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18 October 2021
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Story Dr Nitha Ramnath
Our podcast guest
Prof Jeandrew Brink holds the post of Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Applied
Mathematics within the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State. Her areas of interest include an analytical interest in Einstein field equations, dynamical systems, algorithms for testing general relativity
and the no-hair theorems, black holes, and gravitational waves. Prof Brink registered for a Bachelor of Sciences in 1998, continued with honours studies in 1999, and completed her master’s degree in 2000. Prof Brink’s research is on various
theoretical aspects of testing general relativity. She is a member of the MeerKAT telescope team that times and detect pulsars. She is also working with members of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) to find ways of using
gravitational waves to test Einstein’s theory.
Prof Brink was involved in the compilation of a video of geodesic orbits around a Manko-Novikov singularity, selected to be part of a Starmus 3 concert, the proceeds of which went towards promoting the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication and
to support the charitable activities of the Stephen Hawking Foundation. It could also be part of a subsequent documentary.
Listen to the podcast at
François van Schalkwyk and Keenan Carelse,
UFS alumni leading the university’s United
Kingdom Alumni Chapter, have put their voices together to produce and direct the podcast series. Intended to reconnect alumni with the university and their university experience, the podcasts will be featured on the first Monday of every month,
ending in November 2021. Our featured alumni share and reflect on their experiences at the UFS, how it has shaped their lives, and relate why their ongoing association with the UFS is still relevant and important. The podcasts are authentic
conversations – they provide an opportunity for the university to understand and learn about the experiences of its alumni and to celebrate the diversity and touchpoints that unite them.
For further information regarding the podcast series, or to propose other alumni guests, please email us at
alumnipodcast@ufs.ac.za
For all Voices from the Free State podcasts,
click here.
Economic students taken outside comfort zone
2010-08-13
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At the recent launch of the annual competition for third-year Economics students were, from left: Deon Beck, Vincent Ramorara and Limakatso Majoro.
Photo: Stephen Collett
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| The Research Cluster on Sustainable Development and the Department of Economics at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently launched an annual competition for third-year Economics students. This interdisciplinary competition, called “Economics at the grassroots”, is led by Prof. Doreen Atkinson, the Cluster Coordinator and Dr Karen Thomas, a Senior Lecturer of Economics in the Department of Economics.
Students were randomly divided into groups by Dr Thomas. As part of an ice-breaker exercise, the groups had to answer ten questions, which ranged from “What is the Rector of the UFS's second name?” to “What is the currency of Honduras and what is the value of it in Rands?”
According to Prof. Atkinson, this type of competition unleashes a new wave of creativity, as students work together on practical problems, which take the students outside their comfort zone.
The top three groups will win cash prizes, sponsored by the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut (AHI) and Sanlam.
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