Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

Charissa Worthmann wins UFS FameLab!

27 December 2019 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa | Photo Xolisa Mnukwa

Clarissa — “It is my duty to share knowledge, and to make use of my academic experiences to uncover meaningful ways in which scientists can relay scientific information to the broader public. - 2019 FameLab winner: Charissa Worthmann

Kovsie student Charissa Worthmann considers herself an absolute nerd who loves science and surrounds herself with people who inspire her. An aspiring academic, Charissa says she has a passion for research and feels it is her duty to share knowledge and uncover meaningful ways in which scientists can relay scientific information to the broader public.

It is these qualities that earned her the title of 2019 UFS FameLab winner.
The Centre for Environmental Management master’s student impressed judges at the UFS leg of the international competition, beating 20 other contestants to be announced winner. Students from the Faculties of Health Sciences, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and the Humanities took part in the competition hosted on the Bloemfontein Campus in November 2019.

According to Charissa, science and technology are valuable to everybody exposed to it. She believes that today’s youth is the generation that will have the ability to implement transformation in our future society.
“My ambition in life is more than achieving my personal goals; I strive to seek gaps and identify where I can make a difference, both in people and systems or structures.”

FameLab and the significance of science and technology in our society

FameLab is an international competition designed to engage and entertain by challenging young scientists to communicate their science research to a public audience in less than three minutes. These talks by young scientists are designed to be fun and engaging, making science relevant and relatable to everyone. Charissa described her FameLab experience as quite challenging and nerve-wracking, but she wanted to make use of her discomfort and stress throughout the competition to aid her overall growth as a scientist.

Charissa’s presentation on hydraulic fracturing – an alternative way of fracking – and the impact it has on groundwater, is what earned her the win. “I believe the significance of my win is that it has showed me that my thoughts and perspectives give me power,” she explained.

“I have a passion for research and love the academic setting. I feel that a multi-disciplinary approach to research is the way forward to produce all-inclusive solutions that the ‘real world’ problems of our times need,” she explained.

News Archive

UFS DiMTEC will help compile national emergency management system

2017-10-11

Preparedness and response are the two most important aspects of managing disaster when it strikes. Prof Andries Jordaan, Head of the Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (DiMTEC) at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently attended an incident command course in California in the US.

Learning from US disaster management systems
More than 20 specialists from 17 countries attended the course where participants were introduced to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) in the US. The system was implemented after lessons learned during 9/11. “According to the NIMS structure, all government organisations at all levels as well as emergency agencies had to standardise terminology and systems,” said Prof Jordaan.

The professor also had the opportunity to visit among others the Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) headquarters in California, some State Coordination Centres as well as several other disaster management centres. He also had the chance to shadow an Incident Management Team (IMT) during active operations.

Providing training for local disaster management
Insight gained during this course, as well as Prof Jordaan’s experience as senior officer in the South African National Defence Reserve Forces, provided him the necessary background to conduct training and give assistance in terms of disaster management.

Through DiMTEC Prof Jordaan will assist the National Disaster Management Centre with the implementation of a national emergency management system. He will also provide training for incident management teams.

“DiMTEC is currently also in the process of developing a Master module in disaster response. Command and control and Incident Command will form a sub-module in the disaster response module,” he said.

From South Africa, Prof Jordaan was joined on the course by General Elias Mpumelelo Mahlabane from the South African Police Services, who is responsible for disaster management in the SAPS. Savage Breytenbach, a trainer in rural fire fighting who assists Mangaung with command and control structures, also attended the course.

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept