UCT Is Set to Be a Hotspot for Global Warming Research
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Monday Paper 23 May – 05 June 2011 Vol. 30#0707 Newspaper of the University of Cape Town PgP 2 Pg 3 Pg 8 This edition and other editions of Monday Paper are available onlinelin at www.uct.ac.za/mondaypaper. For daily online news at UCT, please visit www.news.uct.ac.za/dailynews Africa’s leading role on climate change stage UCT is set to be a hotspot for global warming research t all of our peril should the world But he knows he has a stiff task Adiscount the part that Africa has ahead. to play in the international climate- “Part of my job will be to make change arena. “I’d argue that climate sure that UCT is the fi rst port of call change issues are as important, if not for anyone wishing to fund research more so, in Africa than in the devel- on climate change and development in oped world,” says Professor Mark Africa,” he says. New. Appointed just a few weeks ago That will be one of his two main as UCT’s fi rst pro vice-chancellor challenges, observes Hewitson. “There and director of the African Climate are a lot of different activities going and Development Initiative (ACDI), on at UCT on climate change, and we New’s comments echo exactly the are in a good position to be a leader on sentiment and driving force behind the the continent, but it requires bringing ACDI. some synergy to our efforts to be a Identifi ed as a strategic research voice on the continent,” he says. interest of national and international The second is to cross the divide concern by vice-chancellor Dr Max between disciplines and departments Price in his installation address, the and research groups. Something New ACDI sets out to build knowledge and was part of at Oxford, where his research capacity in climate change department’s Environmental Change at UCT. Institute fostered the kind of interdis- New’s job will be to provide lead- ciplinary collaboration that the ACDI ership, bring together those who work attempts to bring about at UCT. across disciplines, faculties and de- “He’s good at working across partments in this fi eld at the university, domains, and he has broad interdis- and rev up UCT’s already impressive ciplinary experience,” comments research record in climate change. Hewitson. The initiative’s bottom line is to “I think the key is to create an address Africa’s climate and devel- enabling environment,” says New. opment challenges from an African “True interdisciplinary research is perspective. And, as New and others not easy . but when it is successful, on the ACDI have pointed out, there’s the results can be very exciting and plenty to be concerned about. novel.” For one thing, Africa is one of Cape Town may not be novel to the regions most sensitive to climate New, but there will be some transi- change, explains New. That’s not only tion. He leaves behind his partner and because climate is more variable in two children in Oxford – so the eldest, the tropics and sub-tropics, but also 16, can fi nish his A-levels there – and because there’s often less capacity expects there’ll be a bit of to-and-fro to cope with the impacts of climate travelling for the next two years (not change. so environmentally friendly, he appre- And as economies speed up on Full circle : Alumnus Prof Mark New returns to Cape Town and UCT to head up the university’s African Climate and ciates). But he will be accompanied the continent, as many predict they Development Initiative. by the family dog – who often goes to will, there are worries that these will the offi ce with him – and fears some not always follow what New calls “a opportunities – and a responsibility – World Wide Fund for Nature and, in the national chair in climate change at in his Oxford department may miss low-carbon development pathway”. to focus on climate change.” addition to working in Southern Af- UCT. In fact, over recent years the two the dog more than him. Which is where Africa’s scholars and He may have been based in the rica, has conducted research in South have co-headlined a few papers on And while not big on extramural scientists come in. UK, at the Oxford University’s School Asia (with the UK Department for climate change trends and processes activities – “I have a stellar record in “While much of what needs to be of Geography and the Environment, International Development) and South in Africa. propping up the foot of the university done in Africa on the climate issue is these past many years, but New is America. New isn’t too bothered about squash ladder, kicking people rather political and economic, it is important familiar with the African – and the A UCT graduate (born in the UK, swapping the Oxford brand for UCT than the ball in fi ve-a-side soccer, that the research community works to broader developing world – situation. but schooled in South Africa), New – hey, it’s the only African university getting caught at long-on in the provide the best evidence, appropriate He’s worked with international groups has also kept in touch with his alma listed among the world’s top 200, he interdepartmental Twenty20 cricket to the African situation, for the politi- such as the International Water Man- mater, especially through the Climate points out, and his family lives in and competition” – he is looking forward cal and economic decision-makers,” agement Institute, the International Systems Analysis Group headed by around Cape Town. And he will retain to getting reacquainted with an old he says. “So I think there are amazing Livestock Research Institute and the Professor Bruce Hewitson, who holds a visiting position at Oxford. Cape Town fl ame: surfi ng. 2 Monday Paper NEWS 23 May – 05 June 2011 Vol. 30 #07 Roof raised at Obz Square HIV/Aids stigma remains a challenge – Price tigma remains a concern, said Svice-chancellor Dr Max Price at UCT’s annual Candlelight Memo- rial Concert, organised by the HIV/ AIDS Institutional Co-ordination Unit (HAICU) on 12 May. The event, which featured local band Goodluck, commemorated the lives of colleagues and friends who have died of AIDS, supported those liv- ing with the virus, and addressed the stigma still attached to the Making room: One of the completed kitchens in the Obz Square residence, disease. currently under construction. “Our main job is to address questions of stigmatisation, and I he revellers didn’t quite raise the fi nal 887 rooms had been completed, urge you to go out there and talk Troof, but with the main roof on toilets and all. Vice-chancellor Dr about it,” Price told students. the seven-storey, R485-million Obz Max Price reminded the audience He referred to UCT’s campaigns Lighting the way: VC Dr Max Price and student Luke Nkosi light a candle at Square completed in March, UCT why UCT had embarked on the for tackling the disease, particularly UCT’s annual Candlelight Memorial Concert. offi cials, project consultants and project – the university’s largest capi- the discipline-specifi c HIV/AIDS contractors celebrated the occasion tal investment yet, and set to become curriculum course components that tion rates have levelled out among infected over 5.7 million South Af- in some style at a roof-wetting on 12 UCT’s biggest student residence have been incorporated into the young people, the university – and ricans. The big task, he added, is for May. There’s still plenty of fi ne detail when it opens its doors in 2012 – formal curriculum. the country – cannot be complacent individuals to take responsibility, and fi nishing work to be done, but as notably the changing demographics Price noted that although infec- in responding to a disease that has and always to practise safe sex. Chris McMinn of NMC Construction of students, many of whom would reported at the bash, brickwork to struggle with their studies if they the seventh fl oor was halfway done weren’t able to live within reach of by the end of April, while 433 of the the university and its facilities. Full steam ahead for task team he task team established by Minis- Tter of Higher Education and Train- Skotnes Collection on tour ing Dr Blade Nzimande to develop a charter for establishing the importance of scholarship in the humananities and social sciences, and led by UCT’s Professor Ari Sitas, has completed its fact-fi nding visits. Sitas (sociology department) and Dr Sarah Mosoetsa of the University of the Witwatersrand have visited 22 of the country’s 23 higher education institutions, interacting with some 1 300 academics and students in the humanities and social sciences. They also ran focus groups with civil society organisations and social movements and recently held a key strategy workshop with 36 experts in the fi eld. A working paper developed by the task team was circulated for comment after CT’s Irma Stern Museum was the second stop for the national tour of the the strategic workshop. UKWV-sponsored Cecil Skotnes art collection, titled The Epic of Everlast- UCT’s Bianca Tame, also of the ing. After launching in Stellenbosch on 7 April, the collection will travel from sociology department, and co-ordi- city to city, ending in Paarl in January 2012. “He believed that immortality nator of the task team, said the facts could only be achieved through good works, one’s children and the power of gathered address six inter-related areas art,” said Professor Pippa Skotnes of UCT’s Michaelis School of Fine Art at the that affect the broader humanities, Irma Stern opening on 5 May.