIDS infections, access to treatment, the impact of the AIDS epidemic on the African population and funding for HIV and AIDS programmes.

EDUCATION OF SA CONFERENCE HOSTED BY UKZN

Delegates at the Hawaiian Evening social.

More than 120 delegates from higher education institutions and schools all over South Africa attended the annual Education Association of South Africa (EASA) conference at Illovo Beach on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast from January13-16.

Hosted by UKZN’s Faculty of Education, the conference with the theme: ‘Education: Making Every Voice Count’, provided a forum for the exploration of a variety of issues such as the promise of education and schooling; creating spaces for care, healing and dialogue; partnerships in education; communication and voices in the classroom/school/lecture rooms; learners as knowledge producers in the 21st Century; and schools and universities as intellectual spaces.

In her opening address, Professor Renuka Vithal, UKZN’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Teaching and Learning, challenged researchers to make a difference through their work.

VIDEO-CONFERENCING USED TO IMPROVE SKILLS OF MIDWIVES

The School of Nursing’s Happy Mothers and Babies by Empowering Midwives Programme has begun in earnest with midwives from rural areas receiving advanced midwifery training through video conferencing.

Using video conferencing technology provided by the Department of Tele-Health Medicine at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, Mrs Thandi Ndebele, the Midwifery Programme Director at the School of Nursing, linked up with four learning sites in the Madadeni, Manguzi, Lower Umfolozi and Port Shepstone areas.

At present 43 midwives are improving their midwifery skills through the two-year programme which is a collaborative effort between the School of Nursing and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health.

The programme was started in response to the high mortality rate of newborn babies and mothers in rural areas. Lectures on the ‘Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV’ and on ‘disseminated Intravascular Co-agulopathy’ as well as regular question and answer sessions formed part of the day’s programme.

Mrs Ndebele, who has overseen the programme since inception, said: “This training session is a momentous occasion for us because it’s the first time we have used such technology (video-conferencing) in facilitating skills development. There aren’t many doctors out at the targeted sites to train midwives so video conferencing allows us to reach out to more people.”

UKZN LIBRARIANS RECOGNISED

UKZN librarians from left: Ms Sushelia Naidoo, Ms Nelly
Somers and Ms Catherine Dubbeld proudly
show off the award.

Four UKZN librarians have been recognised for their leadership, teamwork and goodwill ambassadorship to the development of LIASA in the KwaZulu Natal Branch by the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA).

Ms Nellie Somers (Campbell Collections), Ms Catherine Dubbeld (Howard College) Ms Sushelia Naidoo and Mr Richard Beharilal were part of the LIASA Executive Committee that won the LIASA President's Award for the best performing branch.

LIASA, the only professional association catering for librarians and information workers in this country, was founded in 1997 to serve the interests of librarians and information workers.

Ms Somers, a senior library information officer, said the award meant a lot to her and the committee: The hard work, dedication, enthusiasm, pooling of ideas and the great team ethic made it possible for us to win."

KOI FISH DONATED

From left: Mr Nick McClurg, Senior Technician at Eskom
Hatcheries; David Reddy, Manager Grounds and Gardens
(UKZN); and Dave Oerder, Senior Technology Consultant
at Eskom prepare to release the fish.

As part of their social corporate investment Eskom together with Merron Koi recently donated 63 Koi fish to Westville campus. The fish, which are worth R100 each, have been released in to the pond at the central quad.

The Manager of Grounds and Gardens at the Technical Services Department Mr David Reddy said:

“On behalf of the University of KwaZulu Natal, I would like to thank Eskom for the donation especially Mr Dave Oerder and Mr Nick McClurg. This has really strengthened our long term relationship. It is through Eskom that we now have a feature that we can admire within our campus.”

Speaking on behalf of Eskom Mr Oerder said: “… our relationship with the University of KwaZulu Natal goes back long time. We are happy … that we continue to contribute whatever the University is in need of.”

ORIENTATION DAY FUN AT THE WESTVILLE CAMPUS

Fist year students at Orientation Day at Westville campus.

Jubilation and excitement filled the air when first year students assembled for their orientation day at the Sports Centre Complex on the Westville campus on January 26.

Orientation Day is an annual programme organised by the Students’ Mentorship Office together with the Students Representative Council (SRC).

Fresh out of school, young folk from a variety of backgrounds showed enthusiasm and a willingness to take up the challenge of being at a tertiary institution.

However, some students expressed concern about being far from home. “This is the first time I have been so far away from my family,” said Ms Nomalanga Sithole of Nongoma who is studying to be a dental therapist. “Now I must learn to do things on my own. It is a big challenge but I’m ready for it. I choose UKZN because of its track record - I want to be part of this wonderful institution.”

TALENT CAMPUS DURBAN

The 30th Durban International Film Festival (July 22 – August 2) is proud to announce the 2nd edition of Talent Campus Durban from July 24 - 28, an intensive 5-day programme of workshops and seminars delivered by film professionals to enhance both theoretical and practical approaches to filmmaking. The 2nd Talent Campus Durban theme Roots and Shoots: Creating a New African Cinema will focus activities towards the development of new partnerships between African filmmakers.

Talent Campus Durban invites filmmakers from Africa to apply to participate in these workshops and seminars, which take place in Durban, South Africa, over five days. In addition to specific activities offered by the Campus, the selected talents will have the opportunity to attend films and events at the 30th Durban International Film Festival.

Deadline for application: March 16.