UCT Research and Innovation

25/03/2022

“TB is and has been the single largest infectious killer of humans for centuries. As a result of the pandemic thousands of additional people have died from TB... for the first time in 15 years, the number of TB deaths has increased year on year in 2021.”

- Professor Thomas Scriba, who directs the clinical immunology laboratory at the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, University of Cape Town.

Read more on why TB needs the same investment that the COVID-19 pandemic received at https://bit.ly/3wCbJMg

TB has always suffered from being easily forgotten and we have not really made headway, says UCT’s Prof Linda-Gail Bekker.

23/03/2022

In the aftermath of Day Zero in 2018, a multi-sectoral project including the University of Cape Town's Associate Professor Gina Ziervogel uses citizen science and the Sensemaker tool to capture data about water issues in marginalised communities.

Citizen scientists from areas across the Cape Flats use the phone-based Sensemaker to log information about water leaks, failing infrastructure, sewage and billing problems, data that will help to build water resilience in these communities and potentially impact policy, says Ziervogel.

Read more at https://bit.ly/3wtI3Ri and watch at https://bit.ly/3IrQYVO

How listening to citizens’ stories can help guide climate change adaptationThis video documentary tells the story of how community activists and researchers ...

10/03/2022

What constitutes a living wage in South Africa?

The “shopping-trolley approach” sets it at around R7 000 per month, but the University of Cape Town's Professor Ines Meyer suggests that if you ask people themselves what constitutes a decent life - "safe neighbourhoods, housing..." - the living wage amounts to between R12 000 and R15 000 per month.

"We want to change the narrative from needing to create jobs at all costs, to needing to create decent jobs.”

Read more at https://bit.ly/3MxUq4x

03/03/2022

Congratulations to the University of Cape Town's Dr Jack V Fletcher, who has been shortlisted for the 2022 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation (APEI) for his work on the HYENA POWER POD.

The POWER POD is a fuel-cell based hydrogen generator that converts LPG into usable electricity, all in one device. Its goal is to revolutionise the provision of affordable, on-demand and weather-independent electricity in poor-grid locations throughout Africa.

Founded by the Royal Academy of Engineering, APEI is Africa’s biggest prize dedicated to engineering innovation, recognising African innovators who tackle local challenges with scalable engineering solutions. Read more at https://bit.ly/3sENrim

UCT’s Dr Jack V Fletcher is among 16 talented innovators who have been shortlisted for the 2022 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation.

01/03/2022

Calling all modern-day strandlopers and rock poolers!

The University of Cape Town's Emeritus Professor Charles Griffiths and his filmmaker son, Matthew, have produced a series of short educational videos on the animals and seaweeds that commonly appear on our coastlines.

Each video of the Explore the Shore YouTube series is a short inspirational journey of discovery, designed to inform and instil a love of these fascinating natural treasures that lie right on the doorsteps of many South Africans.

Read more at https://bit.ly/3vuLO8C or click through to watch the videos at https://bit.ly/35dmTvH.

Explore the shore and discover amazing animals every fortnight with Prof. Charles Griffiths, his son Matt, and Ben the labradoodle. Emeritus Professor Charle...

11/02/2022

3 of 3:
A celebration of the University of Cape Town researchers dedicated to making our lives better through science on UNESCO's 7th annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

11/02/2022

2 of 3:
Celebrating the University of Cape Town researchers dedicated to improving our world through science on UNESCO's 7th annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

11/02/2022

1 of 3:
Today is UNESCO's 7th annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and we're celebrating the University of Cape Town researchers dedicated to improving our world through science.

14/12/2021

People who develop severe illness from COVID-19 have a much higher risk of neurological and mood-related disorders, particularly if they have been hospitalised.

This is the observation documented in a large proportion of critically ill COVID-19 patients since early in the pandemic, yet the data has mostly been collected from the US and Europe.

Now, a collaborative study by the University of Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) invites the participation of members of the public who have been hospitalised for COVID-19. The study will take place at the Neuroscience Institute at Groote Schuur Hospital.

To participate, email [email protected], or click this link to find out more:

People who develop severe illness from COVID-19 have a much higher risk of neurological and mood-related disorders, particularly if they have been hospitalised.

09/11/2021

Just launched! We invite you to look back on a year of research excellence at the University of Cape Town with the UCT Research & Innovation Highlights 2020-2021 publication. Click through to read now at https://bit.ly/3H1EUem

26/10/2021

Want to learn more about the opportunities, pitfalls, and benefits of at the UCT “Vaccines in Africa from Africa” live event happening today?

Hear about the future of vaccines in Africa from keynote speaker and world-renowned surgeon, scientist and technologist Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong.

For info on the line-up of Speakers joining today's discussion register here:

Led by UCT Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, and featuring keynote speaker, Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong, Executive Chairman, ImmunityBio, the two-hour event will take a deep dive into Africa’s readiness to develop and manufacture its own vaccines.