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

New research informs improved treatment of brain inflammation

2017-10-13

Dr Adepemi Ogundeji, researcher in the Department of Microbial,
Biochemical and Food Biotechnology at the
University of the Free State,and Dr Olihile Sebolai,
her study leader from the same department.
Photo: Charl Devenish

Microbiologist Dr Adepemi Ogundeji has uncovered a new use for an old medicine that can potentially save lives and money. Under the guidance of her study leader, Dr Olihile Sebolai, Dr Ogundeji set out to fight a fungal disease caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. Drs Ogundeji and Sebolai are from the University of the Free State Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology.

Dr Ogundeji is passionate about education. “My aim will always be to transfer knowledge and skills in the microbiology field,” she said. “Dr Ogundeji’s study is celebrated in that it found a new purpose for existing medicines. An advantage of repositioning old medicines is by-passing clinical trials, which sometimes take 20 years, and the safety of such medicines is already known,” Dr Sebolai, explained.

Cryptococcus infections are difficult to control and often lead to brain inflammation. In layman’s terms: “Your brain is on fire”. People with HIV/Aids are especially vulnerable, surviving only about three months without treatment. Such patients may present with a Cryptococcus-emergent psychosis, and some with an out-of-control inflammatory condition when initiated on ARVs.

Dr Ogundeji found that the clinically recommended dosage of aspirin (anti-inflammatory medicine), and quetiapine (anti-psychotic medicine) is sufficient to control the infection. Her exceptional work was readily published in some of the foremost journals in her field, namely, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy and Frontiers in Microbiology

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