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09 October 2018 | Story UFS | Photo Eugene Seegers
Prof Johan Venter monitors an experiment during a Chemistry magic
Prof Johan Venter monitors an experiment during a ‘Chemistry magic’ demonstration at the launch of the new laboratory on the South Campus.
“This facility is proof of the belief, dedication, and willingness to create teaching and learning facilities, as well as the environment to secure successful studies for deserving students after their South Campus year, by laying a firm foundation.” These were the words of Francois Marais, Manager: Extended Curriculum Programmes, at the opening of a new Chemistry laboratory on the UFS South Campus. He added: “The culmination of this project is the result of sacrifice, hard work, and outstanding academic leadership.”

The lab came into being as a result of a pressing need for laboratory space to accommodate Chemistry students on the Bloemfontein and South campuses. Elzmarie Oosthuizen, Manager: Teaching and Learning in the faculty, discerned this need, formulated a plan, and submitted it to the Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Prof Danie Vermeulen. Since limited funds were available and a new building was not financially feasible, Mrs Oosthuizen suggested converting existing space on the South Campus into an appropriately equipped laboratory to relieve the additional strain on existing laboratories on the Bloemfontein Campus.

At the launch of the lab, Prof Vermeulen thanked the management and team effort of the Department of Chemistry for their enthusiasm, optimism, and positive attitude, which made it possible to establish the laboratory in a very short time.

Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State (UFS), said: “This lab is a masterpiece of the South Campus. The University of the Free State is on a mission to improve and enhance our level of excellence in the field of academia. That is what academia is all about   to continually strive to be the best. That is why our vision is to be a research-led, student-centred, and regionally engaged institution.” He further said the value system through which this would be achieved, was development within the context of a social-justice framework.

Prof Walter Purcell, Head of the Department of Chemistry, mentioned that this new lab would bring about a 23% reduction in the number of first-year students who have to perform Chemistry practicals each week, resulting in fewer sessions being presented per week. “This has eliminated the need for evening sessions and the associated travel and safety issues for students who have to commute.”

By the launch date on 28 September 2018, 1 326 practical sessions had already been presented in the new laboratory.

News Archive

Eusebius McKaiser talks about the magic of books
2013-03-19

 

Eusebius McKaiser
Photo: Johan Roux
19 March 2013

“If you want to turn around this country in terms of the rot in education, you have to start reading. You have to read for your degree."

This was the message from writer and political analyst, Eusebius McKaiser, at a public lecture hosted by the UFS Library and Information Services to celebrate South African Library Week.

Addressing the audience that consisted mostly of students, McKaiser, author of “A Bantu in my bathroom,” said it is not too late to start reading.

"We claim we are too busy as adults, but what is the opportunity cost of not reading? I think we lose our humanity, our sense of awe in the world around us when we stop reading as adults. Instead of saying we are too busy, we will do well to ask ourselves what is the cost of no longer reading as much as we did when we were children."

Reading from some of his favourite books, McKaiser spoke about writing techniques and the magic of books. He read excerpts from JM Coetzee's book “Disgrace,” which he considers to be the most important South African novel. He also read paragraphs from books by Rian Malan, James Baldwin and K Sello Duiker – calling the latter a genius.

Reflecting on the role of fiction, McKaiser said the genre is misunderstood and not utilised sufficiently by academics. "We see fiction as something restricted to the English Department or literary departments. I think fiction can be used as a tool in many departments in the humanities. It gives more real material for exploring complicated questions in the humanities and thought experiments that resemble life."

McKaiser also discussed the role of librarians and writers, saying writers should write what they like, but should not ignore the context. "As academics, librarians, teachers, we have to write for the context in which we teach. We have to order books for the context in which we are librarians and as academics we must not write textbooks for students who live in New York. We have to write textbooks for students who come from townships.”

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