Latest news with #UWC
IOL News
2 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
UWC's Priscilla Baker honoured with prestigious L'Oréal–UNESCO award
Professor Priscilla Baker of the University of the Western Cape (UWC), is among five winners of this year's L'Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards. Image: Supplied Professor of analytical chemistry at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Priscilla Baker, is among five winners of this year's L'Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards. These researchers will be recognised for their contributions to physical sciences, mathematics and computer science at the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) headquarters in Paris, on June 12. Professor Baker was honoured for her contribution in the field of electrochemical microsensors for detecting contaminants in the environment, with applications in pharmaceuticals, food, health and energy. According to a statement, her dedication as a mentor in analytical electrochemistry has empowered students and early-career scientists to undertake innovative research projects in this field. She was named as the winner, also referred to as the laureate, for Africa and the Arab states. Growing up in Bellville South, Baker said she sometimes went to her old high school to motivate learners. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading She graduated with a BSc in Physical Oceanography from the University of Cape Town in 1990. 'The practical component of oceanography required long periods at sea, but the boats were not equipped for women, and the crew were not ready to accept a person of colour as a professional," she said. She then shifted to analytical chemistry, excelling under the mentorship of Professor Andrew Crouch and later earned her PhD in Chemistry from Stellenbosch University. Professor Priscilla Baker of the University of the Western Cape (UWC), is among five winners of this year's L'Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards. Image: Supplied "By actively sharing my journey, I have become a tangible example for female students to explore careers based on capability, not stereotypes," she said. Professor Baker is also the co-director of the SensorLab research group at UWC with Prof Emmanuel Iwuoha. The laureates were selected from a pool of 466 nominees and were announced on May 26. 'By celebrating the 2025 Laureates and each new generation of female researchers, we move closer to a world where the contributions of women are fully valued in every scientific field, and where we all benefit from their achievements,' said Lidia Brito, assistant director-general for Natural Sciences at UNESCO. Cape Argus
IOL News
3 days 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.
The Citizen
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Junior swimmer scores bronze at SA champs
Eliecia Chivandire's performance at the South African National Junior (SANJ) Swimming Championships was truly impressive. Held from April 25 to 29 at the University of Western Cape (UWC) campus pools, the event brought together the country's top junior swimmers to compete against one another for the top position. After defending her title in the previous SANJ Swimming Championships with a gold medal in the 50m backstroke and the 4x50m relay, the Charter College International learner stood out among the competition, winning a well-deserved bronze medal in the 50m backstroke event. In addition to her outstanding performance, Elicia also finished as a top 10 finalist in the 100m backstroke event and achieved personal bests in other events. Also read: Double gold win for Eliecia As one of the top young swimmers, her future in sports looks bright as she swims her way to success in every competition. Her bronze medal win is a stepping stone to her journey as a young and upcoming South African junior swimmer, climbing the ladder to the top leagues. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
23-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Inspiring the next generation: How the iAccelerate SA programme at UWC empowers young entrepreneurs
Learners attending the iAccelerate SA workshop, an innovative high school start-up accelerator designed to empower South African pupils with essential entrepreneurial and leadership skills, at the UWC. Image: Ian Landsberg / Independent Newspapers As the weeks build up to the final competition, where promising projects secure further mentorship and funding opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs, pupils in the iAccelerate SA programme hosted at the University of Western Cape (UWC) presented their test for business. The pupils from several high schools in the Western Cape excitedly shared their experiences through interactive sessions held at the weekend, which included entrepreneurial trailblazers and business owners sharing tips and tricks of business development and tapping into money management in a start-up, interaction with first clients, and fundraising techniques. Guest speaker, Director of Student Enrolment Management Unit, Dr Laurence Corner, on Friday, spoke to the group of pupils and aspiring entrepreneurs, encouraging them to make wise decisions for career choices. "It's not enough to say that I have done my best, but I must do the necessary to achieve success. When you make subject choices, don't go with what is easy. Do make those choices, keeping in mind that the choices you make will open doors for you," said Dr Corner. 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 ✕ He also highlighted how career choices may be a daunting and stressful task for teenagers at school, but encouraged pupils to "have an idea of what it is that interests and inspires you". "Don't stop dreaming and think of the craziest ideas possible. Think outside of the box and be creative." Answering questions posed by the pupils, Dr Corner was probed about the options of a gap year. He encouraged the aspirant youth to use a gap year productively. Dr Corner encouraged pupils to get into an environment where they can volunteer at institutions that pique their interest. "A gap year is a year between one set of studies and the next. During that gap year, ask questions that you don't have answers for yet. Get into the environments that you are interested in and immerse yourself to get an idea of what would be expected of you. If you want to be a doctor, volunteer at a local clinic to see the environment. Volunteer to work on your skills and get answers to unanswered questions of your intended career path." Chief Financial Officer of the African Equity Empowerment Investments (AEEI), Valentine Dzovova, shared her message of building resilience beyond hardship. 'You must always have a 'why' that will give you the drive to persevere against all odds. I had a few setbacks along my path, and this included my mom's passing while I was studying. When that came, I almost gave up my dream of becoming an accountant, but I persevered. Hardships should not be seen as something bad. 'I also wasn't always as financially adept as I am today, and I continuously learn along the way. There were many mistakes I made along my way to where I am now, but I learnt through the failures. I learnt my lesson and that was to always enquire and investigate to make the best decisions,' said Dzovova. Entrepreneur Zayaan Jardien gave an inspiring speech on resilience and how failure cultivates it, encouraging pupils to build their entrepreneurial skills to build their business empires. Relaying the attitude towards entrepreneurship and business development, Jardien said pupils must be consistent. 'Be consistent, always show up, and have an open mind to learn more. When you go about your business, ask yourself why this product or service matters. You have to put value behind your service,' said Jardien, adding that an entrepreneurial mindset should include the inception, survival, growth, expansion, and resilience. iAccelerate SA is an innovative high school start-up accelerator designed to empower South African pupils with essential entrepreneurial and leadership skills. iAccelerate officially launched on World Children's Day, November 20, 2024, and aspires to seamlessly connect the realms of education and the private sector, nurturing a spirit of innovation among young leaders. The programme drew inspiration from the successful iXperiment programme in Romania and is designed to empower high school pupils with entrepreneurial skills. It bridges the gap between the education system and the private sector, equipping pupils to address social, environmental, and economic challenges through innovative solutions. The iAccelerate SA programme follows a structured four-stage approach: Ideate – Pupils explore real-world challenges and develop solutions using Design Thinking. Innovate – Participants conduct market research and create prototypes of their business ideas. Initiate – Pupils develop Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) and test them in real market conditions. Iterate – The final stage includes refining marketing strategies and pitching start-ups to investors. Additionally, the programme includes workshops on marketing, financial literacy, and business strategy, mentorship from local and international entrepreneurs, and culminates in a final competition where promising projects secure further mentorship and funding opportunities. As the host institution, UWC plays a pivotal role in providing resources, student recruitment support, and career guidance for Grade 11 and 12 participants. The university's Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme will also support aspiring entrepreneurs in pursuing higher education and career development.
IOL News
19-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Exploring the harsh realities of app-based workers in sub-Saharan Africa
App-based transport and delivery workers listen to a report raising concern about their working conditions A groundbreaking report has revealed the harsh realities faced by app-based transport and delivery workers across sub-Saharan Africa, accusing digital platforms of systematically undermining decent work standards. Titled 'Decent Work in the Platform Sector: A Grassroots Report from Sub-Saharan Africa', the study draws on testimonies from workers from Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, and South Africa and exposes precarious working conditions, unfair pay, and a lack of labour protections. The report, which was released at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) earlier this month, is the culmination of various consultations and engagements among unions and platform worker associations affiliated to the International Alliance of App-Based Transport Workers (IAATW) since August 2024. Speaking at the launch of the report, Secretary General of the Western Cape E-Hailing Association, Omar Parker, thanked UWC's Centre for Transformative Regulation of Work (CENTROW) which co-hosted the event to launch the report. Omar said three South African app-based companies had been invited to be part of the discussions ahead of the report's launch. 'As workers in the sector we are seeking alternatives to these multinational app companies which are exploiting us. We invited them here with the express reason to hear from them as well, and for them also to hear what it is that matters most to us - that's the people on the ground,' said Omar. The report, developed through consultations led by the International Alliance of App-Based Transport Workers (IAATW), highlights how companies misclassify drivers as 'independent contractors' despite exerting near-total control over their work through algorithms. Workers reject labels like 'partners' or 'entrepreneurs,' arguing that the platforms' tight management qualifies them as employers under labour laws. CENTROW Director Professor Debbie Collier said next month's International Labour Organisation's conference will cover standard-setting for app-based workers. 'It is important that this is on the international agenda, but we have domestic, regional, and continental processes that we should also be feeding into. My concern is that we don't leave it up to global and international law forums, like the ILO - that we bring it closer to home,' she said. Prof Collier said what was encouraging about this week's meeting at UWC was that it was a reminder that standard-setting was not merely a technical exercise, writing standard, but about fundamentally engaging in social and political processes. 'It is about participation and inclusion in shaping those rules and also an opportunity to reflect on how we can design and implement fairer rules and insist on labour standards in ways that are perhaps more effective than the frameworks that we currently have.' Among the most pressing concerns highlighted in the report are: Poverty Wages: Workers are forced to juggle multiple apps due to meagre earnings, with no living wage guarantee. Hidden costs, high commissions, and vehicle oversupply further squeeze incomes. Sudden Deactivations: Many face abrupt account terminations without explanation or recourse, creating an atmosphere of fear akin to 'forced labour.' Safety Risks: Drivers endure accidents, violence, and stress with little support, while women workers report gender-based violence, wage gaps, and restricted work hours. The report has urged governments and the International Labour Conference (ILC) to: Reclassify app-workers as employees, closing the 'independent contractor' loophole. Establish wage protections, ensuring earnings cover login-to-logout hours and adjust for inflation. Create an independent regulatory body to oversee fair commissions, limit vehicle oversupply, and enforce gender-sensitive policies. Ban unfair deactivations, demanding transparency in algorithms and due process for appeals. Expand health and safety laws to include platform workers, with emergency protocols and insurance. National Convenor of the National E-Hailing Federation of South Africa, Uhuru Lekgowane, said although the taxi industry had promulgated a central industry determination in 2005, drivers are yet to enjoy the fruits of protection against abuse by their employers. The report's findings also expose gaps in enforcing core ILO conventions across the region, including freedom of association (C.87) and protections against forced labour (C.29, C.105). The IAATW warned that without urgent reforms, exploitative practices will worsen, leaving millions of workers trapped in precarious, algorithm-controlled jobs.
