UWC hosts early career research conference for young researchers
The University of the Western Cape (UWC) hosted the Early Career Research Day Programme at the Cape Town Science Centre, 370B Main Road, Observatory on 31 October 2016, with newly appointed Science Manager at UWC, Nolusindiso Nkayi, as the programme director at the conference.
The conference started at 13h00 with a welcome address by Professor Thandi Mgwebi from UWC talking about the importance of the conference and also introducing the Keynote speaker, Professor Don Cowan, who spoke about building and strengthening a research career.
Professor Don Cowan worked in the Department of Biotechnology at the University of the Western Cape as a senior professor and director of the 60-strong Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics institute, before moving to the University of Pretoria in 2012.
Prof. Cowan has published over 300 research papers, review articles and book chapters, and sits on the editorial boards of 10 international journalistic bodies, and holds the post of Professor Emeritus at the University of the Western Cape.
The panel at the conference included:
Professor Ndomelele Ludidi - an Associate Professor in the Department of Biotechnology at the University of the Western Cape, where he continues his research on the genetic control of plant responses to salinity and drought stress.
Professor Nicolette Roman - currently heads up the Child and Family Studies Programme at UWC, specialising in individual and family psychological well being, family functioning and practices and parenting, amongst other research areas.
Dr Amiena Peck presented in the first session on Arts and the Community and Health Science Faculty, where she shared the work she has done with a group of students on the Virtual Linguistic Landscapes: Exploring skinscapes through race, gender and identity construction in Youtube videos.
Dr Anita Padmanabhanunni presented on Mental Health and care providers’ attitudes towards the adoption of evidence-based practice in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.
