Creepy cuisine goes from gross to gourmet
Foods that may previously have evoked a 'yuck' response are crawling their way onto mainstream menus.
In this episode of SAM on The Filed, Dan Moyane, spent time with a researcher at University of Pretoria's Entomology Department who is exploring how you can get your grub on.
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an hour ago
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Help protect the elusive African Striped Weasel: a call for citizen scientists
The African striped weasel has a sleek black face, while the striped polecat sports distinctive white facial markings. Image: Michael Jordan In a unique collaboration between academia and community, Kyle Smith, a dedicated doctoral candidate at the University of Pretoria, is seeking assistance from the public to uncover the mysteries surrounding one of Southern Africa's most elusive small carnivores, the African striped weasel. Smith's call for citizen scientists is not simply an appeal for data, but a rallying cry to protect a species that remains shrouded in obscurity. The African striped weasel (Poecilogale albinucha) is characterised by its striking black-and-white fur and a secretive, nocturnal lifestyle. Experts believe that its stealthy nature and solitary habits contribute to its rarity in sightings, leading to a substantial gap in knowledge about its behaviour and ecological role. Smith is particularly keen to gather reports of the weasel's presence in arid, desert-like areas, as well as information on potential burrow and resting site locations. Infographic Image: Weasel watch Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ "In particular, I'd appreciate comments from people who have seen them in arid, desert-like areas," Smith emphasises. "If I can collect scat, I could find out much more about the animal's diet too." This initiative comes on the heels of a growing concern among wildlife experts regarding the weasel's conservation status, as the true population numbers and potential threats to its survival remain largely unknown. Smith's fascination with the African striped weasel began during his undergraduate studies in zoology, a revelation that turned into a personal mission. 'I couldn't believe that there was indeed a South African mammal that had eluded me,' he recalled. His interest only deepened upon witnessing two live weasels in the wild while travelling through the Sandveld area of the Western Cape. Smith's observations ignited his quest to understand if these small carnivores, which may hunt mole-rats in their tunnels, possess behaviours that set them apart from their fellow predators. Polecats boast longer, fluffier fur and walk on higher legs. Image: Gobabeb Namib Research Institute The last significant research on the species dates back to the 1970s, led by the late Dave Rowe-Rowe in KwaZulu-Natal. Since then, Smith has taken it upon himself to compile a distribution map and gather recent sighting data, which is a vital step in laying the groundwork for future conservation efforts. He has already received encouraging feedback and support from the public, showcasing a community eager to engage with wildlife conservation. Smith's research is guided by a team of experts and supported by the University of Pretoria's Mammal Research Institute. His ambitious plans include collaring some wild weasels—an unprecedented move for studying this elusive species, which will provide invaluable insights into their behaviour. The study will require nocturnal monitoring efforts as the weasel is known for its active night-time escapades, while Smith will also interact with local communities to gauge their understanding of the species. Kyle Smith Image: UP
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Enhancing research accessibility: University of Pretoria's innovative AI translation initiative
The University of Pretoria's library services has launched an AI project aimed at translating academic research into several languages. Image: File The University of Pretoria's Department of Library Services (DLS) launched the groundbreaking 'Translation of Abstracts' project - an initiative that harnesses artificial intelligence (AI) to make research accessible in multiple indigenous languages. The project is the product of collaboration between professional and academic departments, reflecting the university's commitment to transdisciplinary work. 'This is about the kind of university we want to be,' said Professor Suni Maharaj, UP Vice Principal for Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Education, in stressing the need for collaboration and to bridge not only the digital divide, but also the emerging AI divide. 'AI is a tool that allows us to do things we never thought possible. We must ensure it becomes an opportunity for all, not a barrier for many.' The DLS sees this project as more than just a technical exercise - it is an invitation for students to engage with issues beyond their academic timetables, through activities such as book clubs and poetry nights in indigenous languages, said the DLS Director, Lindiwe Soyizwapi. It was further said that providing access to knowledge is central to the library's mandate, and with research capable of addressing societal challenges and shaping policy, this project aligns with a broader movement toward inclusive, multilingual knowledge that benefits both academia and society. The project was linked to the long-held dream of a decolonised education system, in which students can think, learn, and create in their mother tongues. 'This is cultural and linguistic preservation. It's equity. It's self-determination. We are making history by ensuring no student is excluded,' student David Kabwa said. A representative from the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR), Professor Langa Khumalo, reinforced this by stating that language humanises us. 'The choice of language in education has historically been weaponised to suppress other ways of learning. We must actively cultivate indigenous digital knowledge, challenging the notion that English equals knowledge.' Professor of Computer Science, Vukosi Marivate, explained that systems don't know our languages. 'We need to build systems that recognise them.' He added that this work is driven not by ego, but by care - care for communities, for future generations, and for the survival of linguistic diversity. The project's development involved training AI models with 25 academic abstracts into Afrikaans, IsiZulu, and Sepedi, refining them through human translation and validation to ensure academic precision, accuracy, and language context. Khumalo described the aim as 'not to dumb it down, but to maintain scientific rigour while broadening access.' Early results have shown the unique challenges of different languages. For example, Afrikaans translations required only minor human editing, while Sepedi translations demanded significant reworking due to missing terminology - a process likened to 'building a house while manufacturing the bricks.'
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
‘We must propel the voices of women in science' – Deputy Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation at UP Women in Science Symposium
Held under the theme 'Unpacking STEM Careers: Her Voice in Science', the Deputy Minister described the event as both a tribute and a call to action to celebrate, empower and propel the voices of women in science towards a future that truly reflects the diversity, strength and potential of South Africa. Ms Gina was delivering the keynote address at the seventh annual Women in Science Symposium, hosted by the University of Pretoria (UP) at Future Africa, UP's pan-African platform for collaborative research. Despite notable progress in empowering and elevating South African women in science, Deputy Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Nomalungelo Gina has urged greater national commitment to spotlighting the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 'We must reflect on the strides we have made, acknowledge the work yet to be done, and commit ourselves to the determination required for real, lasting transformation,' she said. 'Women in South Africa are contributing groundbreaking research, setting global standards in health, environmental sciences, data and digital technologies, and many more fields. Yet we cannot ignore that women and girls remain underrepresented, especially at senior and strategic levels.' Ms Gina said UP's Women in Science platform is a crucial platform through which to celebrate the achievements of South African women in science, including those who conduct cutting-edge research, lead multidisciplinary teams, head institutions, and inspire thousands of students. Similarly, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation's South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA) celebrates the outstanding achievements of women in STEM. UP Vice-Principal for Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Education Professor Sunil Maharaj applauded the phenomenal contributions and advancements that women have made in all areas of STEM. He acknowledged that these achievements were made in the face of many obstacles, with many more still to be overcome. UP is home to more than 2 932 academics and researchers, of whom 57% are women. UP has 447 professors, of whom 39% are women. Women currently account for 40% of UP's total of 570 National Research Foundation- rated researchers, and 50% of its South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) positions are held by women. 'Faced with a legacy of inequality, you have had to go all out to prove yourselves in what was, and in too many cases still is, a male-dominated world,' Prof Maharaj said. 'My heartfelt wish is that in the near future we can dispense with terms like 'male-dominated world' as a never-to-be-repeated anachronism. At UP, we are entirely committed to achieving gender equality and women's empowerment at all levels and in all fields.' Dr Rakeshnie Ramoutar-Prieschl, UP's Director of Internationalisation and Strategic Partnerships, said, 'We can do so much more together through empowered intergenerational dialogue that starts to interrupt, disrupt, and break the cycle of stereotypes and gender biases. We must ask ourselves the painful questions about our youth. Who gets to see themselves become scientists? And who gets left out before they even get a chance? These questions need answers and call for transformative and inclusive change that supports the empowerment of girls and women beyond their current place of being relegated to the fringes of the economy and society.
