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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

Odeion: Fun concert
2007-09-21

Fun concert!
4 October 2007
Odeion
19:30

The Department of Music presents a fun concert on Thursday, 4 October 2007, 19:30 in the Odeion. After several requests and excellent feedback from our concert goers, the Department has decided to make these lighter concerts a regular event and is presenting this one for FREE! Besides the following items, we have a lot of surprises in store.

Three pieces for cello and piano:
Boccherini: Rondo
Gluck: Melody
Popper: Tarentella
Michael Haller (cello), Albie van Schalkwyk (piano)

Francis Poulenc: Babar the elephant
Hanna van Niekerk (narrator), Albie van Schalkwyk (piano)

Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata for violin and piano, Op. 24 (“Spring Sonata”)
John Wille (violin), Nicol Viljoen (piano)

Scott Joplin: Three Piano Rags: Maple Leaf Rag, Magnetic Rag & Easy Winners
Albie van Schalkwyk & Nicol Viljoen (pianos)

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Waltz & Romance for piano, six hands
Anchen Froneman, Petro Engelbrecht, Ronella van Rensburg (piano)

Noel Stockton and Nicol Viljoen at two pianos!

Bookings:
Book your free ticket now at 051 - 401 2504. Only 372 seats available!
 

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