Research & Innovation 2015–16

RESEARCH & INNOVATION 2015–16 Research & Innovation 2015–16 is dedicated to Professor Danie Visser, deputy vice-chancellor for research and internationalisation. He has enabled research and innovation support at the University of Cape Town to reposition and reimagine itself, enabling our researchers to face the challenges of the research landscape in the 21st century. We thank him for his inspiring and thoughtful leadership, and his unfailing trust in us to work with him to realise his vision. Dr Marilet Sienaert, executive director, Research Office Mr Piet Barnard, director, Research Contracts and Innovation Contents Message from the 1 vice-chancellor No poverty, economic growth 22 and reduced inequalities Peace, justice and 34 strong institutions Zero hunger, sustainable cities 42 and responsible consumption Good health and 54 well-being 66 Quality education 70 Gender equality UCT RESEARCH & INNOVATION 2015–16 Clean water and sanitation 78 Affordable, clean energy and 82 climate action Industry, innovation and 94 infrastructure Life below water and life on land 106 Partnerships for the goals 118 Faculty highlights 122 CONTENTS Message from the vice-chancellor Dr Max Price Adopted in September 2015, the SDGs replaced the millennium development goals (MDGs), whose remit ended in that year. The eight goals of the MDGs were drafted in the basement of the UN office in New York by a small group appointed by the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon (environmental sustainability was almost forgotten). By contrast, the more ambitious 17 goals of the SDGs were the result of a negotiating process between 193 countries and wide consultation with a host of stakeholders. The resulting SDGs are wide-ranging, yet it is striking how closely they speak to critical problems for South Africa and the continent. Inequality, climate change, food and water insecurity, unemployment, safe cities – this is a script that could have been written by us. It is also reassuring to see how closely the SDGs – the result of such wide and thorough global consultation – match the strategic priorities of research at the University of Cape Town. It is therefore no coincidence that UCT researchers were among the world-leading academics who were involved in the lobbying for and drafting of the SDGs. Professor Haroon Bhorat, for instance, served as head of research for the High-level Panel appointed by Ban, to deliver a proposed SDG agenda to the UN General Assembly. Members of the African Centre for Cities (ACC) participated in a global campaign to ensure that sustainable cities were explicitly included in the SDGs (a fight that had been lost with the MDGs). They were also members of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, led by Ban’s advisor Professor Jeffrey D Sachs, which helped to shape the goals. Similarly, Professor Crick Lund was one of the leaders in the field of global mental health - #FundaMentalSDG - who lobbied to have mental health included (it was entirely missing from the MDGs). This involvement of academics in the drafting of the SDGs has meant that the global research community is better placed to contribute to their implementation. And there is wide acceptance that they must do so if the SDGs are to succeed. One feature of the SDGs is the plethora of targets (169), the perhaps predictable result of the sprawling negotiation process. Each country will have to choose which targets to prioritise, and academics should play a role in guiding governments in this decision. The global community will also need the expertise of researchers to track the targets, and to help in the training of those who will play a part in We have chosen, as the the SDGs’ implementation. theme of this year’s The SDGs are not perfect, and many of our researchers are the first to point this out. However, this is another key role they have publication, the United to play: providing an independent and critical voice to ensure, Nations’ (UN) sustainable not only that the goals are realised as closely as possible, but that their complexity is not lost in translation. Transforming Our development goals (SDGs). World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognises Research is crucial to the interconnectedness of the goals, and the increasingly interdisciplinary focus of much research at UCT means that achieving sustainable it is well placed to play its part in finding solutions for a more development and UCT is sustainable world. well placed to play its part. Image by Deborah Posel. 1 UCT RESEARCH & INNOVATION 2015–16 UMyalezo ovela kuSekela Ngqonyela weYunivesithi uGq Max Price Sikhethe, Njengokuba zamnkelwa ngoSeptemba 2015, iiSDG zithabatha indawo njengomxholo wolu yeenjongo zophuhliso zemileniyam (iiMDG), esinyanzeliso sazo siphele kuloo nyaka. Iinjongo ezisibhozo zeeMDG zayilelwa kwigumbi elisezantsi lesakhiwo papasho lwalo nyaka, se-ofisi ye-UN eNew York, liqelana elalityunjwe nguNobhala Jikelele we-UN, iinjongo zophuhliso uBan Ki-moon (uzinziso lwendalo lwaluphantse lwalityalwa). Ngothelekiso, uninzi lweenjongo ezili-17 zebhongo zeeSDG zingumphumela wenkqubo oluzinzileyo (iiSDG) ekuthethweneyo ngayo, phakathi kwamazwe ali-193 kunye nothethwano zeZizwe eziManyeneyo ngokubanzi lwayo yonke inyambalalala echaphazelekayo. (UN). Uphando- IiSDG ezingumphumela zichaphazela imiba emininzi, kodwa okuqaqambileyo yindlela ezithetha ngayo into esondelelene kakhulu kwiingxaki ezibalulekileyo lwazi lubalulekile zoMzantsi Afrika kunye nelizwekazi. Ukungalingani, inguqu kwisimo ekufezekiseni sezulu, ukutya nokungakhuseleki kwamanzi, intswela-ngqesho, izixeko ezikhuselekileyo – olu luxwebhu olwalufanele ukuba malube lubhalwe sithi. uphuhliso oluzinzileyo Kuyaqinisekisa ngokunjalo ukubona indlela ezisondelelene ngayo iiSDG yaye iUCT ikwinqanaba - umphumela wothethwano lwehlabathi olubanzi olunjalo – nokubekwe elifanelekileyo phambili kwiqhinga lophando-lwazi lweYunivesiti yaseKapa. Asinguwo umnqa ngoko ukuba abaphandi baseUCT bebephakathi kwezinye iinkcuba- lokokuba idlale buchopho eziphambili zelizwe ebezibandakanyeka kwimpembelelo nakuyilo indima yayo. lweeSDG. UNjng. Haroon Bhorat, umzekelo, usebenze njengentloko yophando- lwazi lwe High-level Panel etyunjwe nguBan Ki-moon, ukulungiselela ukunikezela nge-ajenda ecetywayo yeSDG kwiUN General Assembly. Amalungu eAfrican Centre for Cities (ACC) athabathe inxaxheba kwiphulo lehlabathi lokuqinisekisa ukuba uzinziso lwezixeko lubandakanyiwe ngokucacileyo kwiiSDG (iphulo elingazange liphumelele kwiiMDG). Babe ngamalungu ngokunjalo eSustainable Development Solutions Network, ekhokhelwa ngumcebisi kaBan Ki-moon uNjing. Jeffrey D. Sachs, athe anceda ukubumba iinjongo. Ngokufanayo, uNjing. Crick Lund ube ngomnye weenkokheli kummandla wempilo yengqondo yehlabathi - #FundaMentalSDG - othe waphembelela into yokokuba impilo yengqondo ibandakanywe (yayingekho kwaphela kwiiMDG). Oku kubandakanyeka kweenkcuba-buchopho kolu yilo lweeSDG, kuthetha ukuba iqela lwezophando-lwazi lwehlabathi lukwinqanaba elingcono lokuqinisekisa ukumileselwa kwazo. Yaye kukho ulwamkelo olubanzi lokokuba kufuneka lwenze njalo ukuba ngaba iiSDG zizakuphumelela. Uphawu olunye lweeSDG kukukhupha iiinjongo ezijoliswe kulo (169), mhlawumbi isiphumo esilindelekileyo senkqubo exananazileyo yothethwano. Ilizwe ngalinye kuya kufuneka lenze isigqibo ngokujoliswe kulo eliya kukubeka phambili, yaye iinkcuba-buchopho kufuneka zidlale indima ekukhokheleni oorhulumente ekwenzeni isigqibo . Uluntu lwehlabathi luya kudinga ngokunjalo ubuchule lwabaphandi-lwazi ekulandeleni ekujoliswe kulo, nokunceda kuqeqesho lwabo baya kudlala indima kumiliselo lweeSDG. IiSDG azigqibelelanga, yaye uninzi lwabaphandi bethu babe ngabokuqala ukuyibeka elubala le nto. Nangona kunjalo, le yenye yeendima eziphambili ekufaneleke ukuba bazidlale: ukunikezela ngezwi elizimeleyo nelifanelakileyo ukuqinisekisa hayi kuphela ngento yokuba iinjongo ziyafezekiswa ngokusondele kakhulu, kodwa nento yokuba ubumbaxa bazo abulahleki kwinguqulelo. [Ukuguqulwa kweHlabathi Lethu: I-Ajenda ka 2030 elungiselelwe uPhuhliso oluZinzileyo] kunika ingqwalasela kukuhlangana kweenjongo, kunye nengqiqo eyandileyo yophando-lwazi oluninzi eUCT kuthetha ukuba ikwinqanaba elifanelekileyo lokuthabatha inxaxheba ekufumaneni izisombululo zokuzinziswa kwehlabathi. 2 Boodskap van die vise-kanselier Dr Max Price As tema vir hierdie jaar Die VOD’s wat in September 2015 aanvaar is, het die Millennium- Ontwikkelingsdoelwitte (MOD’s) vervang wat daardie jaar verstryk se navorsingsverslag het het. Die agt doelwitte van die MOD’s is in die kelderverdieping van ons die Verenigde Nasies die VN se kantore in New York geformuleer deur ‘n klein groepie wat aangestel is deur die VN se sekretaris-generaal, Ban Ki-moon (VN) se Volhoubare (omgewingsbewaring is byna vergeet). In teenstelling hiermee is die Ontwikkelingsdoelwitte meer ambisieuse 17 doelstellings van die VOD’s die resultaat van ‘n onderhandelingsproses tussen 193 lande wat wye konsultasie met ‘n (VOD’s) gekies. groot aantal belanghebbendes ingesluit het. Navorsing is noodsaaklik Die VOD’s wat gevolglik bepaal is, is verreikend, en die sterk aanklank met om die doelwitte van kritieke probleme vir Suid-Afrika en die kontinent is besonder opvallend. Ongelykheid, klimaatsverandering, die onsekere toekoms van die voedsel- volhoubare ontwikkeling en watervoorraad, werkloosheid, veilige stede – dit is ‘n draaiboek wat te bereik, en die deur ons geskryf sou kon word. Universiteit van Kaapstad Dit is ook gerusstellend om te let op die noue verband tussen die VOD’s – wat die resultaat was van so veel

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