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Qwaqwa Campus to host 46th SAAB Conference

30 December 2019 | Story Thabo Kessah | Photo Rian Horn

UFS Qwaqwa Campus — Hundreds of international botanists will be attending the 46th SAAB Annual Conference on the Qwaqwa Campus.

The University of the Free State Qwaqwa Campus is gearing up to host the 46th Annual Conference of the South African Association of Botanists from 7 to 10 January 2020. Talking about the choice of venue, Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, Dr Sandy-Lynn Steenhuisen, said the unique setting in the shadow of the Maloti-Drakensberg Mountains highlights the Qwaqwa Campus as a fantastic base for interdisciplinary montane studies. “This is the home of the Afromontane Research Unit (ARU), and it will also give the delegates an opportunity to explore a treasure trove of botanical diversity on a post-conference tour to the top of the Amphitheatre in the Northern Drakensberg,” she said.

International delegates

“The conference will be attended by approximately 250 delegates representing at least 10 countries. We are very excited to host two international and two national plenaries, namely Prof Peter Linder (University of Zürich), Prof Felipe Amorim (São Paulo State University – UNESP), Prof Annah Moteetee (University of Johannesburg), and our Young Botanist award winner from SAAB 2019, Ryan Rattray from GeneLethu Laboratories.”

SAAB 2020 is open to all researchers, industry partners, and citizen scientists from any botanical field. “The theme will embrace Qwaqwa’s cultural heritage by using the Sesotho phrase ‘Dimela ke bophelo’, which translates to ‘Plants are life’. This theme emphasises the dependence of all earthly life on plants. Delegates are offered the opportunity to book residence accommodation adjacent to the conference venue, and our conference organisers, XL Millennium, are eager to help with registration and any travel arrangements,” she added.

Botanists to be awarded

The conference will also be honouring botanists for their lifetime contributions to the field of plant sciences with the awarding of gold and silver medals, and the best doctoral thesis from the previous year with a bronze medal. These will be awarded during the gala dinner at the end of the conference.

News Archive

Record amount of degrees and diplomas awarded during Spring graduation ceremony

2005-09-12

The University of the Free State (UFS) will award a record amount of 885 degrees and diplomas on Thursday 15 September 2005 to students from the Vista and Main campuses during this year’s spring graduation ceremony.

Altogether 572 degrees and 313 diplomas will be awarded. This is the most degrees and diplomas that have been awarded during the spring graduation ceremony.

One honorary doctorate and 30 doctorates will also be awarded. The honorary doctorate Doctor Theologiae (honoris causa) will be awarded to Prof Wilhelm Neuser for his contribution to the promotion of international Calvin research and for his insight and personal dedication to involving South Africans in it.

In the Faculty of Health Sciences 74 degrees, 26 diplomas and 2 doctorates will be awarded, in the Faculty of Humanities (excluding the School of Education) 90 degrees, 9 diplomas en 6 doctorates will be awarded. In the Faculty of Law 31 degrees will be awarded, in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences 127 degrees, 2 diplomas and 15 doctorates will be awarded, in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences 173 degrees, 2 diplomas and 2 doctorates will be awarded and in the Faculty of Theology 13 degrees, 4 diplomas and 1 doctorate will be awarded.

In the School of Education 64 degrees, 273 diplomas and 1 doctorate will be awarded.

The diploma ceremony will start at 08:30 and the graduation ceremony will start at 14:30. Both ceremonies will take place in the Callie Human Centre on the Main Campus.

Media release
Issued by:  Lacea Loader
   Media Representative
   Tel: (051) 401-2584
   Cell: 083 645 2454
   E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
9 September 2005

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