UCT Physics Department

31/08/2026

Women's month 2026 focused on nurturing our mental well being. Dr Muturiki helped our women in physics with strategies for maintaining a healthy balance in work and life, real actions we can take to deal with burnout, and so much more!

20/08/2026

Welcome to a day in the life of PHYLAB1

PHYLAB1 is our undergraduate physics laboratory for 1st year students. It is one of the brightest learning spaces on campus. Apart from running the practical course for our own 'Physics Majors', we also service the Medical, Engineering, and Science faculties. The service courses are the pulse of our 1st year Physics labs and keeps the lab active and alive throughout the year.

These are some candid snaps on a typical afternoon during 1st year Physics pracs for BSc Science, and BSC Eng students. Our lab demonstrators in their yellow jackets are postgraduates in Physics, Oceanography, Engineering, Mathematics, and Astrophysics.

PHYLAB1 is a happy space where we get to learn, teach and socialize around classic physics experiments. There's lots of serious work going on here but also lots of smiling, laughing and social interaction. A very rare combination in the age of virtual interaction and online communication.

It is one of the few learning formats where it is virtually impossible to 'cheat' with AI! Long live the laboratory!

10/07/2026

While our students are enjoying the vacation, the lab team took the opportunity to support Crestway High School to develop, set up, and run Grade 10 and Grade 11 Science practicals.

Crestway High has a laboratory space but unfortunately no equipment. We were fortunate to be able to step up to the plate and give these eager learners a premium laboratory learning experience. Experiments that we ran were based on Newton's second law, Ohm's Law, and the phase transitions of water.

This is part of an initiative started by Prof Jonathan Jansen from Stellenbosch University.

The UCT Department of Chemistry has been on board with this intitiative since 2025, and UCT Physics lab team are excited to be on board.

May it continue to develop, grow and perhaps be the beginning of a broader initiative to support Science in South Africa at the Secondary School level.

17/06/2026

https://youtu.be/Ih1BDABDGcY?si=qSgBzb6Z51B8zu4Z

As South Africa marks 50 years since the 16 June 1976 Soweto Uprisi...

27/05/2026

On Friday 22 May, we hosted our second Women in Physics (WiP) event of the year, this time, the whole department was strongly encouraged to attend, regardless of gender identity.

The panel discussion focused on inclusivity: where we are, where we want to be, and the concrete steps each of us can take. It was genuinely refreshing to hear the range of perspectives in the room, and the conversation won't stop here.

Thank you to everyone who came along and contributed. More to follow!

28/04/2026

Some Scenes from UCT open day held over the weekend

09/03/2026

Happy international women’s day everyone! Looking forward for this year Soapbox Science Cape Town event?! Then stay tuned, our call for speakers will open very soon….

09/03/2026

Ms Nuraan Majiet, newest academic staff member in the department, officially takes over the reins from Dr Kevin Barends as the president of the tea club!

30/10/2025

Leg day? More like leg months! 😩 The RW James elevator’s been out since June, but the end is in sight! Plastic comes off next week for official lift-off! 🎉

29/10/2025

🎓 Our Third Year Students in Action! 🎓

On 27th October, our talented third-year students presented their mini research projects during an engaging poster session. 📚✨

Check out the amazing work they've been putting together – showcasing creativity, and hard work! 👏

Swipe through to see the highlights of their research. 👇