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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

State-of-the-art audio-visual studio up and running at UFS
2015-11-25

The state-of-the-art audio-visual studio that was unveiled in the beginning of this year reaped its first crop during a historic moment. On Wednesday 28 October 2015, the eight pilot students in the Postgraduate Programme in Film and Visual Media, which was launched at the beginning of this year, had their first big screen experience. Eight films were premiered in one night at the University of the Free State (UFS) Bloemfontein Campus.

An intimate movie theatre was brimming with friends and family of the students, their lecturers, and judges who doubled as moderators. This was no ordinary motion picture viewing. The apprentice filmmakers’ productions were undergoing formal external examination.

Judge by a legend

Katinka Heyns
critiqued the student’s final products. Heyns is a renowned filmmaker, actress, director, producer, and founder of the production company, Sonneblom Films. She has numerous awards to her name, including the Career Contribution and Innovation Award, Legendary Award for Woman in Film and Television, and Medal of Honour for Paljas, which were presented by the Absa Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK), International Crystal Award, and South African Academy for Science and Arts, respectively.

Johanet Kriel and Chris Vorster from the film school also assisted as moderators.



The cinema exam

Each student had 20 minutes to provide a synopsis for the viewers, and screen the movie. At the end, The Secret of the Golden Flower, written and directed by Rudiker Janse van Rensburg, and The Nexus Effect, written and directed by Gawie Myburgh were judged the best movies “Both films had had clear and creative story lines, a solid structure, and quality editing,” said Chris Vorster.

Despite technical teething problems, all the students showed a great deal of talent and passion for filmmaking. “Given the time constraints and technical challenges, I’m very relieved that we actually got films on screen. They all impressed me with their creativity. Mission accomplished,” added Vorster.

The films

• The Blood of Barbara (Yvonne Allwright)
• Diary of an Oreo (Nonsindiso Qwabe)
• GeFop! (Hendrik Cronje)
• The Nexus Effect (Gawie Myburgh)
• The Secret of the Golden Flower (Rudiker Janse van Rensburg)
• Well ain’t that a Coinkydink?! (Rethabile Radebe)
• What Lurks in the Dark…(Rese Moore)

(Photo caption: Front row from left: Nonsindiso Qwabe, Suné van Heerden, Theresa Moore, Gawie Myburgh. Middle row: Rudiker Janse van Rensburg, Hendrik Cronjé, Yvonne Allwright, and Rethabile Radebe. Back: lecturer: Chris Vorster.)

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