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11 February 2020
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Story Leonie Bolleurs
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Photo Leonie Bolleurs
Prof Liesl van As, Academic Head of the Department of Zoology and Entomology, is passionate about equal rights for parasites.
As a research-led institution, the university has 1 600 female researchers (2019 statistics), with 63 boasting ratings from the National Research Foundation (NRF). Four of the UFS SARChI Research Chairs are also headed by women.
One of the scientists at the University of the Free State (UFS) who gets excited about research is Prof Liesl van As, Academic Head of the Department of Zoology and Entomology.
She was part of the UFS team that established Africa’s largest digital laboratory, equipped with 227 microscopes, to ensure that undergraduate students from Zoology and Entomology, as well as Plant Sciences (Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences), have access to hi-tech equipment for a cutting-edge teaching experience.
The good and the bad
But she also has a passion for her own research – that of fish parasites. Her most recent research work is about the biodiversity of fish parasites in natural river systems, with a focus on the Orange River and its tributaries, as well as the Okavango River and Delta in Botswana.
A few years ago, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries expanded their mandate for fisheries management by adding inland fisheries and aquaculture to their list of responsibilities.
Prof Van As believes her research will add value to this process. “If we are going to expand inland fisheries, we need to expand our knowledge of what is happening in natural systems. It is important that we know and understand what potential problems might arise in aquaculture conditions.”
Equal rights for parasites
“We also need to understand that not all so-called parasites are bad, some have co-evolved with their hosts and they are part of our overall biodiversity. If the hosts are going extinct, so does this amazing spectrum of symbionts,” says Prof Van As, who is enthusiastic about promoting ‘equal rights for parasites’ (Wilson, 1995).
When it comes to the future of women in research, Prof Van As – inspired by life itself, believes the possibilities are endless. “If you can dream it, you can do it. Ex Africa Semper Aliquid Novi (out of Africa there is always something new),” she states.
Spring graduation ceremony
2008-09-15
| Law awards largest number of doctorates |
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The Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS) this week awarded four doctorate degrees during the spring graduation ceremony, which took place on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein. This is the largest number of doctorates awarded by the faculty during one graduation ceremony. Here are, from the left: Dr Tjaart Maré, Dr Ilze Keevy, and Dr Pierre Rabie. Dr Daniel Mekonnen was absent when the photo was taken. Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
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| UFS awards degrees |
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The University of the Free State's (UFS) spring graduation ceremony took place on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein this week. Altogether 840 diplomas and degrees were awarded. Here are, from the left: Mss Mamokete Marokane, who obtained a B.Com. Human Resource Management degree, Elzaan Jacobs, who obtained a B.Com. Accounting degree, and Mmanyefolo Mosia, who also obtained a B.Com. Accounting degree. Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
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The University of the Free State's (UFS) spring graduation ceremony took place on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein this week. Altogether 840 diplomas and degrees were awarded. Here are, from the left: Mr Roger Potgieter, M.B.A. degree, Ms Amanda Share, M.B.A. degree, Zarita Naudé, B.Com. Accounting, and Mr Kobus van den Berg, M.B.A. degree. Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
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| UFS awards extraordinary degree |
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Prof. Ivan Horak, extraordinary professor at the University of the Free State's (UFS) Department of Zoology and Entomology, this week became the third person in the history of the UFS to receive the D.Sc. degree. The degree was awarded to him during the spring graduation ceremony which took place on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein. Here are, from the left: Prof. Jo van As, Head of the Department of Zoology and Entomology, Prof. Horak, and Ms Ellie van Dalen, Lecturer at the UFS Department of Zoology and Entomology.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
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| UFS awards doctorate degrees |
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Altoghether 29 doctorate degrees were awarded this week during the University of the Free State's (UFS) spring graduation ceremony on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein. During the chancellor's dinner are, from the left: Dr Anabela Da Silva, a student from Mozambique who obtained a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, Prof. Maryke Labuschagne, UFS Department of Plant Sciences and promoter of Dr Da Silva, Dr Edward Jurua, a student from Uganda who obtained his Ph.D. in Astro Physics, and Dr Pieter Meintjes, from the UFS Department of Physics and promoter of Dr Jurua.
Photo: Gerhard Louw
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| Spring graduation ceremony |
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Dr. Meshach Aziakpono (middle) is one of the students of the University of the Free State (UFS) who obtained a Ph.D. (Economics) during the spring graduation ceremony on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein. Here he is with Prof. Phillipe Burger (left), Head of the Department of Economics at the UFS and mentor of Dr Aziakpono, and Prof. Stan du Plessis (right), Department of Economics at Stellenbosch University and co-mentor of Dr Aziakpono.
Photo: Gerhard Louw
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