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11 February 2020 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Leonie Bolleurs
Prof Liesl van As
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. 




News Archive

Health Sciences’ students graduate
2008-11-29

Students in medicine honoured 

 A number of students received prizes for their achievements at this year’s graduation ceremony of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of the Free State (UFS), held on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein. Here are, from the left: Dr Erika Kleynhans, who received the Eli Lilly Prize for the student with the best achievement in Psychiatry in all the years of study, dr Ernst Möller, who received the PPS Insurance Company Award for best postgraduate student in Family Medicine, and dr Aletta van Tonder, Dux student who received a total of nine prizes.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

  

 Medical students pass their studies with cum laude

 Degrees were awarded today to 213 students from the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Faculty of Health Sciences during the faculty's graduation held today on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein. Four of the students who passed their studies with cum laude are, from the left, front: Dr Ida Pretorius, and Dr Deidré van Wyk; back: Dr Aletta van Tonder, Dux student who received a total of nine awards, and Dr Liesel Schärf, who received the Theo Arndt Medal for best undergraduate student in Urology during the clinical years and the Smith & Nephew Prize for best undergraduate student in Orthopaedics. All four students received the MB.Ch.B. degree.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

   

Health Sciences’ students graduate 
 The Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of the Free State (UFS) today held their graduation ceremony on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein. Some of the top achievers who received their MB.Ch.B. degrees were, from the left: Dr Liesel Schärf, who received the Theo Arndt Medal for best undergraduate student in Urology during the clinical years and the Smith & Nephew Prize for best undergraduate student in Orthopaedics, Dr Sarah Barrett, who received the SA Academy Prize for best final-year student in Family Medicine, Dr Lelethu Bango, best project in Family Medicine, and Dr Deidré van Wyk, who passed the degree Cum Laude.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

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