GRASP Newsletter Volume 2

GRASP

Volume 2 | Issue 2 October 2018

Issue 1 | May 2017

A communication from UP’s Office of Government Relations and Special Projects

UP launches technology incubator

with the support of the Department of Small Business Development In

August 2018, the University of Pretoria (UP) launched its muchanticipated TuksNovation business incubator and accelerator in partnership with the Department of Small Business Development and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda). TuksNovation was officially launched by the Minister of Small Business Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu.

In a knowledge-driven economy, universities play a major role in regional socio-economic development. This calls for universities to implement innovative strategies to leverage and commercialise their intellectual capital to create sustainable new enterprises, and subsequently job opportunities, in an effort to stimulate economies.

Although the creation of spin-off companies is one of the key mechanisms that universities can leverage to promote socio-economic development, few universities in South Africa have done so, and the impact has been very modest. In this landscape, TuksNovation aims to be a leading facilitator of an innovation ecosystem that catalyses the acceleration of technology development into sustainable new enterprises. It provides innovative business incubation services to commercialise technologies that have been developed at UP and grow them into sustainable enterprises that can make a social and economic impact in South Africa.

TuksNovation was initiated in UP’s Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, with its main focus on postgraduate students and alumni. From here, it intends to expand its offerings to other UP faculties involved in science and technology. TuksNovation will host annual competitions in which students who are keen to become entrepreneurs and who are conducting research on projects with

UP’s commitment to Africa edition

Prof Cheryl de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UP, and Ms Lindiwe Zulu, Minister of Small Business Development, at the launch of TuksNovation. the potential to develop into commercially viable technologies can participate. These students can then qualify for seed funding to develop their ideas into commercial products. During the competition, participating students will engage in the technology and business model development stage, where the research will be conducted in a virtual incubator in UP’s laboratories and at facilities at local industries. The students will receive expert technical guidance from UP academics, as well as technological entrepreneurship training. Students with commercially viable technologies will pitch their business plans to potential investors to secure funding, and continue to the business launch and commercialisation stage, and then to the acceleration stage. By identifying and supporting promising early-stage innovations, TuksNovation lowers the risk involved in the technology development and commercialisation stages for both the inventors and the investors.

“UP has ramped up its efforts to implement innovative strategies to leverage and commercialise home-grown technologies in order to create sustainable new enterprises and contribute to the development of sustainable job opportunities.”

– Prof Cheryl de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor and Principal

The TuksNovation programme is based on the triple helix model, building strong networks between academia, government and industry in order to create new companies that will benefit the broader society. The specific goal of TuksNovation is to act as a catalyst for the development of industrial clusters to make a positive impact in the Tshwane region.

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GRASP University of Pretoria

From the

Manager’s desk: The Office of Government Relations and Special Projects at the University of Pretoria

Welcome

to the second issue of GRASP for 2018! In this issue, we focus on some of the University’s research initiatives that have contributed, and continue to contribute to the development of our continent.

The published articles provide but a glimpse of the University’s research activities in Africa beyond South Africa’s borders. This has necessitated an extended issue of the newsletter to reflect the breadth of UP’s initiatives in this regard.

We provide an insight into the new Future Africa research facility for transdisciplinary research that will be opened on the UP campus soon. It will enhance the University’s focus on research in Africa and contribute to actualising its ambition of being a continentally relevant institution. GRASP also celebrates the achievements of UP staff members who have been honoured by the African Union and by the Gauteng Provincial Government.

In this issue, we feature the contributions that the University continues to make in the local, provincial and national spheres of government, as well as the value that it adds in conjunction with the foreign missions with which it works closely.

UP commits its research efforts to the development of Africa Researchers from across UP’s faculties are working towards improving the lives of people on the continent. Many of the University’s research efforts are dedicated to accelerating development in Africa.

UP’s new home for Africa-focused research

In our regular transformation slot, Prof Bernard Slippers reflects on how the University has responded to the changing research landscape. In our alumni in government feature, we are proud to showcase Ms Phumzile Langeni, who has been appointed as the President’s Special Investment Envoy. She is part of a four-person team that has been tasked to raise R1.4 trillion in foreign direct investment in South Africa in order to revitalise the country’s economy.

We are sad to take leave of Prof Cheryl de la Rey, who has served as our Vice-Chancellor and Principal for the past nine years.

She leaves at the end of this year to take up an equivalent post at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Prof De la Rey has championed the partnership between the University and government throughout her tenure. UP’s strong relationship with government, the Office of Government Relations and Special Projects (GRaSP) and this newsletter are all a part of her legacy.

We wish Prof De la Rey well in her new position.

We trust that you will find this issue of GRASP interesting and informative, and look forward to communicating with you again in 2019. As always, we welcome your feedback on articles published in GRASP. Thank you to those who have written to us in response to previous issues. Do not hesitate to contact us should you need any information on the University. We will ensure that it is channelled to the appropriate office for a response.

Prof Denver Hendricks Manager: Government Relations and Special Projects (GRaSP)

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“There

are a multitude of complex challenges that face the African continent. Due to their complex nature, the traditional, singular, linear approaches to science are no longer applicable.”

This is according to UP’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Cheryl de la Rey. To address problems on the African continent, a transdisciplinary approach that integrates perspectives across disciplines, scales and sectors is required. In answer to this need, UP has initiated the Future Africa research facility, currently under construction on the University’s experimental farm.

The initiative was spearheaded by Prof De la Rey, and aims to create a space for the research community to initiate transdisciplinary research with relevance to Africa, as well as to train a new generation of research leaders who are able to lead the transformation of science and innovation systems on the continent for just and sustainable development.

In addition to hosting expanded accommodation facilities for postdoctoral and visiting scholars, it will also host state-of-the-art technology for online engagement, a suite of breakaway rooms for brainstorming sessions and discussions, and two 50-seater executive lecture halls.

The main administration building is designed to incorporate social learning and collaborative environments. The aim for 2019 is to host a number of

GRASP University of Pretoria

Message

colloquiums and to stimulate research projects that are relevant for Africa and aligned with areas of research strengths at UP. In her description of the project, Prof De la Rey said the following: “We are marking the beginning of what is truly a groundbreaking project from a number of different perspectives. It is one that I believe is pioneering in our aim to be responsive to a changing African context, while at the same time recognising that we must position African higher education at the cutting edge of science at a global level.”

Prof De la Rey added that the project will bring talented young people together – people who will not only undertake doctoral research, but who will also follow a leadership journey that will prepare them to do better than the generations that have come before them.

African Union recognises UP’s scientific contributions UP

scientist, Prof Robert Millar, Director of the Centre for Neuroendocrinology in the Faculty of Health Sciences, has been honoured with the Kwame Nkrumah Award for Scientific Achievement by the African Union in the category of Life and Earth Sciences at the continental level. This is the highest level of the awards programme, and carries a grant of US$100 000.

Prof Millar specialises in neuroendocrinology research, with a particular focus on the peptide regulators of reproductive hormones.

He pioneered the discovery of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) prohormone, novel GnRH structures, and the first cloning of the GnRH I and GnRH II receptors. He has also participated in and led a number of programmes developing GnRH analogues for use in a wide range of clinical pathologies. His research has contributed to the development of the primary treatment for prostate cancer, the sole treatment for precocious puberty and treatments for hormonedependent diseases in women such as endometriosis, as well as in vitro fertilization. He has already received numerous awards, including the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) Lifetime Achiever Award, the Platinum Medal of the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship and Gold Medal.

Prof Millar is a Fellow of the Royal Society (Edinburgh), the Royal Society of South Africa and the Academy of Science of South Africa, and is a National Research Foundation (NRF) A-rated researcher.

“I am deeply honoured by the African Union’s award, which recognises the importance of our ongoing scientific research to improve lives all over the continent and in the training of young African scientists.

The gathering of the heads of all African states was immensely impressive and underlines the potential to harness Africa’s science talent and make the continent a global player in research. I pledge my commitment to this endeavour. My research group will continue to look for new and more effective treatments for diseases that lead to considerable suffering and pain,” said Prof Millar.

from the Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Cheryl de la Rey

After

nine years at the helm, I will be leaving the University of Pretoria at the end of 2018 for a new posting, so this will be my last message in GRASP. I am pleased to confirm that the newsletter appears to be serving its purpose of informing the broader government sector (the three spheres of government, government agencies, the foreign missions, as well as regional, continental and international governmental organisations) about activities and developments at UP. We have received several compliments, which we appreciate sincerely. We welcome your feedback, even criticism, as that allows us to improve our product.

The focus on the University’s commitment to Africa in this issue reflects our efforts to improve our citizens’ quality of life through our research and other initiatives. It demonstrates the undertaking that we have made as an African university in the service of the people of the continent. The acknowledgment that one of our eminent scholars, Prof Robert Millar, has received from the African Union, as is reported in this issue of GRASP, epitomises the disposition that we are striving to instill in all our academics and students who graduate from this institution.

While the editor reflects on the rest of this issue, I want to comment on the alumnus featured in this edition of GRASP, Ms Phumzile Langeni. We are extremely proud of her selection to an eminent group of individuals appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to secure R1.4 trillion in foreign direct investment for South Africa, aimed at unleashing our country’s economic growth.

As an alumnus of the University, we wish her and the group the best of luck on the mammoth task that lies ahead. Our country is anxious for your success that will change our economic landscape and bring both relief and prosperity to the large majority who so richly deserve it after so many years of hardship and struggle. We will be following your progress eagerly and will be proud to claim any achievement in your task as having been precipitated, in part, by your experience at UP. Good luck!

I have enjoyed a most gratifying tenure as Vice-Chancellor and Principal. I have consistently found that the doors of government – local, provincial and national – have been open to constructive engagement and partnerships with the University, as have been the support from many foreign missions. I wish to thank all ministers, the Premier, members of the Executive Council (MECs), executive mayors, members of the Mayoral Committee (MMCs), government officials and heads of foreign missions for your support and spirit of engagement over the past nine years. We will continue our endeavours to enhance our undertaking to be “locally (read continentally, in this instance) relevant”, as stated in our mission.

I will be following UP’s progress in that regard very closely from the new vantage point that I will be occupying from next year onwards.

I look forward to receiving and reading future issues of GRASP. May the publication go from strength to strength!

Vision: To be a leading research-intensive university in Africa, recognised internationally for its quality, relevance and impact, and also for developing people, creating knowledge and making a difference locally and globally.

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GRASP University of Pretoria

COLLABORATION ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT ILA conference for the development of next-generation leaders

The

Albert Luthuli Centre for Responsible Leadership (ALCRL) in UP’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences hosted the first International Leadership Association (ILA) conference in Africa. The conference focuses on the development of next-generation leadership.

In his opening address, Prof Derick de Jongh, Director of the ALCRL, explained that Africa is a “young” continent – with the median age on the continent being 19, compared to Europe, where the average age is around 52. Because of Africa’s differing demographics, he emphasised the capacity for passionate and energetic potential leaders. He also made a strong call for individual and collective responsibility for the development of the next generation of leaders for Africa.

Former Vice-Chancellor of UP, and CEO of Africa Rainbow Capital and Ubuntu-Botho Limited, Dr Johan van Zyl, also gave his insights into leadership by focusing on the idea that leadership is about taking responsibility, and that values underpin leadership. He emphasised that students need to understand the role that they

play, and be active citizens in society to build leadership capacity within themselves and, consequently, society.

The conference aimed to understand how the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) link with developing the leadership capacity of the global youth to engage in issues in government, business and society. It echoed the ALCRL’s mission to develop responsible leaders in support of social and environmental justice, and the ILA’s mandate to promote a deep understanding of leadership best practices for the greater good of societies around the world.

Numerous panel discussions were held. The topics focused on the following elements: the need for individual and social activism in leading change, youth leadership in the form of student activism, exploring leadership in the context of the SDGs, mindfulness and wellbeing in leadership, mentoring youth leaders to support sustainable communities and what leadership means to South African youth, and the implications for shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

International policy dialogue on IFAP priority areas in BRICS

The

African Centre of Excellence for Information Ethics (ACEIE) of UP, in collaboration with Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) representatives, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Information For All Programme (IFAP), hosted an international policy dialogue on IFAP priority areas in BRICS countries. The collaborative conference included representatives from academia, government, business and civil society. Research relating to six IFAP priority areas was presented: information for development, information literacy, information preservation, information ethics, information accessibility and multilingualism.

IFAP provides a platform for international policy discussions, cooperation and the development of guidelines for action to access information and knowledge. The importance of the issues related to the preservation of diversity were debated by Nobel Peace Prize winner and former President of the Republic, FW de Klerk, who addressed the delegates about the significance of promoting and safeguarding cultural, religious and ethnic diversity.

The conference strengthened the collaboration platform for BRICS, African countries and the Asia-Pacific region to create and revitalise existing IFAP structures. The achievements and the next challenges in the work undertaken by IFAP on fighting radicalisation that leads to violent extremism were also addressed.

The event brought together academics and participants from all over the globe to build a network for information ethics in the world beyond the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This is according to Coetzee Bester, Director of the ACEIE and Chairperson of the South African National Committee for IFAP. The current IFAP activities and the next steps in its expansion were outlined by UNESCO’s Dr Boyan Radoykov. He stated the following: “Knowledge is essential. It gives to all women and men in the world the capacity to own their destinies – to make competent social choices. IFAP is about empowering people and transforming lives.

The right of accessing and applying knowledge must become a fundamental human right that is to be upheld with greater efficiency and imagination in a spirit of equity and mutual respect.”

Contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross

UP

lecturer and course coordinator of the Medical Criminalistics programmes in the Department of Forensic Medicine of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Neil Morris, has been seconded to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Regional Delegation for Southern Africa. As a forensic specialist in the ICRC, Morris’s work will focus on upholding the dignity and rights of the dead in collaboration with authorities, communities and families in Anglophone and Lusophone African countries.

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ICRC Regional Forensics Manager for Africa, Stephen Fonseca, said that Morris’s background in the medicolegal system will contribute immeasurably to the ICRC’s development of forensic capacity across Africa, and to the promotion of the professional and dignified management of human remains in conflict, disaster and migration.

UP already maintains an active partnership with the ICRC to train African forensic practitioners. This secondment will build on the impact of t his partnership by accelerating the delivery of technical skills and knowledge to forensic professionals all over the continent.

GRASP University of Pretoria

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS – FOCUS ON AFRICA Affordable, non-invasive tools for diagnosis in Africa

Because

access to adequate health facilities is often limited in Africa, Dr Vinet Coetzee and her research team in the Facial Morphology Research Group in UP’s Department of Genetics in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences have developed specialised tools to improve the health and wellbeing of Africa’s people. The research team has developed fast, affordable and non-invasive methods to help doctors identify nutrient deficiencies, inborn conditions and high-impact diseases more accurately. They have successfully managed to train computer models to recognise links between physical features and these deficiencies and conditions. Their three-dimensional (3D) camera screening tool and other noninvasive devices will be able to provide this information rapidly, reducing the waiting time associated with laboratory test results. It will also give doctors a risk estimate for various conditions to guide further testing. This tool will be especially helpful in situations where doctors have insufficient expertise in these conditions and inadequate funds for extensive testing.

Remarkably, these devices might one day be able to detect a range of health indicators, from fat percentage and whether a person’s diet is lacking in micro-nutrients, to their cardiovascular health and immunity. Specialists will even be able to screen for certain congenital disorders such as Down Syndrome, which will offer a huge benefit to the African healthcare system.

While commercial 3D cameras suited for this purpose are exorbitantly expensive, the research team has built a 3D camera

Contributions to the malaria epidemic in the Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control

Eliminating

malaria has become a priority for governments across Africa. To contribute to these efforts, research teams associated with UP’s Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control are dedicating their research to malaria control. Two current research projects have opened the door for effective malaria control on the continent.

The first of these projects relates to the combination of a mixture of approved repellents in answer to problems like the resistance of mosquitoes to existing repellents, and complaints from consumers regarding odour, high absorption rates, an oily feel on the skin and skin irritation.

This novel repellent has been developed by researchers in the Department of Chemical Engineering in UP’s Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, in collaboration with its School of Health Systems and Public Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

The second project saw a researcher in the Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control identify major factors that are stopping Malawi from making greater progress in combatting malaria.

for one tenth of the price of the commercial systems currently used in some well-funded hospitals. They are also collaborating with Prof Tania Hanekom of the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering in UP’s Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology to produce an even more affordable version. Dr Coetzee believes that if these devices can be introduced in all major hospitals across the continent, it will make a huge impact on the lives of those in need.

Although analysing the face to learn more about a person’s health has been her primary focus, Dr Coetzee has now also started looking at the palm of the hand in the diagnosis of malaria. In collaboration with UP’s Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, she has filed a provisional patent for a device that can detect malaria by analysing the colour of the skin on the palm of the hand. Dr Coetzee has tested the device in Nigeria, where a large percentage of the poulation is grappling with malaria. The ability of the device to correctly identify children with malaria was between 94% and 95%.

UP prioritises food safety and security

Researchers

in UP’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences dedicate their time to contribute to food safety and security on the African continent – both on a policy and a practical level.

Following the recent Listeria outbreak that caused millions of rands worth of damage and serious disruptions in international trade, stakeholders within government and business, and the public have emphasised the need for increased food safety measures in all stages of the food chain. In a bid to prevent recurrence, Enterprises UP, in collaboration with UP experts, presents a unique online course in food microbiology that is aimed at equipping stakeholders with the knowledge and skills required to keep food safe from foodborne pathogens, thereby reducing incidents of foodborne illnesses. This is particularly important in the fight against Africa’s malnutrition problems.

UP’s Institute for Food, Nutrition and Wellbeing has established that too little attention has been paid to diversifying diets from staple foods like maize, rice, wheat or cassava, and on how policymakers can ensure that low-income households can access the variety of foods they need to be healthy. Researchers in the Institute dedicate their work to informing food security policies on national level and on the African continent with the potential to bring about large-scale positive change. One solution is to invest in value chains that meet multiple development objectives to both increase employment and improve incomes, and make more nutritious food available.

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GRASP University of Pretoria

COLLABORATION ACROSS THE GLOBE Learners are encouraged to explore space science, courtesy of the US Embassy and UP’s Mamelodi Campus

Learners

from the US Embassy’s Mae Jemison US Science Reading Room, hosted on UP’s Mamelodi Campus, were elated during a presentation about life in space at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The presentation was delivered by Jim Adams, former Deputy Chief Technologist of the US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Learners from the Mamelodi community got the chance to interact with a NASA scientist, who encouraged them to follow their dreams.

UP commits its research to SDGs

Prof

Stephanie Burton, UP’s Vice-Principal for Research and Postgraduate Education, recently hosted the first of a series of planned seminars on UP’s response to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. These seminars focus on the contribution that UP is making to the SDGs through its research, particularly as it relates to the Africa-related themes highlighted in UP’s research strategy and its 2025 vision.

The deans of the University’s faculties each provided an overview of the past, current and potential research areas that are prioritised in their respective faculties. The impact of this research, as well as how it fits into research across various disciplines, was discussed.

During the panel discussions, the deans were encouraged to consider their strategies for making their research available to the wider public and for trans- and inter-faculty collaboration with the aim of alleviating some of the problems facing humanity.

“I believe that not only the “how” of solving global problems, but also the “why” is squarely in our sights. I was pleased to see that the idea of being human is still alive at the University.”

– Feedback from attendee: UP master’s degree student in Microbiology

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Adams explained to the learners that if one studies Venus and its history, one could learn a lot and do more for Earth, especially in terms of climate change. He emphasised the importance of mathematics and science subjects, and encouraged learners to pursue careers in the aerospace and astronautical industry through the South African National Space Agency. Adams was particularly impressed by the level of curiosity displayed by the Mae Jemison learners.

The Mae Jemison US Science Reading Room is a fun-filled hub of activity for school learners on UP’s Mamelodi Campus. It is an initiative of the US Embassy that advances its goal to prepare South African youth for the global workforce through English language and enhanced educational opportunities. The initiative also supports the aim of UP’s Mamelodi Campus, which is to develop alternative pathways to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-related careers.

UP contributes to the Digital Verification Corps (DVC) to investigate human rights violations

UP’s

Centre for Human Rights in the Faculty of Law, in collaboration with Amnesty International, hosted a training session in which students were exposed to the world of digital verification. The purpose of the session was to introduce online verification to a multidisciplinary group of students who will become part of the global research team that advances accountability for human rights violations. The Centre for Human Rights has been part of the DVC since its inception in 2016, and UP is the only African university on the network. Other universities that form part of the DVC include the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Essex, the University of Toronto, the University of Cambridge and the University of Hong Kong.

As more and more digital data becomes available, Amnesty International realised that many human rights investigations could be strengthened by data from social media platforms. However, this data can only be used if it is verified in a rigorous and credible way. Participants in the session learned how to identify false online posts and to verify authenticity. These are valuable skills in a digital era, where retweets and reposts of unverified news can cause irreparable harm and stoke the fires of conflict. The University’s DVC team has been part of investigations into the crisis in Syria, the election monitoring in Kenya and the human rights violations in Southern Cameroon.

GRASP University of Pretoria

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS – INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTION UP scientists collaborate for cancer breakthrough

Most

people have, in some way, been affected by cancer – whether through the loss of a loved one or a personal fight against the dreaded and other incurable diseases.

However, researchers in UP’s Department of Nuclear Medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences are working towards breakthroughs in cancer therapy. For the past three years, the theme of World Cancer Day, celebrated annually on 4 February, has been “I Can. We Can”. The Head of the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Prof Mike Sathekge, is determined to prove that this is true.

The Department has entered into a collaboration with the European Commission’s science and knowledge service, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), to develop new breakthrough treatments for cancer patients. The JRC is involved in a range of endeavours to advance scientific knowledge, and collaborates with expert scientists across the world to carry out research. UP’s Department of Nuclear Medicine was chosen for its expertise in this field.

The collaboration enables the Department to treat advancedstage prostate cancer patients using targeted alpha therapy (TAT), which is very expensive and subject to strict international security standards regarding nuclear safety. Although TAT can only be produced by the JRC in Germany at this stage, it is hoped that, in time, local platforms such as the NTP Radioisotopes, a subsidiary of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), will be able to start producing it to make the treatment more accessible.

TAT, or alpha radiation, is a fairly new approach to cancer treatment and is based on the coupling of alpha particle-emitting radioisotopes to tumour-selective carrier molecules, such as monoclonal antibodies or peptides. It uses drugs to target specific genes or proteins that are present in cancer cells to stop the cancer from growing and spreading. The Department is one of only three platforms in the world that is using this form of treatment to treat cancer, specifically advanced-stage prostate cancer, by using alpha isotopes known as Ac-225-PSMA at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital. The fact that UP was selected to use this form of treatment highlights its exceptional leadership in the area of targeted radionuclide therapy.

The Department’s success was recently showcased to the Director of the JRC, Prof Maria Betti, and the European Union’s Deputy Head of Delegation, Raul de Luzenberger, at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital. Prof Betti extended an invitation for more collaborative opportunities to the Minister of Health, Dr Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi, who expressed his desire to involve the Department in South Africa’s cancer strategy. Prof Sathekge hopes that their success will increase awareness of the benefits of nuclear medicine for cancer treatment, which will hopefully lead to large-scale trials.

“Thanks to the recent breakthroughs in prostate cancer therapy, people are starting to realise the importance of this treatment, and nuclear medicine and radionuclide therapy are becoming a focus point in the curriculum.”

– Prof Mike Sathekge

UP researcher receives global recognition for her work in cancer treatment

UNESCO,

along with the L’Oréal Foundation, named Danielle Twilley, a researcher in UP’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, as one of 15 rising talent researchers in the L’Oréal-UNESCO Women in Science Awards for her research on the use of indigenous plants to treat cancer.

What makes alpha therapy so effective, compared to other radioimmunotherapy treatments like beta therapy, is its ability to kill the cancer cells by causing double-strand breaks to the cancer’s DNA molecules and cluster breaks. Alpha radiation can kill cells that otherwise exhibit resistance to treatment with beta- or gamma-irradiation or chemotherapeutic drugs, and thus offers a therapeutic option for patients resistant to conventional therapies.

Because alpha radiation has a very short range, cancer cells can be specifically targeted, while sparing healthy tissue.

Scientists in the University’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences are finding new ways to inhibit both angiogenesis and tumour growth in melanoma cells through medicinal plants. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer caused by exposure to the sun. It is exceptionally dangerous, because it has the ability to spread to other parts of the body, making it difficulty to control and treat.

In the future, the Department plans to look into the efficacy of alpha-targeted therapy for the treatment of melanoma and other cancers, and to gain a better understanding of epigenetics, which is the study of heritable changes in gene function that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence, in order to better understand the spread of cancer. Prof Sathekge believes that, in order to achieve optimal success in treating any form of cancer, a multidisciplinary approach is essential, from diagnosis all the way through to treatment. This approach should be patient-specific, and the course of treatment should be determined based on an individualised screening of each patient.

Twilley looks to traditional indigenous South African plants to find solutions for combatting skin cancer. She has discovered a South African plant that had significant cytotoxicity towards melanomas. Her research has shown successful results in the in vitro phase. Twilley and UP are in the process of applying for a bioprospecting permit so that UP can license the plant to manufacturing companies who can then develop topical treatments. Through this project, Twilley also aims to benefit local communities. She says that there is great potential to create a local market for community farmers who can grow these plants and, in turn, create jobs.

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GRASP University of Pretoria

SUPPORTING NATIONAL GOVERNMENT Building priority and scarce skills in line with DST’s Advanced Manufacturing, Bio-economy and ICT strategies

UP

actively contributes to the Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research (CAIR), a South African national research network that conducts foundational, directed and applied research into various aspects of artificial intelligence. CAIR offers postgraduate scholarships, which are funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and administered by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

Research in this network is conducted as part of the implementation of the DST’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Roadmap. Advances in ICT, supported by the RDI Roadmap, aim to guide the country to a state of digital advantage that will strengthen economic competitiveness and enable an enhanced quality of life for all South Africans. UP is the largest recipient of all South African institutions of the postgraduate scholarship awards.

Dr Paul Motalane, Manager of Learning and Development for CSIR Human Capital, explained that the goal in funding students is to develop an appropriately qualified pool of high-end skills in

science, engineering, technology and innovation for the country.

This scholarship programme aims to build priority and scarce skills that are aligned with the DST’s Advanced Manufacturing, Bioeconomy and ICT strategies.

UP hosts three of CAIR’s nodes. The Philosophy node is headed by Prof Emma Ruttkamp-Bloem, and conducts research in knowledge representation and reasoning in the fields of formal logic, ethics of artificial intelligence, formal ethics and epistemology, philosophy of science, and philosophy of mind and artificial intelligence. The Statistics node, headed by Dr Alta de Waal, conducts research on probabilistic graphical models – specifically, Bayesian network applications and natural language processing and understanding.

The Informatics node, headed by Prof Aurona Gerber, conducts research in applied data science, which ensures that business requirements are satisfied during the implementation of data science applications. Research projects include the integration of data science capabilities within organisations, as well as research in applied computational ontologies.

Advancing clean and green energy research

Prof

Mmantsae Moche Diale, Associate Professor in UP’s Department of Physics in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and leader of the Solar Energy Collection and Conversion Research Group, has been awarded a prestigious South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Research Chair in Clean and Green Energy by the National Research Foundation (NRF), funded by the Department of Science and Technology. With expertise in semiconductor physics, Prof Diale is an advocate for clean, renewable energy. She says that the objective of the Chair is to significantly increase the number of high-quality, well-trained graduates in the energy landscape of South Africa, while also catering for candidates from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and other parts of Africa.

The National Development Plan (NDP) aims to eliminate poverty and reduce inequalities by 2030. South Africa has the capability to achieve this goal by drawing strengths from its people, growing an inclusive economy and promoting leadership and partnerships throughout society. The NDP aims to improve economic infrastructure, where the first three objectives are focused on the provision of electricity. At least 20 000 MW of this capacity is derived from renewable resources. The actions to be taken include the move to less carbon-intensive electricity production, which includes the free, renewable energy resource – the sun. Prof Diale explains that the current situation with energy supplies is that most of the electricity is derived from coal, with nuclear energy derived from Koeberg and a gradual introduction of renewables in the form of photovoltaic (PV), wind and hydroelectric power.

While renewables are still very expensive when compared to conventional energy supplies, solar PV cells have reduced in price by approximately 70% in recent years, allowing for the introduction of solar panels to non-grid users. However, most of the citizens in informal settlements cannot afford to buy a solar panel or establish a power plant. The Chair hopes to reduce this price through redress in the renewable energy sector and to produce new South African-made technologies to create sustainability in the economic sector.

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Supporting DEA’s environmental monitors

UP

supports the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) by acting as a host institution for a group of environmental monitors known as Maeba (Doves). The environmental monitors assist with research, awareness and training in local communities through the University’s Faculty of Veterinary Science.

The Department has applauded the work of the environmental monitors in the fight against the scourge of rhino poaching in the Hoedspruit area, and sees these young South Africans becoming rhino ambassadors in rhino poaching hotspots.

The initiative aims to increase conservation capacity in the parks of South African National Parks (SANParks), as well as provincial and private nature reserves, through patrols, biodiversity monitoring, environmental education and awareness in communities.

GRASP University of Pretoria

UP RESEARCHERS HONOURED BY GAUTENG PROVINCE The Gauteng Provincial Government is charged with the wellbeing of every citizen in South Africa’s most densely populated province. Through its research efforts, UP is proud to be of service to the Premier and his administration. In this regard, UP is elated to showcase two of its researchers, whose work has been recognised by provincial structures.

Medicinal Plant Science student honoured by GDARD

UP professor honoured as a trailblazer by Gauteng Premier

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PhD student in Medicinal Plant Science at UP’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Carel Oosthuizen, was awarded the Gauteng Biotech Fundi Postgraduate Award at the annual Biofundi event hosted by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) and The Innovation Hub. The award recognises academic excellence and the most innovative project ideas. It is bestowed upon a postgraduate student who is involved in a project that has the potential to become a commercialised innovation in the biotechnology sector.

Oosthuizen was selected for the award for the progress and innovation made possible by his PhD project. He has succeeded in identifying new natural products to target tuberculosis (TB) biofilms, an important step towards the latent treatment of TB infections. This project is a combination of phytomedicine and phytochemistry approaches, together with computational biology. Through computer-aided simulations, he can precisely describe how and why his compounds act the way they do. This can lead to the improvement and optimisation of this group of natural compounds as new biofilm quorum-quenching molecules.

He was invited to complete part of his postgraduate studies on biofilms and their mechanism at the University of East Anglia in England and the University of Albany in the USA through a bilateral programme with the Royal Society and the Innovation Doctoral Scholarship, which he received from the National Research Foundation. He has also presented his research at three international and four national conferences, where it has sparked great interest.

Together with his supervisor, Prof Namrita Lall, he holds a South African and international patent for the use of a plant extract as an adjuvant treatment for patients suffering from TB.

inaugural Gauteng Women in Excellence Awards aim to celebrate exceptional women.

Prof Saloshna Vandeyar from UP’s Department of Humanities Education in the Faculty of Education was named the winner in the Trailblazer category. She was recognised for her excellence in education research. The Trailblazer category focuses on female achievers who have broken through gender stereotypes in a traditionally male-dominated industry, and who are an inspiration to young women. Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, said that the awards are a unique platform that consolidates the incredible work done by Gauteng women by honouring their immense contributions to different fields.

The Premier presented awards in 12 categories. Exceptional women were recognised for outstanding leadership, inspiration and innovation in organisations, and for shaping the role of women in their individual capacities in the private and public sectors.

Prof Vandeyar’s field of research expertise is diversity in education, as well as social, cultural and cognitive justice education, and teacher professionalism. Her recent research focused on the construction of identities in the classroom, which includes racial, ethnic, linguistic and gender identities.

She investigates the way in which these identities may help promote social justice through intercultural and cosmopolitan education. She is also involved in projects on the decolonisation and Africanisation of education.

“Of all the international, national and institutional awards that I have won, this award is the most meaningful to me. It strikes at the very chords of my existence. Throughout my life, I have fought for equality, equity and a more socially, culturally and cognitively just world,” she said. Her other awards include the Venus International Foundation Award, the Comparative and International Education Society Award, the American Educational Research Association Award and the International BMW Award for intercultural education.

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GRASP University of Pretoria

SUPPORTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT UP hydropower research could help municipalities supply citizens with electricity

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Hydropower Research Group in UP’s Department of Civil Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology sees the lack of hydropower generation in Africa not as a burden, but as an opportunity for UP to work with municipalities to supply their citizens with electricity. Since 2009, the group has installed a series of pilot plants for small-scale hydropower across the country.

The purpose of these installations is to showcase the potential and intricacies in the development process of small hydropower schemes in the endeavour to supply electricity to rural communities where the cost of linking to the national electricity grid is challenging. In terms of the landscape, these plants only need a reliable source of flowing water and a height difference in the terrain. The group focuses on research and the discovery of new, innovative ways to recover energy and generate electricity from existing water infrastructure and natural water resources in a viable and sustainable manner through hydropower installations.

through the efforts of the principal researcher, Marco van Dijk. He has been actively involved in finding ways to get environmentally friendly, renewable, sustainable energy accepted as an alternative, reliable supply of electricity. He has presented community engagement opportunities at workshops, public participation events, council meetings and one-on-one discussions with numerous councillors and community leaders. Municipalities that have already benefitted from these plants include the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, and Bloem Water through the installation of conduit hydropower plants, the Mhlontlo Local Municipality through the construction of a pilot installation to support the community of KwaMadiba, and both the !Kheis Local Municipality and the Joe Gqabi District Municipality through the installation of hydrokinetic plants.

In addition to the supply of electricity, small hydropower plants have the potential to boost municipalities’ economic activity. This starts with aspects such as the building of access roads so that equipment can get to the site, and other employment opportunities during the construction phase. Maintenance jobs can be filled by people from the local community, and on-the-job training can provide lasting benefits. The improved delivery of electricity can also provide an impetus to local business development.

The hydropower projects, funded by the Water Research Commission and the Department of Science and Technology, have successfully brought the University closer to rural communities

These groups include species from well-known genera such as Ophiostoma, Leptographium, Sporothrix, Ceratocystis and Quambalaria. His research covers aspects of taxonomy, nomenclature, phylogenetics, population genetics, genomics, mating and diagnostics, as well as fungus-insect symbioses, fungal ecology, pathogenicity to plants and humans, bluestain and the decay of timber.

UP scientist helps George Local Municipality treat borer beetle infestation in trees

George,

the picturesque city in the Eastern Cape’s Garden Route, is facing an infestation of borer beetles in many of its trees. This infestation can lead to a potential danger for pedestrians and vehicle owners along the streets of the Municipality.

Municipal Manager, Trevor Botha, called in expert advice from Prof Wilhelm de Beer of UP’s Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences to address this problem. Prof De Beer is a mycologist and fungal biologist whose research focuses on fungal plant and human pathogens belonging to the Ophiostomatales and Microascales (Ascomycetes), and the smut-like Microstromatales (Basidiomycetes).

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Prof De Beer’s initial observations of the trees that had started to die off pointed to the borer beetle, and DNA sequencing of the beetle and the associated fungus was undertaken. The borer beetle and its associated fungus had already decimated entire species in other parts of the world and there has been little-proven success in controlling it. The beetle is native to Southeast Asia and is suspected to have come into the country via packaging in harbours.

In George, trees most likely to be infected are box elder, maple and oak trees, which line many of the city’s streets. However, surveys have indicated the susceptibility of important crop trees such as avocado, macadamia, pecan, peach, orange and grapevine.

Prof De Beer recommended that all infected stumps, branches and plant material be taken to the municipal garden waste site to be burnt. He indicated that infected cut materials should be moved off the premises to the waste site within 24 hours of being cut. As a precaution, the Municipality dispatched posters to warn residents of the danger posed by the dying trees. The posters were placed on those streets where the most infected trees on sidewalks had been identified. Botha said that the Municipality wanted people to steer clear of the trees that appeared to be dying, and asked people to look for signs of dying trees before they walked, parked, stood or held a picnic underneath a tree.

GRASP University of Pretoria

Transforming research at the University of Pretoria

Global

research environments are undergoing a revolution in terms of how research is performed, what it focuses on and how it connects to society.

Some of the most significant elements of this transformation relate to the rise of team science, the increasing role of interdisciplinarity and the need to impact on the complex and urgent issues facing society today. This is no different at UP. Globalised team science While collaboration has been a feature of research for a long time, Bozeman and Youtie1 describe this as having all the elements of a global revolution – what they call the emergence of a “collaborative globalism”. Research collaboration has not only become the norm, but continues to rapidly increase in size and scope. More than 90% of all research published today is co-authored, and can include more than 5 000 authors in some cases. This increase in collaboration is driven both by its proven impact, which draws other researchers, industry and government to it, and opportunities provided by rapidly increasing global connectivity. The ability to connect the best talent around the world to address relevant issues has a strong lure. However, for nations and institutions seeking to harness this power, it is necessary to realise that such connections are ideally made through local hubs of excellence. Building local centres of research and training excellence is often a key requirement for participating in and leading global research teams and initiatives.

Interdisciplinarity The broad realisation that the issues facing the world cannot be resolved by any discipline in isolation can be illustrated by the changing nature of climate science over the past decades.

In this field, progress is reliant not only on insights from climatology, but also on input from disciplines like sociology, politics, economics and agriculture. Not surprisingly, the author list of the Fifth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports include 830 lead authors (and many more contributors) from 80 countries, across disciplines and sectors.

Another example can be found in the South African and African bioeconomy, agriculture and forestry disciplines. The country and continent face major challenges in terms of food security and the global competitiveness of its agricultural and forestry industries. At the same time, these sectors offer some of the most immediate and significant opportunities for development. The research, training and development needs to realise this potential lie across a wide spectrum of specialities, including land rights, market research, logistics, data science, robotics, synthetic biology, human migration patterns and indigenous knowledge systems. Unlocking this potential will not be possible without capacity that is locally anchored, yet globally connected and competitive.

On a global scale, the increasing interconnectedness between disciplines is perhaps most dramatically illustrated by the merger in 2018 of two of the world’s largest and most prominent scientific bodies, the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the International Social Science Council (ISSC), into one body to form the International Science Council.

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Prof Bernard Slippers

Relevance and societal impact The majority of research is funded publicly. The valid expectation is therefore that it should be of public interest. The increasing pressure experienced by both societies and the environment calls for research to address challenges in a focused manner. This is particularly true in developing contexts, where the demands on available resources are extremely high. If research does not form part of the development solution, it can simply not compete with other urgent demands on shared scarce resources. To achieve this, the connection between research and sectors outside the research environment is important. GRASP is an example of the University’s efforts to connect with its government partners consistently and effectively. Another example is UP’s engagement to explore alignments between its research strengths and the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations by its Vice-Principal for Research and Postgraduate Education.

Apart from alignment with national and international governance and policy, deeper engagement with industries and communities is also critical to unlocking the potential of UP’s research for development and global competitiveness. The holistic, systemoriented and problem-focused approach is often referred to as transdisciplinary research. The transformation of the research landscape requires changes in the focus of research training and development. Postgraduate, postdoctoral and early career programmes need to develop skills that will allow future academics to be relevant leaders in this new research reality.

Transdisciplinary team science in this context requires more than occasional or superficial interaction between researchers and external stakeholders. It requires the development of cores of research expertise, typically focused around a key topic, with capacity, critical mass and depth of insight growing over a number of years. These research teams must develop communities of practice and trust with relevant sectors in society, from communities to industries and governance bodies, to constantly inform, align and transfer the knowledge generated.

A good example of this is seen in the success of UP’s Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, which is built on this principle. Another example is UP’s institutional research themes that increased collaboration across faculties around core research focus areas. This illustrates the University’s commitment to unlocking its interdisciplinary research potential. The focus on food security provides an example of how UP is collaborating among institutional, national and international networks, including the Institute for Food, Nutrition and Wellbeing at UP, the DST NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security, and the African Research Universities Alliance Centre of Excellence for Food Security, all based at UP or led by UP researchers.

The University’s Future Africa Institute (see page 2) will focus on “transdisciplinary research excellence for innovation”. It signals the University’s commitment to actively support and lead capacity development in this regard. The Institute will serve as a hub to connect local and international research expertise and as an incubator and a training centre for capacity. Initatives such as the Africa and Tuks Science Leadership Programmes and the recently launched Early Career Research Leadership Fellowship focused on the Bio-economy serve as examples of this.

Bozeman, B. & Youtie, J. 2017. The strength in numbers. Princeton University Press.

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GRASP University of Pretoria

GETTING ARTREPRENEURS ON THE MAP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

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a country like South Africa, where there are limited creative industry resources and where the creative industry is still in an early growth phase, it has become critical to equip different creative entrepreneurs with much-needed tools to develop and sustain their industries, as well as their entrepreneurial ventures. The SA Creative Industries Incubator, in collaboration with Enterprises University of Pretoria and the Department of Small Business Development, recently presented its first entrepreneurship development programme tailored to the creative industries sector.

The programme was designed to be both engaging and challenging by introducing the participating delegates to the South African entrepreneurship landscape that they will face on a day-to-day basis.

The incubator, situated in Eersterust, east of Pretoria, was established in 2017 and is set to give back to the community, strengthening networks and providing a platform for creative industry entrepreneurs to showcase their talents and skills. “The creative industries are a significant contributor to our economy through their provision of services across market sectors, and more must be done to bring markets to the townships,” says Beth Arendse, CEO of the SA Creative Industries Incubator. “Our partnership with the Department of Small Business Development is enabling significant investment in a townshipbased facility to do just that,” she said.

The programme was facilitated by Dr Dawie Bornman, a senior lecturer in UP’s Department of Business Management in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, who has more than 12 years’ experience in the local and international creative sector. The market-aligned framework was designed to be inclusive of all the different topics and skills that are seen as critical to successfully establish, manage and grow a small business in the creative sector. Its conceptual framework blends different perspectives from the different creative delegates who participated in the course through experience, research, conversations, interaction and integration. This then serves as the first step towards developing each delegate’s creative idea into a viable entrepreneurial opportunity to assist them to foster new co-creation partnerships with other “artrepreneurs” in other creative sectors.

Enterprises University of Pretoria launches the Incubation, Governance and Management Development Programme (IGMDP).

“Business

incubators are important in developing and promoting the growth of small enterprises. In the South African context, they also drive the transformation agenda and promote economic inclusion to undo the legacy of our past. The management and operation of incubators therefore need competent individuals who are capable of developing start-ups into scalable and sustainable enterprises.” This is according to Mandisa Tshikwatamba, CEO of the Small Business Development Agency (Seda). Due to the rapid growth in the number of incubators, the need to pay attention to the management and governance of these centres was identified. Enterprises University of Pretoria developed the IGMDP specifically for this sector of the ecosystem. The IGMDP seeks to improve skills to effectively manage and ensure the good governance of incubators, and to upskill incubation managers. It was developed in collaboration with Seda, the Department of Small Business Development and the Department of Trade and Industry.

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ALUMNI FOCUS Our alumni are our most enduring asset

PHUMZILE LANGENI: PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL INVESTMENT ENVOY

An exceptional example for young, capable, knowledgeable, experienced and educated women

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UP alumna has vast experience in the South African financial industry. Ms Langeni started her career at RMB Fund Managers as an investment consultant, followed by Real Africa Durolink Securities as a trainee dealer in money market instruments, bonds and equities in 1997. She later practiced as an equity sales trader for both local and foreign institutions, and went on to serve as a director on the board. From there, she joined Standard Equities as an equity sales trader servicing domestic investment, founded Mazwai Securities, served as head of new business for Barnard Jacobs Mellet after 10% of the company was acquired by Mazwai Securities, and served as executive director of Anooraq Resources, a North American and South African listed junior platinum mining house.

Currently, Ms Langeni serves as the executive chairperson of Afropulse Group, the non-executive chairperson of the Mineworkers Investment Company and Primedia Holdings, and as an independent non-executive director of Massmart Holdings, Imperial Holdings, Redefine Property Holdings, Metrofile Holdings, Transaction Capital, TCRS Risk Services, and SA Taxi and Motus Holdings.

Ms Langeni completed her master’s degree under the supervision of Prof Derick de Jongh, Director of the Albert Luthuli Centre for Responsible Leadership in UP’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Her dissertation examined the value of corporate governance by comparing the perceived value of King II and King III. In 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Ms Langeni as a member of the four-person team to assist in raising R1.4 trillion in foreign direct investment for South Africa. This is seen as a necessary intervention to unleash South Africa’s economic growth, which should underpin job creation and a sustainable economy. “It is a humbling honour to be entrusted with such a momentous task. It is also an exciting opportunity to act as an ambassador and carry the country’s message and aspirations,” she said.