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Dr Molapo Qhobela to speak at International Summit on SDGs

10 September 2021 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Sonia Small (Kaleidoscope Studios)

Dr Molapo copy — Dr Molapo Qhobela, the newly appointed Vice-Rector: Institutional Change, Strategic Partnerships and Societal Impact, will be speaking at the International Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa 2021.

Dr Molapo Qhobela, the newly appointed Vice-Rector: Institutional Change, Strategic Partnerships and Societal Impact at the University of the Free State (UFS), will be speaking at the three-day International Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa 2021. The summit will take place as follows:

Date: 13-15 September 2021

Platform: A virtual gathering (register for the upcoming virtual summit)

Together with a wide array of thought leaders, including specialists, senior researchers, CEOs/directors, and the top structures of international organisations, he will address and engage with an audience of academics, practitioners, government authorities, representatives from civil society, and donors and sponsors from across the globe on the topic Partnerships for impact in Africa (session on 15 September from 12:30 to 14:00).

According to the host of the event, the University of Cape Town, the key aim of the International Summit on the SDGs in Africa is to mobilise collaborative efforts that will accelerate African-led activities in support of achieving the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – a shared blueprint for working towards global peace and prosperity by 2030. The summit is also designed to identify concrete opportunities for research collaboration that will accelerate the achievement of the SDGs and Agenda 2063.

The talks, panel discussions, workshops, and breakout sessions will revolve around clear steps for implementation.

For more information, visit: http://www.sdgsafricasummit.uct.ac.za/

• Background of Dr Molapo Qhobela

Dr Qhobela’s leadership and strategic direction have been sought by several large and complex organisations during his career. He is the immediate former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Research Foundation, and also the former Chair of the Global Research Council as well as the Agricultural Research Council. He is currently the Chairperson of the Tertiary Education and Research Network of South Africa. Dr Qhobela holds a PhD in Plant Pathology from the Kansas State University in the United States of America.

News Archive

Darwin lecture focuses on the genetic foundation of evolution

2009-05-22

The Department of Genetics at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently made their contribution to the story of life and survival by presenting two lectures on The genetic foundation of evolution. Prof. Johan Spies, Head of the Department of Genetics at the UFS discussed the variation that was created by mutations and how this variation was enhanced by re-combination. He also pointed out that these methods contributed relatively little to the gene pool of a species and that the expansion of the gene pool primarily took place by means of chromosome evolution. The latter also contributed to the creation of isolation mechanisms to prevent hybridism. He further emphasised the multitude of deviations of mendelian heredity, which contributed to more variation within a species.

Prof. Paul Grobler, Associate Professor from this department, next pointed out how natural selection played a role to form new species. He used various examples to indicate how the process took its course, for example, lactose intolerance. He also reported out that the man on the street mostly believed that Darwin with his theory of the survival of the fittest meant that the physically strongest species would survive. It was more a case of the one that could reproduce the fastest and the most, that would survive, he stated.

Present at the occasion were, from left front: Ms Letecia Jonker, student, Prof. Grobler, Ms Paula Spies, lecturer at the Department of Genetics and Ms Zurika Odendaal, junior lecturer at the Department of Genetics; back: Prof. Spies.
Photo: Stephen Collett

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