Latest News Archive
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News Items
2019-05-31 |
The Future Is Here: Download the KovsieApp |
2019-05-31 |
The Future Is Here: Download the KovsieApp |
2019-05-30 |
#AfricaDay Memorial Lecture: African identity rooted in Ubuntu |
2019-05-30 |
#AfricaDay Memorial Lecture: African identity rooted in Ubuntu |
2019-05-30 |
Housing and Residence Affairs promotes quality accommodation for students |
2019-05-30 |
Housing and Residence Affairs promotes quality accommodation for students |
2019-05-29 |
Prof Francis Petersen addresses the National Press Club |
2019-05-29 |
Prof Francis Petersen addresses the National Press Club |
2019-05-29 |
Three Kovsies off to Netball World Cup |
2019-05-29 |
Three Kovsies off to Netball World Cup |
2019-05-29 |
Epistemic justice is crucial for a sustainable democratic future |
2019-05-29 |
Epistemic justice is crucial for a sustainable democratic future |
2019-05-29 |
‘Courts must embrace 4IR’, says Judge President Musi |
2019-05-29 |
‘Courts must embrace 4IR’, says Judge President Musi |
2019-05-28 |
Steady on the stress: Tips for fighting exam anxiety |
2019-05-28 |
Steady on the stress: Tips for fighting exam anxiety |
2019-05-28 |
Students pay it forward with meals this Africa Month |
2019-05-28 |
Students pay it forward with meals this Africa Month |
2019-05-28 |
Kovsie’s Siphila Dlamini leads 15th Southern Africa Scout Youth Forum |
2019-05-28 |
Kovsie’s Siphila Dlamini leads 15th Southern Africa Scout Youth Forum |
2019-05-28 |
Reflecting on the past, present, and future of Africa |
2019-05-28 |
Reflecting on the past, present, and future of Africa |
2019-05-27 |
Communique from the Rector and Vice-Chancellor to the University Community |
2019-05-27 |
Communique from the Rector and Vice-Chancellor to the University Community |
2019-05-24 |
Investigative journalism at the forefront at #GangsterState discussion |
2019-05-24 |
Investigative journalism at the forefront at #GangsterState discussion |
2019-06-03 |
2019 June graduations to honour master’s and doctoral degrees |
2019-06-03 |
2019 June graduations to honour master’s and doctoral degrees |
2019-05-21 |
UFS struts academic excellence at 2019 Open Day |
2019-05-21 |
UFS struts academic excellence at 2019 Open Day |
2019-05-21 |
Graduates told to uphold honourable character |
2019-05-21 |
Graduates told to uphold honourable character |
2019-05-21 |
Digital Storytelling Lab: Where stories and technology meet |
2019-05-21 |
Digital Storytelling Lab: Where stories and technology meet |
2019-05-17 |
Agribusiness Transformation Programme, empowering black emerging farmers |
2019-05-17 |
Agribusiness Transformation Programme, empowering black emerging farmers |
2019-05-14 |
Qwaqwa Campus is ready for graduations |
2019-05-14 |
Qwaqwa Campus is ready for graduations |
2019-05-13 |
Absa supports UFS students through to graduation |
2019-05-13 |
Absa supports UFS students through to graduation |
2019-05-13 |
Global body re-affirms UFS lab’s vaccine testing status |
2019-05-13 |
Global body re-affirms UFS lab’s vaccine testing status |
2019-05-13 |
Your future is here; this is the place to be, future Kovsies are told |
2019-05-13 |
Your future is here; this is the place to be, future Kovsies are told |
2019-05-09 |
More success for netballers in different competition? |
2019-05-09 |
More success for netballers in different competition? |
2019-05-07 |
UFS prioritises student well-being through Social Support Unit |
2019-05-07 |
UFS prioritises student well-being through Social Support Unit |
2019-05-07 |
Crime dialogue elicits commitment to ensure tighter security |
2019-05-07 |
Crime dialogue elicits commitment to ensure tighter security |
2019-05-06 |
Africa Month to unpack pressing topics following elections |
2019-05-06 |
Africa Month to unpack pressing topics following elections |
2019-05-06 |
Kovsie Advice: Exam edition is out |
2019-05-06 |
Kovsie Advice: Exam edition is out |
2019-05-06 |
Mr Nikile Ntsababa appointed as Registrar of the UFS |
2019-05-06 |
Mr Nikile Ntsababa appointed as Registrar of the UFS |
2019-05-06 |
The Youth Vote: Political Patronising Must Fall |
2019-05-06 |
The Youth Vote: Political Patronising Must Fall |
2019-05-03 |
Wheelchair donation allows David to pursue his athletic dream |
2019-05-03 |
Wheelchair donation allows David to pursue his athletic dream |
2019-05-03 |
Long jumper Lynique dreams big |
2019-05-03 |
Long jumper Lynique dreams big |
2019-05-03 |
Hockey coach excited about team’s chances |
2019-05-03 |
Hockey coach excited about team’s chances |
2019-05-02 |
UFS Debate Society win Jozi Rumble again! |
2019-05-02 |
UFS Debate Society win Jozi Rumble again! |
Department celebrates 50th anniversary
2009-03-25
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The first Departmental Head and the subsequent Departmental Chairpersons at the dinner on 14 March this year. From left: Proff Bernard Prior (1991-1998), Piet Lategan (1962-1990), Derek Litthauer (1998-2002) and James du Preez (2002-). These are all the Heads/Chairpersons of the Department since its founding in 1959, with the exception of Prof Hans Potgieter who acted as Head during 1959-1962.
Photo: Stephen Collett
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Department celebrates 50th anniversary
On 13 March the Department Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology at the University of the Free State (UFS) celebrated its 50th anniversary in a splendid fashion with a lecture entitled, The origin of life: Exactly how did life begin? as part of the Darwin commemorative lecture series, followed by a reunion of current and former staff members and postgraduate students of the department with a barbeque on the following day.
The proceedings were concluded on 14 March with a gala dinner in die Centenary Complex at the UFS attended by 153 staff members, post-graduate students (current and former) and other guests. During the dinner the guests were treated to a presentation of historical photos of the founding and development of the department. Currently the department is one of the largest departments in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences in respect of the number of staff members and students as well as research outputs. This is the result of entrepreneurial actions to increase student numbers and research activities, as well as the merging with the smaller Department of Biochemistry in 1988 and more recently with the Department of Food Science in 2002. The department comprises 20 academics, 24 support staff and 65 postgraduate students. It also boasts 12 lecturers with ratings from the National Research Foundation (NRF), which include three academics with a B-rating, an indication of international recognition for their research. The department has the largest number of lecturers with an NRF-rating at the UFS.
“It was interesting to learn during the reunion of the variety of professions occupied by former students of the department, i.e. at other tertiary educational institutions, the CSSIR, SAPPI, Sasol and a multitude of other industries, as well as at research institutions in the USA and Australia,” said Prof. James du Preez, Head of the Department. |