Tag Archive for: competition

FameLab 2018: Sustainable science

Jive Media Africa FameLab

Creating conversations between science and society to address the sustainable development goals was the focus of the 2018 FameLab South Africa final held at the Future Earth conference at Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth.

Emmie Chiyindiko, a Masters student at the University of the Free State, won the title of FameLab South Africa champion with a talk which had the audience engaged from the beginning. She used the analogy of a relationship match-maker to explain the role of catalysis in food, water and energy production. She will travel to the international competition in the United Kingdom in June to represent South Africa.

Runners-up, Sebabatso Maifadi from the University of South Africa and Buhle Buyana from the University of Fort Hare also impressed the audience and judges, linking their research to the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

Director of Jive Media Africa, Robert Inglis, highlighted the importance of the communication skills developed through FameLab for “having conversations about science which can ultimately lead to solutions for a more sustainable and equitable future”.

The format of the FameLab competition requires participants to present their research to a panel of expert judges within three minutes. Their talks are judged on content, clarity and charisma.

Deputy CEO of the National Research Foundation, Dr Gansen Pillay, praised the young researchers for their commitment to engaging the public in their research and will hold further discussions with all the finalists about the future of science in South Africa.

Anisa Khan, at the British Council, expressed her delight that there were so many women among the finalists, saying, “We must ensure that all voices are part of the science conversation.”

Do you want to host this international competition in the year ahead? Click here > Expression of Interest Form

Huge congratulations to the 2018 finalists:
– Nyasha Chimhandamba (finalist) – University of Cape Town
– Nobuhle Mweli (semi-finalist) – South African Environmental Observation Network
– Darryl Herron (finalist) and Khavharendwe Rambau (semi-finalist) – Science Forum South Africa
– Brian Rathabe (semi-finalist) – University of Limpopo
– Emmie Chiyindiko (finalist and 2018 winner) – University of the Free State
– Sylvia Mokuoane (semi-finalist) – Central University of Technology
– Bonisiwe Seshabela (semi-finalist) and Sebabatso Maifadi (finalist and runner-up) – University of South Africa
– Thlangelani Nghondzweni (semi-finalist) – Tshwane University of Technology
– Buhle Buyana (finalist and runner-up) – University of Fort Hare
– Sinethemba Makhanya (finalist) and Olaperi Okuboyejo (finalist) – University of the Witwatersrand
– Puleng Maleko-Boyce (finalist) – Nelson Mandela University

FameLab is an international competition by Cheltenham Festivals designed to inspire, motivate and develop young scientists and engineers to actively engage with the public. With over 30 participating countries, it has been dubbed the ‘Pop Idols of Science’! FameLab South Africa is made possible by a partnership between the British Council, the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement together with research communication specialists Jive Media Africa.

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FameLab SA 2017 semi-finalists!

Jive Media Africa FameLab

South Africa’s researchers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics have shown us their excellent public speaking and science communication skills during FameLab SA 2017.

In each heat, contestants were asked to convey a scientific concept of their choice in 3 minutes to a panel of judges including leading researchers, media personalities and science policy makers. They were judged on the content, clarity and charisma of their presentations.

Congratulations to all the semi-finalists – they have taken part in masterclasses at the British Council with UK-based broadcasting journalist Quentin Cooper and Jive Media Africa’s Robert Inglis and Sthabile Mazubane ahead of the semi-finals.

The FameLab SA semi-finalists are: 

ASSAF – Clarissa Van der Loo
Central University of Technology – Zanele Matsane
CSIR – Tshepo Makgoba
Mintek – Nanji Sheni and Tshiamo Legoale
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University – Wynand van Lesenoord
Rhodes University – Otto Joseph
Science Forum SA – Michael Bodunrin and Saneliswa Magagula
SKA South Africa – Vereese van Tonder
Tshwane University of Technology – Mapula Razwinani and Ntombikazi Jojo
University of Cape Town – Ursula Rohlwink and Dr Sheetal Silal
University of Limpopo – Mukundi Munyai
University of South Africa – Fulufhelo Mudau
University of the Free State – Oluwasegun Kuloyo
University of the Witwatersrand – Lungile Khambule
DST NRF Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences – Aviwe Matiwane
DST NRF Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials – Phylis Makurunje

 

Jive will be tweeting live from the semi-finals on the 24th March – @JiveMediaAfrica – tweet us with the hashtag #FameLabSA to show your support for the contestants!

 

Congratulations to all the FameLab SA 2017 semi-finalists – it has been a privilege to work with you!

Congratulations to all the FameLab SA 2017 semi-finalists – it has been a privilege to work with you!

 

FameLab ® is an initiative of the Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and Jive Media Africa deliver the FameLab competition in South Africa. Find out more about FameLab South Africa at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

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Research at Wits – A FameLab Win

Jive Media Africa FameLab

The University of Witwatersrand (Wits) hosted FameLab SA for the first time this year. Showing their commitment to science communication training and the competition, three media and communications professionals judged the competition: Journalist, Sibonelo Radebe, the Business & Economy Editor of The Conversation Africa; Elna Shütz, Content Producer and Presenter at Wits Radio Academy and Shirona Patel, the Head of Communications at Wits.

Lungile Khambule impressed them all and moves on to the national semi-finals!

Lungile works in the Department of Chemical Pathology at Wits, researching how to diagnose viruses, such as TB, metabolic diseases and even vitamin deficiencies more effectively, before they become a risk for patients.

Jive will be tweeting live from the semi-finals, follow @JiveMediaAfrica and tweet us with the hashtag #FameLabSA to show your support for Lungile!

 

Wits FameLab SA Winner, Lungile Khambule presents her science

Wits FameLab SA Winner, Lungile Khambule presents her science

 

Judges at Wits

The judges: Journalist, Sibonelo Radebe, the Business & Economy Editor of The Conversation Africa; Elna Shütz, Content Producer and Presenter at Wits Radio Academy and Shirona Patel, the Head of Communications at Wits.

 

FameLab ® is an initiative of the Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and Jive Media Africa deliver the FameLab competition in South Africa. Find out more about FameLab South Africa at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

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Wits Centres of Excellence Announce 2 Semi-Finalists

Jive Media Africa FameLab

The University of the Witwatersrand Centre of Excellence (CoE) programme is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation and aims to “concentrate existing research excellence, capacity and resources, to enable researchers to collaborate across disciplines on long-term projects that are locally relevant and internationally competitive”.

The Centres of Excellence in Palaeosciences, Strong Materials, and Mathematics and Statistical Sciences came together to participate in FameLab SA.  Phylis Makurunje and Aviwe Matiwane both won places in the semi-finals!

Phylis is a PhD student at Wits under the CoE in Strong Materials. Her research focusses on aerospace materials, working towards increasing the speed of travel by utilising materials that can withstand such harsh flight conditions.

Aviwe’s research is under the CoE in Paleo Sciences; she is studying through Rhodes University and is based at the Albany Museum. She is researching plants from the Middle Permian, developing a database that can be used worldwide to identify plant species from this period.

Jive will be tweeting live from the semi-finals, follow @JiveMediaAfrica and tweet us with the hashtag #FameLabSA to show your support for Phylis and Aviwe!

 

Phylis Makurunje and Aviwe Matiwane both won a place in the national FameLab semi-finals!

Phylis Makurunje and Aviwe Matiwane both won a place in the national FameLab semi-finals!

 

FameLab ® is an initiative of the Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and Jive Media Africa deliver the FameLab competition in South Africa. Find out more about FameLab South Africa at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

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Beaming Semi-Finalists from UFS/CUT Heat

Jive Media Africa FameLab

It’s the first time the University of the Free State (UFS) and the Central University of Technology (CUT)  took part in FameLab SA. Jive Media Africa trained the participants in communication and media skills the day before the heat, held at Centenary Complex on the UFS campus in Bloemfontein.

Oluwasegun Kuloyo from UFS and Zanele Matsane from CUT won the jointly-hosted heat!

Oluwa is researching a common yeast that lives in the human body, Candida albicans. In healthy people, it is not harmful, but it becomes dangerous in HIV and cancer sufferers. Oluwa’s research aims to find a drug-free method of treating the Candida.

Zanele is studying Supply Chain Management in the South African construction industry. She is focussing on building relationships and collaborative practices that can be implemented on any site and which will contribute to reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

Jive will be tweeting live from the semi-finals, follow @JiveMediaAfrica and tweet us with the hashtag #FameLabSA to show your support for Oluwa and Zanele!

 

Contestants and judges

From left: Judge – Ms Oteng Mpete (Media Liaison Officer UFS); Judge – Professor Willie du Preez (Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing CUT); Semi-Finalist – Oluwasegun Kuloyo (UFS); Semi-Finalist – Zanele Matsane (CUT); Judge – Dr Elizabeth Conradie (Manager: Idea Generator CUT)

 

Jive Media Africa is proud to work with young South African researchers and scientists to improve their communication and media skills.

Jive Media Africa is proud to work with young South African researchers and scientists to improve their communication and media skills.

 

FameLab ® is an initiative of the Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and Jive Media Africa deliver the FameLab competition in South Africa. Find out more about FameLab South Africa at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

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FameLab Heat part of UNISA Research and Innovation Week

Jive Media Africa FameLab

The University of South Africa (UNISA) FameLab heat was part of the institution’s Research and Innovation Week. UNISA also opened the competition to contestants from other institutions, and there was a wide variety of research topics to hear about.

Fulufhelo Mudau (above, 2nd from right) joins the group of FameLab SA semi-finalists – well done!

The South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) plays a significant part in rolling FameLab out in South Africa, and Dr Mthuthuzeli Zamxaka from the agency judged the heat along with Professor Ndikho Mtshiselwa from UNISA.

Jive will be tweeting live from the semi-finals, follow @JiveMediaAfrica and tweet us with the hashtag #FameLabSA to show your support for Fulufhelo!

 

UNISA FameLab SA contestants with the judges – Dr. Mthuthuzeli Zamxaka from SAASTA and Professor Ndikho Mtshiselwa from UNISA

UNISA FameLab SA contestants with the judges – Dr Mthuthuzeli Zamxaka from SAASTA and Professor Ndikho Mtshiselwa from UNISA (4th & 5th from left)

 

FameLab SA – an opportunity to learn communication skills to share your STEM research

FameLab SA – an opportunity to learn communication skills to share your STEM research

 

FameLab ® is an initiative of the Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and Jive Media Africa deliver the FameLab competition in South Africa. Find out more about FameLab South Africa at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

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Making Medicinal Plants Move – TUT Chooses Winners

Jive Media Africa FameLab

Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) participated in FameLab SA for the first time this year – the contestants were excited to be part of this internationally renowned competition, communicating their science and research for the opportunity to represent TUT at the semi-finals.

Congratulations to Mapula Razwinani who won the TUT heat! She moves on to the masterclasses and the semi-finals along with runner-up, Ntombikazi Jojo, competing for the national FameLab title. Mapula has been researching how medicinal plants can be used to make cartilage in the human body and was excited to share her passion for her science.

Runner-up Ntombikazi Jojo will also be going through to the semi-finals. Ntombikazi is a full-time masters student at TUT from the Department of Chemical, Metallurgy and Materials Engineering.

The TUT participants attended science communication skills and media training with Jive Media Africa, to prepare for the competition.

Jive will be tweeting live from the semi-finals, follow @JiveMediaAfrica and tweet us with the hashtag #FameLabSA to show your support for Mapula and Ntombikazi!

 

Semi-finalist, Mapula Razwinani, with Dr Rita Raseleka, Director of Research and Innovation at TUT

Semi-finalist, Mapula Razwinani, with Dr Rita Raseleka, Director of Research and Innovation at TUT

 

FameLab ® is an initiative of the Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and Jive Media Africa deliver the FameLab competition in South Africa. Find out more about FameLab South Africa at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

 

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SKA Semi-Finalist Wins a Trip to Mauritius

Jive Media Africa FameLab

The South African Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be the biggest scientific instrument ever built. Listening to their scientists really gives one a sense of the magnitude of the endeavour and the excitement of the discoveries waiting to be made.

FameLab, one of the world’s biggest science communication competitions, taking place in over 30 countries – provides the perfect platform for STEM researchers to share their work and develop skills in science communication. The SKA contestants were privileged to have retired NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration Deputy Chief Technologist, Jim Adams, judge the heat.

Vereese van Tonder advances to the semi-finals AND wins a trip to Mauritius to be a part of a SKA Science Communication workshop. The heat included representatives from the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) who demonstrated the power of mathematics for solving real-world problems.

Jive will be tweeting live from semi-finals, follow @JiveMediaAfrica, and tweet us with the hashtag #FameLabSA to show your support for Vereese!

 

Judging the SKA heat were Busi Maqubela from the Cape Town Science Centre; Ziyaad Halyday from SKA South Africa and Jim Adams, retired NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Chief Technologist

Judging the SKA heat were Busi Maqubela, from the Cape Town Science Centre; Ziyaad Halyday, from SKA South Africa and Jim Adams, retired NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration Chief Technologist

 

Vereese van Tonder explains her science during the SKA FameLab heat

Vereese van Tonder explains her science during the SKA FameLab heat

FameLab ® is an initiative of the Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and Jive Media Africa deliver the FameLab competition in South Africa. Find out more about FameLab South Africa at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

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NMMU – Sea Anemones for the Win

Jive Media Africa FameLab

The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) hosted an open heat of FameLab SA. Judging the heat were Dr Natasha Beukes from the NMMU Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology, Ms Zandile Mbabela, the NMMU Media Manager and Ms Marilyn Gibbs, the EC Regional Science Fair Director: Eskom Young Scientists.

Biochemist, Wynand van Losenoord, from NMMU won the heat! He is currently researching how toxins from sea anemones can be used to improve insulin secretion in people with diabetes. Wynand is passionate about science and says that FameLab provided the platform to show his love and interest for his work. It also generated lots of ideas about how to interact with the public around his science. First runner-up, Otto Joseph, is studying for a Master’s degree in Chemistry at Rhodes University and also proceeds through to the national semi-finals.

Jive will be tweeting live from semi-finals, follow @JiveMediaAfrica, and tweet us with the hashtag #FameLabSA to show your support for Wynand and Otto!

From left: 1st runner-up, Otto Joseph from Rhodes University; Winner, Wynand van Lesenoord and 2nd runner-up - Doctor Tshabalala from NMMU

From left: 1st runner-up, Otto Joseph from Rhodes University; Winner, Wynand van Losenoord and 2nd runner-up, Doctor Tshabalala from NMMU

 

NMMU Media Manager, Zandile Mbabela, looks on during science communication training with Jive Media Africa

NMMU Media Manager, Zandile Mbabela, looks on during science communication training with Jive Media Africa

 

FameLab ® is an initiative of the Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and Jive Media Africa deliver the FameLab competition in South Africa. Find out more about FameLab South Africa at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

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FameLab SA – Onward and Upward at Mintek

Jive Media Africa FameLab

Mintek is a leading provider of minerals processing and metallurgical engineering products and services to industries worldwide. Jive Media Africa worked with Mintek researchers who are fired-up about using their science skills to change the world for the better.

The Mintek FameLab SA heat is the perfect opportunity to gain skills for talking to non-science audiences – contestants need to think creatively about how to communicate their research with public audiences. Being part of FameLab heat is about growing capacity in the organisation for both internal and external communications. Growing partnerships and collaborations and attracting new investment relies on finding ways of making science and technology accessible to a wide range of audiences. Jive is thrilled to support this objective.

Participants said that Jive’s training was very beneficial and enhanced their presentation skills.

Do you think you’ve got what it takes to compete – or would your organisation like to partner with FameLab in South Africa? Find out more at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

Jive trained young researchers at Mintek to clearly explain their research to the public, narrowing the gap between science and the society in which it is at work.

 

Face to face training in science communication!

 

FameLab ® is an initiative of the Cheltenham Festivals. The British Council in collaboration with the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) and Jive Media Africa deliver the FameLab competition in South Africa. Find out more about FameLab South Africa at www.britishcouncil.org.za/famelab

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Contact

Email: info@jivemedia.co.za
Address: Jive Hub, 279 Boddington Estate, Nottingham Road, 3280