Latest news with #GoldMedal
IOL News
an hour ago
- Science
- IOL News
Prof Priscilla Baker: a trailblazer in science and the 2025 L'Oréal-UNESCO laureate
Prof Priscilla Baker's groundbreaking career has earned her the top global recognition as the 2025 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Laureate, for Africa and the Arab States. Image: UWC University of the Western Cape Analytical Chemistry Prof Priscilla Baker's groundbreaking career has earned her the top global recognition as the 2025 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Laureate, for Africa and the Arab States. In a world where healthcare disparities persist and women remain underrepresented in science, Prof Baker is breaking barriers with her pioneering research in wearable electrochemical sensors while advocating for greater inclusivity in STEM fields. Growing up in Bellville South, Prof Baker said that, until recently, she would still go back to her old high school to motivate learners. Like many high schoolers in the mid-1980s, under PW Botha's State of Emergency, her schooling was also disrupted as she started matric in 1986. However, Prof Baker's path to scientific leadership was fraught with obstacles. In 1990, she became the first woman of colour to graduate with a BSc in Physical Oceanography from the University of Cape Town. Still, systemic discrimination barred her from pursuing honours in the field. 'The practical component of oceanography required long periods at sea, but the boats weren't equipped for women, and the crew were not ready to accept a person of colour as a professional," she recalled. Undeterred, she shifted to analytical chemistry, excelling under the mentorship of Prof Andrew Crouch and later earning her PhD in Chemistry from Stellenbosch University. This experience profoundly shaped her commitment to mentorship. "By actively sharing my journey, I've become a tangible example for female students to explore careers based on capability, not stereotypes," she said. Prof Baker with her Gold Medal prize from the South African Chemical Institute (1996). Prof Baker, the co-director of the SensorLab research group at UWC with Prof Emmanuel Iwuoha, is at the forefront of developing cutting-edge electrochemical sensors capable of detecting health biomarkers and environmental contaminants. These devices could revolutionise healthcare, particularly in underserved regions like rural Africa, by enabling early detection and continuous monitoring of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. "Most current medical interventions are designed for ex post facto implementation," Prof Baker explained. "The major shortcoming of modern medicine lies in the absence of continuous monitoring tools to inform medical practitioners of the early onset and progression of a disease." With recent investment from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) to establish an Electrochemical Sensors Node at UWC's NanoMicro Manufacturing Facility (NMMF), Prof Baker's team is now positioned to print and test these sensors on flexible substrates under real-life conditions. "We are bridging a crucial gap in healthcare knowledge and implementation," she explained. Prof Baker's work spans health, energy, and environmental sectors, with international collaborations accelerating innovation. A long-standing partnership with CY Paris University has led to joint research, student exchanges, and co-authored publications. "Collaborative research sharpens our skills and pushes us to think beyond our comfort zones." One of her most exciting projects, a biosensor for detecting uric acid in gout patients, has evolved into a potential global solution. Initially addressing gout prevalence in rural South Africa, the project now explores embedding sensors in shoe insoles for continuous biomarker monitoring, with partnerships forming between medical institutions and tech developers. While Prof Baker acknowledged progress for women in electrochemistry, she highlights systemic challenges. "Women often remain primary caregivers, facing career interruptions due to maternity leave and family demands - factors rarely accounted for in promotions," she noted. Her advice to institutions? "Surround yourself with leaders who embody excellence, kindness and fairness. We must create spaces where all can thrive." As Prof Baker continues to innovate in sensor technology and advocate for inclusivity, her work stands as a testament to resilience, collaboration, and the transformative power of science.
Irish Independent
12 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Dressing celebrities, getting ‘star struck' and a hobbit door – not even a rainy start could dampen the spirits of traders at Bloom
For traders and visiting groups, there have been plenty of highs and lows. From florists to the man behind a 'hobbit door', the Irish Independent spoke with those behind the stands for their peaks and pits of Ireland's favourite festival. For Anita Reynolds, owner of Anita Reynolds Art and Design, the high point was happening across sustainability advocate and former landscape designer Mary Reynolds, who was the youngest woman to win a Gold Medal at The Chelsea Flower Show. 'I saw her from a distance and said 'Oh hello Mary!' As if I knew her because I follow her online, but she was so lovely and she called over and bought a picture. I was star struck,' she said. Ms Reynolds produces ceramics and textiles inspired by the natural world in Meath where she is based. 'I use embroidery technique, batik and hand stitching to create a lot of my pieces that are inspired by Irish lambs, birds, fauna, flowers, and also history. I love historical monuments, so some of my work is inspired by relief carvings also,' she said. While the rain on Thursday was a bit of a damper for the businesswoman, she has had more sales and enquiries this year than her two previous years at the festival. 'On Thursday I had to take cover by the food stalls, the wind even made it difficult to eat. All the same, the footfall was amazing. Friday was probably my best day, but today has also been great for business,' she said yesterday. We're all making connections to further our skills and for florists to support each other The Institute of Flowers, Ireland's only professional organisation for florists, was also at the festival this year. It's the organisation's first year at Bloom. Jenny Murphy of Flowers by Moira, and chairperson of the Institute of Flowers, who holds a gold medal from the Chelsea Flower Show from 2012, is passionate about empowering florists across Ireland. ADVERTISEMENT 'We only launched the organisation in October and so we're here to raise awareness for professional floristry and create more of a community. We're all making connections to further our skills and for florists to support each other,' she said. Throughout the five-day festival, the institute has been creating buttonholes and other wearable arrangements. 'We've given thousands of them out over the past couple of days. Everyone's donated their time. And then the whole staff has been sponsored by suppliers which has been great,' Ms Murphy said Not everyone buys something but everyone stops and chats and says hello. It's a very uplifting experience Philip Gaffney of O'Gowna, a handmade Irish gifts business, was also among the stands this year. The family business based in north county Dublin creates handmade chess sets, fairy doors, figurines and more. For Mr Gaffney, the highlight of the weekend was chatting to the public about his 'hobbit door' he created for the festival. 'I've loved the honest reaction to it. We had a family come up to our stand and the mother later sent me the photograph she took of her three little girls sitting in front of the door. It just melted my heart to see them enjoy it,' he said. The rain was also an issue for Mr Gaffney on Thursday, not for lack of sales, but because customers didn't have as much time for a chat. 'The people are so lovely. Not everyone buys something but everyone stops and chats and says hello. It's a very uplifting experience,' he said. Another satisfied trader is Suzanne Clarke of Clarke's of Dublin, which sells handmade soaps, men's shaving products, candles. She has also enjoyed interacting with the crowds along with checking out what Bloom has to offer. 'It's been great to meet the makers, the clients that come into us and to chat with the creators of the gardens,' she said. Ms Clarke's business is inspired by her great-grandfather's role in the 1916 Rising with her use of traditional typography and classic style of packaging. 'Lots of people have been buying for Father's Day the past few days, with the shaving soap and shaving bowl a big hit. I got the idea from when I used to watch my Dad shave when I was young. Our lavender soap sells all day long too,' she said. Ms Clarke said she struggled to chat with buyers when she first started coming to the festival, ut now in her fifth year, business is bustling and she is a seasoned Bloom trader and loves mixing with customers. 'These days I love speaking with people and picking up on the buying trends for different products,' she said.
TTG
21 hours ago
- Business
- TTG
St Kitts' new agent portal and upcoming fam In The Spotlight
Video transcript With St Kitts Tourism trade sales representative Suzy Trott and TTG Media's Charlotte Cullinan. Charlotte: Hello and welcome to our In The Spotlight video with St Kitts. Suzy, let's start by talking about the launch of your new travel agent incentive. Tell us everything that agents need to know. Suzy: Yeah, absolutely. We're actually celebrating the launch of the incentive, it's brand new, so we're really very excited. All agents have to do is just make a seven-night booking, and that would have to include flight and a hotel. And then basically all they simply do is register through They enter all the booking details – the check-in, the reference number. And then once their customer has actually checked in, we verify the booking with the particular hotel. And then when it's all verified, then we send the travel agent a £50 Love2shop voucher. And that's for every booking. So it's a really great incentive. Pretty much all of the hotels in St Kitts are bookable through Gold Medal, so you can access all hotels. Charlotte: Brilliant. Thank you. That's really generous. And you also have an online training programme. Where can agents find that and what can they expect? Suzy: We do and it's a really great opportunity actually for travel agents to come in, have a slightly deeper knowledge and understanding about the destination, about the culture, about our history, and also, more information about the hotels. There's new hotels opening in St Kitts. And again, agents, all they have to do is go to and they come in and they, they register the details through that particular portal. Charlotte: Wonderful. Thank you. And next, let's talk about your Sky programme, which shares offers from all of the hotel partners in St Kitts doesn't it? Tell us how agents can join that and what the benefits are. Suzy: Yeah, again, we're really excited about this and this is running, so it's effective, it's live at the moment and it's running until the 15th of December. And any travel agent that comes to St Kitts gets brilliant agent rates, offers, and they start from about $95 per room per night, which is about £50. And if they want to come in and do site visits, if they want to do island tours, they simply have to come into the portal. So it's like a one-stop shop really for travel agencies, And they come in, and they register all their details for the Sky programme. And this is where, it is ideal actually, because we can communicate with our agents, we can update them on news, we can update them on roadshows, we can update them on incentives and also fam trips. So really we want them to come into, to the St Kitts specialist programme, where we can communicate with them on absolutely everything to do with St Kitts. Charlotte: Sounds great. Thank you. You are also running a fam trip later this year. When is that taking place and how can agents secure a place to join you? Suzy: We are it's going to be in November. The dates are to be determined, but it will be likely the middle of November. And we are opening that up to travel agents. Again, if they come into communicate with us, there'll be more information on that particular portal, how they can come in and qualify for a place on the fam trip. But we will be running it in November later this year. Charlotte: Fantastic. Thank you, Suzy. That was a really great insight into how St Kitts can support agents. And thank you for joining us for this In The Spotlight video with St Kitts.
CBC
2 days ago
- General
- CBC
U.S. claims Para World Hockey gold medal with 6-1 win over Canada
Jack Wallace had three goals and an assist, and Brody Roybal chipped in with five assists as the United States claimed gold with a 6-1 win over Canada in the Para World Hockey championship game on Saturday at LECOM Harborcentre in Buffalo. Liam Hickey scored for Canada, which trailed 3-1 after the first period and 4-1 heading into the third. Canadian netminder Adam Kingsmill stopped 18 of 24 shots, while Griffin Lamarre stopped 10 of the 11 shots he faced for the U.S. The U.S. went 2-for-3 on the power play, while Canada was 0-for-3. Czech Republic beat China 2-1 in overtime to claim the bronze medal.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
U.S. claims Para World Hockey gold medal with 6-1 win over Canada
BUFFALO — Jack Wallace had three goals and an assist, and Brody Roybal chipped in with five assists as the United States claimed gold with a 6-1 win over Canada in the Para World Hockey championship game on Saturday at LECOM Harborcentre. Liam Hickey scored for Canada, which trailed 3-1 after the first period and 4-1 heading into the third. Advertisement Canadian netminder Adam Kingsmill stopped 18 of 24 shots, while Griffin Lamarre stopped 10 of the 11 shots he faced for the U.S. The U.S. went 2-for-3 on the power play, while Canada was 0-for-3. Czechia beat China 2-1 in overtime to claim the bronze medal. Canada topped the Group A standings with a 3-0 record, while the U.S. finished first in Group B with the same record. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2025. The Canadian Press
