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18 March 2021 | Story Leonie Bolleurs
Famelab
Abdullahi Jamiu, who is working on his master's degree in Microbiology, was adjudicated as the FameLab winner at the Central Regional Heat and will represent the region at the national semi-finals.

Abdullahi Jamiu, who is working on his master's degree in Microbiology in the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry at the University of the Free State (UFS), was recently announced as the FameLab winner at the Central Regional Heat and will represent the region at the national semi-finals.

Abdullahi, who plans on pursuing a doctoral degree after his master’s, says he wants to establish himself as an academic in microbiology.

Making science simple
He says he decided to participate in the FameLab competition because he is very passionate about communicating science. “Science communication affords me the opportunity to not only take my research outside of the lab space, but also to communicate it to the lay audience. Moreover, science is often perceived by the general public as difficult and unfathomable. As such, science communication programmes promote the simplification and better understanding of scientific knowledge in the community,” he says.

FameLab is coordinated by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement, the British Council, and Jive Media Africa.

According to Abdullahi, the experience was mind-blowing. “It gave me the opportunity to compress my 200-page master's thesis into a three-minute talk in a way I had never thought was possible. Having to present virtually and adjust to the ‘new normal’ was quite challenging,” he adds.

“The overall experience was enlightening and engaging, and at the same time entertaining,” says Abdullahi.

Impressing the judges with his charisma, engagement with the audience, and use of props, Abdullahi’s presentation focused on how the exploration and exploitation of a ‘combination therapy’ approach to drug discovery could help to effectively combat fungal infections, which are the common comorbidities in immune-compromised individuals, including those living with HIV, cancer, and COVID-19.

Revealing an enigma
His fascination with microbiology started at a young age. “How very tiny, microscopic creatures, invisible to the unaided eye, are able to infect and sometimes kill both healthy and immune-compromised individuals, was an enigma to me as a little boy. My desire to unravel this mystery triggered my interest in microbiology, and the more I learn, the more enthusiastic I become to broaden my horizon in this challenging yet exciting field of study,” he says.

Abdullahi would like to one day make a difference by conducting relevant research aimed at contributing to finding lasting solutions to the lingering menace posed by pathogenic microbes. “Moreover, I am very passionate about facilitating the transfer of scientific knowledge to the next generation,” Abdullahi concludes.

News Archive

Scaena Theatre: Boom! (Afrikaans) 7-9 May
2009-05-08

Produksie: Boom!
Regie: Adriaan Meyer
Teks: Nataniël
Kostuums: Errol Arendz
Stelontwerp: Strijdom van der Merwe
Datum: 7-9 Mei
Venue: Scaena-teater
Kaartjie-pryse: R65 & R95
Besprekings: Computicket

BLOEMFONTEIN: Nataniël-aanhangers wat nog nie Boom! gesien het nie, moet gou spring vir kaartjies. Die produksie is gedurende Mei-maand moontlik vir die laaste keer in Bloemfontein te sien.

Boom! is deur Nataniël geskryf. Al die 2008-vertonings van die stuk op Aardklop en die Volksbladfees is al uitverkoop. Ekstra vertonings moes gereël word. Die produksie was ook op ander feeste, soos die Woordfees op Stellenbosch te sien. Die eenvrou-tragikomedie is `n vertoonstuk vir die vaardige spel van met Hilletje Möller.

Hilletje Moller verwerf in 2005 haar B.A Drama en Teaterkuns aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat, waar sy Universiteits erekleure vir teaterkuns verwerf. Hilletjie maak haar professionele debuut, tydens haar vertolking van die hoofrol in Skerp-sin (oorspronklike teks deur Pulitzer pryswenner Margaret Edson). Verder was sy al op die verhoog te sien in produksies soos “Die Huweliksaansoek" , “Nag van Legio", “Bloedbruilof", “Weer" en “Bewys" wat in 2008 Beste Debuut Produksie by die Volksblad Kunstefees aangewys is. Hilletje is in 2008 gekeur om haar studies aan die Lee Strasberg drama instituut in New York voort te sit.

Op 7-9 Mei om 19:30 is BOOM! In die Scaena-teater op die UV-kampus te sien. `n Middagvertoning om 14:30 is ook op Saterdag gereël. Kaartjies is beskikbaar teen R65. Teen slegs R95 per persoon is 20 sitplekke per vertoning beskikbaar op die leerbanke en sluit sjerrie in.

Besprekings is deur Computicket (Mimosa Mall en Checkers).
 

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