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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

Kovsie Culture Week delves up diamonds
2014-08-07

The finals of Kovsie Culture Week recently took place at the Centenary Complex on our Bloemfontein Campus. The event was hosted by the Arts and Culture Office and Hlonipa Matshamba: SRC Arts and Culture.

A week filled with fierce competition, close scrutiny and gruelling auditions provided a nerve-racking build-up to the finals. In front of a jam-packed audience, the finalists had to put their best foot forward. The rich variety of acts and talents were divided into categories ranging from dancing, singing groups and Idols to written and recited poetry, photography and visual art.

“The aim of Kovsie Culture Week was to provide a platform for students to display and share their talents and also to give recognition to students, from both on and off campus by means of this competition,” said Matshamba.

The first prize winners, per category, were:

  • Photography: Jansie Malan
  • Written poetry: Wian de Wet
  • Recited poetry: Tebogo Letsoara
  • Dance: Aisha Paswa
  • Singing groups: (LT)2 *squared
  • Idols: Delia Moumakwe
  • Visual art: Francine Kurt

“I joined the competition to share the effect of my special photo that shows the socio-economic indifferences and hardships that other people are facing,” Jansie Malan, a first-year BSc Consumer Science student, said. Delia Moumakwe, a second-year BA Industrial Psychology student, said that “I am grateful for my prize as a token of recognition and being afforded a recording deal sponsored by DJ’s Recording Studio.”

Matshamba added that the Kovsie community is thriving in the arts and we need to support that by providing similar opportunities. She also encouraged students to realise the treasure of their inner talents by making use of the Arts and Culture offices in various departments.

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