The University of the Western Cape (UWC) hosted another successful Research Week on Monday, 16 September until Thursday, 19 September 2024.
This year’s Research Week theme was: “Emerging Economies for a Better Tomorrow: SDGs Research and Innovation for Social Change”.
The welcome address and open remarks by Rector, Prof Tyrone Pretorius, expressed that “At UWC we believe that research must go beyond theory; it must lead to practical solutions that impact the most vulnerable. This year Research Week offers researchers the opportunity to showcase how they are contributing to the global academic discourse and tackling real-world issues. The SDGs give us a clear framework for building a better world, from eradicating poverty, to protecting our environment, aligning closer to the research we do at UWC.”
In addition, the address by the DVC: Research and Innovation, Prof Jose Frantz, stated that there is a need “to explore how our collective efforts can translate into meaningful social change”.
To achieve this goal, Prof Frantz highlighted three key principles: the first being contextual relevance of our research; the second focuses on the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, with the third being impact-oriented research.
She continued to emphasise that “As we dive into the research week, the task before us is immense. Still, it is our collective potential with each research project, each innovative idea, and each collaborative effort that is a step toward unraveling the complex relationship between research, innovation, and social change. It will take us to the next step as we continue this journey of discovery and collaboration”.
During the research week, academics, students and key stakeholders explored the following research themes:
Stream 1: Net Zero Transformation and Environmental Sustainability – carbon neutrality, climate sustainability, deforestation, water contamination, sustainable tourism, ocean acidification, and bio-innovation.
Stream 2: One Health – sustainability and innovation, universal health coverage, multi-mobility health systems, primary healthcare, wellness, and well-being, human capabilities and social cohesion, stress, burnout, and work/life balance.
Stream 3: Human rights, Poverty, and Social Justice – food security, peace and justice, gender equality and equity, development programming and poverty reduction, children's rights, and conflict resolution.
Stream 4: Geopolitical Governance: Challenges and Vulnerabilities – immigration, corruption, urbanisation and sustainable cities (placemaking), leadership, coalition, and cohesion.
Stream 5: Emerging Economies – blue/oceans economy, circular economy, township economy, and informal economy.
Stream 6: Transforming Education – co-creation (e.g. student-staff partnerships, learning and teaching, and research), decolonisation of the curriculum, indigenous knowledge systems, inclusive education, and hybrid and online teaching and learning environments.
Stream 7: Technology: 4IR and Digital Transformation – big data, AI in education and research, health professions education, and ICT.
Stream 8: Nanotechnology and Astrophysics – nanomaterials, water and agriculture, drug discovery, meteorology and atmospheric science, geochemistry, and geophysics.
Some of the highlights of the week were:
. The opening keynote address on day one by Dr Joeri Both, Head of Research Support at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. His presentation focused on open science and research data support networks and intelligence; highlighting how SDGs can be incorporated into the curriculum through open-source research and the concept of labeling your research.
. Another keynote address that took place on day three was by Dr Dag-Hakon Eriksen, academic director, from VID Centre of Value-Based Leadership and Innovation, Faculty of Theology and Social Sciences, which focused on engaged scholarship: Research addressing grand challenges for the common good and Research inspired by Phronesis, meaning “the wisdom in determining ends and the means of attaining them, practical understanding, sound judgement,”.
. The 3 MINUTES THESIS (3MT) COMPETITION celebrated the exciting research conducted by UWC PhD students. Developed by The University of Queensland, the exercise cultivates students’ academic, presentation and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. 3MT seeks to enhance the PhD profile within universities and the wider community.
The winner of this year's 3MT competition was Ms Rucia Vern-Clare November - title: The use of professional cricket match-play performance analysis to enhance the tactical decision-making of cricket coaches.
The research week abstract booklet with the programme can be found HERE.
“We would like to thank all participants for presenting their research. We encourage researchers and academics to continue to engage such platforms, as our motto reminds us of ‘making research count through connecting possibilities.”
This year’s Research Week theme was: “Emerging Economies for a Better Tomorrow: SDGs Research and Innovation for Social Change”.
The welcome address and open remarks by Rector, Prof Tyrone Pretorius, expressed that “At UWC we believe that research must go beyond theory; it must lead to practical solutions that impact the most vulnerable. This year Research Week offers researchers the opportunity to showcase how they are contributing to the global academic discourse and tackling real-world issues. The SDGs give us a clear framework for building a better world, from eradicating poverty, to protecting our environment, aligning closer to the research we do at UWC.”
In addition, the address by the DVC: Research and Innovation, Prof Jose Frantz, stated that there is a need “to explore how our collective efforts can translate into meaningful social change”.
To achieve this goal, Prof Frantz highlighted three key principles: the first being contextual relevance of our research; the second focuses on the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, with the third being impact-oriented research.
She continued to emphasise that “As we dive into the research week, the task before us is immense. Still, it is our collective potential with each research project, each innovative idea, and each collaborative effort that is a step toward unraveling the complex relationship between research, innovation, and social change. It will take us to the next step as we continue this journey of discovery and collaboration”.
During the research week, academics, students and key stakeholders explored the following research themes:
Stream 1: Net Zero Transformation and Environmental Sustainability – carbon neutrality, climate sustainability, deforestation, water contamination, sustainable tourism, ocean acidification, and bio-innovation.
Stream 2: One Health – sustainability and innovation, universal health coverage, multi-mobility health systems, primary healthcare, wellness, and well-being, human capabilities and social cohesion, stress, burnout, and work/life balance.
Stream 3: Human rights, Poverty, and Social Justice – food security, peace and justice, gender equality and equity, development programming and poverty reduction, children's rights, and conflict resolution.
Stream 4: Geopolitical Governance: Challenges and Vulnerabilities – immigration, corruption, urbanisation and sustainable cities (placemaking), leadership, coalition, and cohesion.
Stream 5: Emerging Economies – blue/oceans economy, circular economy, township economy, and informal economy.
Stream 6: Transforming Education – co-creation (e.g. student-staff partnerships, learning and teaching, and research), decolonisation of the curriculum, indigenous knowledge systems, inclusive education, and hybrid and online teaching and learning environments.
Stream 7: Technology: 4IR and Digital Transformation – big data, AI in education and research, health professions education, and ICT.
Stream 8: Nanotechnology and Astrophysics – nanomaterials, water and agriculture, drug discovery, meteorology and atmospheric science, geochemistry, and geophysics.
Some of the highlights of the week were:
. The opening keynote address on day one by Dr Joeri Both, Head of Research Support at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. His presentation focused on open science and research data support networks and intelligence; highlighting how SDGs can be incorporated into the curriculum through open-source research and the concept of labeling your research.
. Another keynote address that took place on day three was by Dr Dag-Hakon Eriksen, academic director, from VID Centre of Value-Based Leadership and Innovation, Faculty of Theology and Social Sciences, which focused on engaged scholarship: Research addressing grand challenges for the common good and Research inspired by Phronesis, meaning “the wisdom in determining ends and the means of attaining them, practical understanding, sound judgement,”.
. The 3 MINUTES THESIS (3MT) COMPETITION celebrated the exciting research conducted by UWC PhD students. Developed by The University of Queensland, the exercise cultivates students’ academic, presentation and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. 3MT seeks to enhance the PhD profile within universities and the wider community.
The winner of this year's 3MT competition was Ms Rucia Vern-Clare November - title: The use of professional cricket match-play performance analysis to enhance the tactical decision-making of cricket coaches.
The research week abstract booklet with the programme can be found HERE.
“We would like to thank all participants for presenting their research. We encourage researchers and academics to continue to engage such platforms, as our motto reminds us of ‘making research count through connecting possibilities.”
