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15 June 2021 | Story Dr Nitha Ramnath

Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Free State, South Africa, invites us to rethink our relationship with the world in a series of ‘Courageous Conversations’ on the theme of ‘The Global Citizen’.

Prof Petersen argues that COVID-19 has been a powerful ‘disruptor’ - it has given us a stark reminder of the need to rethink our identity, of where we belong, our ‘normative’ view of citizenship – if we want to secure long-term survival of our civilisation and the environments which support it.

Powerful voices from public life, intellectuals, public interest and business leaders, academics, naturalists, religious leaders, astrophysicists, economists, and ecologists, and others, will be invited to share and debate their views.

Global Citizen courageous conversation launch
In partnership with the South African Chamber of Commerce based in the United Kingdom, the series launched on 26 May 2021, in a discussion with Prof Petersen on the concept and context of his thinking and how the series will roll out.

If you were unable to join the webinar you can watch the replay on YouTube, or visit the South African Chamber of Commerce website where you'll find recordings of previous webinars.

Join our next Global Citizen conversation on 17 June 2021 with a discussion led by the Chancellor of the University of Free State, Prof Bonang Francis Mohale, a published author and respected business leader who has held chairmanships and directorships at some of South Africa’s top companies, on how we educate for Global Citizenship.

Educating a ‘Global Citizen’ – June 17, 2021 15:00 SAST
We have pleasure in inviting you to the United Kingdom - South African Chamber of Commerce’s next ‘courageous conversation’ with University of Free State Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Francis Petersen in his series debating ‘The Global Citizen’.  

Eminent South African business leader and UFS Chancellor, Prof Bonang Mohale, will join Prof Petersen to unwrap the role universities can play in creating a ‘Global Citizen’ mindset to effect material change in a constantly evolving and turbulent international world.  

How do universities produce research, and graduate alumni who go out into the  world, to drive and reflect the bedrock value of Global Citizenship namely that of mutual respect, for others, for all creatures, and the environment which sustains us all?

A university education can be a powerful way to push the ‘reset’ button on the baggage of upbringing and our histories - personal, cultural, national, racial – which shape our world view.  

Universities can promote informed self-reflection, curiosity, and tolerance as a driving force in how we shape our realities, understand our prejudices, promote tolerance, and animate life in a better world.  Prof Petersen and Prof Mohale will reflect on how universities can accelerate and respond with greater agility to this challenge.

Kindly RSVP for the event.

 

 

News Archive

Yeast genus named after UFS scientist
2012-02-21

 
Prof. Lodewyk Kock

 

A yeast genus has been named Kockiozyma in honour of Prof. Lodewyk Kock of the Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology at the University of the Free State for his contributions to yeast systematics.

A genus is a category of classification ranking below a family and above a species and generally consists of a group of species exhibiting similar characteristics.  
 
Prof. Kock says: “This event was a big surprise and honour which is usually only bestowed on scholars at the end of their career.” 
 
The manuscript proposing the new genus name, titled "Kockiozyma gen. nov., for Zygozyma suomiensis: thephylogeny of the Lipomycetaceous yeasts" was accepted for publication on 7 February 2012 by the ISI journal Annals of Microbiology.
 
This genus is a member of the family called the Lipomycetaceae which is regarded as a primitive group of yeasts. This family is usually studied for their evolutionary status and development.
 
The scholars that did the research and bestowed the honour are Dr S. Jindamorakot and Dr P. Yukphan from the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) in Thailand. The senior author was Prof. Y. Yamada, Professor Emeritus at Shizuoka University at the town of Shizuoka in Japan.

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