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Betsy Eister – Keeping the main thing the main thing

24 August 2020 | Story Amanda Tongha | Photo Supplied

Betsy Eister 2_read more — Keitumetse Betsy Eister says the information they provide is used by researchers “in conducting much-needed research aimed at contributing towards the knowledge base of South Africa, knowledge aimed at building our nation towards a developed country”.

The role of Keitumetse Betsy Eister, Director: Library and Information Services – who leads a diverse team of 65 staff members – is to ensure that the University of the Free State community has access to information. This is done to “support lecturers in teaching researched content to undergraduate and postgraduate students and to assist students in their learning expedition by supporting them towards academic success and life-long learning”. Giving an overview of the role of the UFS Library and Information Services, Eister adds that the information they provide is used by researchers “in conducting much-needed research aimed at contributing towards the knowledge base of South Africa, knowledge aimed at building our nation towards a developed country”. This information is also beneficial to support staff and the management of the university, who are using it to deliver well-researched services.

With a masters’ degree in Library and Information Services and working on her PhD, Eister is the right person to ensure that the right information gets to the right people. A mother of two and someone that colleagues look up to, there is much to learn about this UFS champion woman.

Tell us about yourself

I was born and bred in Thaba Nchu 56 years ago. I remain grateful and proud of the type of parents I had, who instilled in me the belief and love for education, a foundation that has grounded me and led me to where I am today.

I believe in the teachings of the late Steven Covey, one of which is “the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing”. In short, he says you need to stay focused on what you choose to do. In staying focused, I prefer to be driven by principles that have proven to have worked well in humanity, such as the government’s batho pele principles, ubuntu principles, ethical leadership principles, and so on.

On being a UFS staff member

I am proud of the 10 years I have spent as a Kovsie, with staff members who always remind me about the positive contributions I have made in their lives. Many of them have worked on their qualifications, some have obtained their first degrees, while others have improved their qualifications. At this stage, I can safely say the UFS LIS is a learning organisation, with four of us busy with doctoral studies, four with master’s studies, three with their honours, and six with their first degrees. We have also been working on our research capabilities, with two articles already published.

Advice to her 15-year-old self

Looking back, I see a little girl who fortunately made the right choices in life. The most important one was to listen to my parents. I went to a girls’ high school, the St Anne’s High School. At one stage, we performed the Bible story, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, and I played the role of one of Pharaoh’s dancers. I developed a love for dancing and wanted to turn it into a career. My parents advised me to get my education first; I wasn’t very pleased with that, but I listened to them. I am glad that this 15-year-old worked on her education; I believe I would never have been the self-actualised woman I am today, given the dancing-career opportunities that were scarce for black people during those years. I believe education is key, whether you want to work as an employee or run your own business. It brings with it the maturity and knowledge required in both areas of productivity.

Women who inspires her

Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng, the UCT Vice-Chancellor. She is a classic example of what it means to spend the 24 hours we all have in a day; what you do with it depends on you. I see her using it to make an impact on a number of fronts within her circles of life, showing what ‘woman power’ is capable of. UCT students call her ‘Deputy Mother’, hooking up with them on social media. I, for example, join her every Sunday at 16:00 during her one-hour sessions, taking us through all aspects of postgraduate studies; this is for anyone to join, not only UCT students. She has now started sessions on building a career in academia. She seems to be living a balanced life, also making time for exercising and hiking.

News Archive

What do diamonds, chocolates, bugs and almost 30 Nobel Prizes have in common? Crystallography

2014-10-15

Some of the keynote speakers and chairpersons at the third world summit in the International Year of Crystallography (in Africa) were, from the left, front: Profs Abdelmalek Thalal (Morocco), Prosper Kanyankogote (University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo); Habib Bougzala (Tunisia), Santiago Garcia-Granda (IUCr, University Oviedo, Spain), Michele Zema (IYCr 2014, Italy/UK) and Dr Jean-Paul Ngome-Abiaga (UNESCO, Paris, France); back: Dr Thomas Auf der Heyde (Acting Director-general, South African Department of Science and Technology); Dr Petrie Steynberg (SASOL) and Prof André Roodt (UFS, host).

Photo: Marija Zbacnik

The third world summit in the International Year of Crystallography (in Africa) was hosted by Prof André Roodt, Head of the Department of Chemistry and President of the European Crystallographic Association, at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein.

A declaration with and appeal to support crystallography and science across Africa, was signed.

When one mentions 'Crystallography', or more simply 'crystals', what comes to mind? Diamonds? Perhaps jewellery in general? When thinking of crystals and Crystallography, you will need to think much bigger. And further – even to Mars and back.

Crystallography refers to the branch of science that is concerned with structure and properties of crystals. The obvious examples would include cut diamonds, gemstones such as amethysts, and ‘simple’ crystals such as selenite and quartz.

But have you thought about the irritating brown scales at the bottom of your kettle? The sand in your shoes? The salt over your lamb chops or the sugar in your coffee? All crystals. From egg shells to glucose, from bugs and insecticides to additives in food – even the compounds in chocolate – all fall under the close scrutiny of Crystallography.

The breakthroughs this field of science has produced have led to almost 30 Nobel Prizes over the years.

Determining the structure of DNA by crystallography was arguably one of the most significant scientific events of the 20th century. Different diseases have been cured or slowed by medicines obtained based on crystallographic studies. These include certain cancers, HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Biological Crystallography enables the development of anti-viral drugs and vaccines.

This field of science influences our daily lives in virtually immeasurable ways. Here are but a few areas of study and development Crystallography contributes to:

•   LCD displays;
•   cellular smartphones;
•   insects and insecticides;
•   additives and products in foods;
•   improved effectiveness and security of credit cards;
•   new materials to preserve energy;
•   better gasoline with less by-products;
•   identify colour pigments used in paintings from the old masters, indicating if it’s an original or an imitation; and
•   beauty products such as nail polish, sun-block, mascara and eye shadow.

Crystallography is also currently used by the Curiosity Rover to analyse the substances and minerals on Mars.

Crystals and Crystallography form an integrated part of our daily lives – from bones and teeth to medicines and viruses, from chocolates to the blades in airplane turbines. Even down to the humble snowflake.

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