FameLab SA winner, Emmie Chiyindiko from the University of the Free State, put South African science on a global platform when she spent the week at the Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK, ahead of the FameLab International finals. Read more
UKZN’s College of Health Sciences (CHS) is taking knowledge production to a new level through their Developing Research Innovation, Localisation and Leadership (DRILL) program.
In collaboration with the Kwa-Zulu Natal Department of Health (DoH), DRILL aims to identify and nurture the next generation of South African health science research leaders. The skills these researchers develop through the DRILL program will help confront local healthcare challenges whilst keeping South Africa on the forefront of globally competitive research and innovation.
Jive Media Africa has been awarded a 4-year contract, delivering strategic communication and media support in support of the program’s goals. We have been intrinsically involved in the development of the DRILL brand, representing excellence and diversity, as well as a suite of communication tools that position the programme as a significant contributor to health research in South Africa.
Over 5 years, DRILL is to link 20 fellows with leading academics in their fields to develop and boost their existing research capabilities in the interrelated fields of HIV/AIDS, Mental Health, Health Professions’ Education, Health Systems Strengthening and Research Ethics. High-profile mentors will arm each fellow with the necessary skills to lead culturally-aware, locally-valuable research programs that respond to the needs and capacities of the healthcare environment in Kwa-Zulu Natal and wider South Africa. Our valuable science communication training further enables the fellows to share their research with the public in meaningful and engaging ways.
We look forward to supporting DRILL on this inspiring journey towards world class research leadership for South Africa, and beyond.
Sources: 1http://chs.ukzn.ac.za/News/16-07-05/DRILL_for_Research_Excellence
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.
Stories simplify communication. Through emotional connection and simple language, stories can make complex information relatable – resulting in dialogue and transformation.
To share experiences in storytelling and to gain insight from other communicators and researchers, Jive Media Africa presented a number of papers at the Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference 2018 which took place in Dunedin, New Zealand. Jive Media Africa’s work in this area includes comics, music and film among others, bringing researchers and the public together through participatory methods to create compelling media to transform the world.
Presentations included:
The Mission MeerKATcartoon series, produced by Jive Media Africa, explains how radio astronomy works and why this pathfinder telescope is being built in the Karoo.
Download all 5 x 8 page comic books produced for the SKA (Square Kilometre Array) and MeerKAT (the Karoo Array Telescope). Read more
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!
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
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
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
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!
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
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!
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.
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
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 (4th & 5th from left)
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