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11 February 2022
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Story Leonie Bolleurs and Rulanzen Martin

After two years of lockdown, online meetings, and limited contact with colleagues, academy at the University of the Free State (UFS) is gradually returning to normal. This month (February 2022), staff, students, and members of related industries will convene on three different occasions to learn about cutting-edge scholarship, to reconnect with each other, and to discuss issues impacting society in the fields of theology, the humanities, and agriculture.
Seminar on ‘The Limits of Decolonisation’ with Prof RW Johnson
Date: 24 February 2022
Time: 09:00-16:00 SAST
Venue/Platform: Equitas Auditorium, UFS Bloemfontein Campus, and Microsoft Teams
Decolonisation has been a heated point of discussion for some time now, but have you ever wondered if there could be limitations hindering the decolonisation project? The Departments of Political Studies and Governance and Philosophy and Classics at the UFS will host an array of academics and experts for a hybrid seminar on the topic The Limits of Decolonisation.
If decolonisation is an important issue for you or if you are interested in the topic and its relevance and influence in the world and academia, you should join or attend the seminar – either online via Microsoft Teams or in person in the Equitas Auditorium – on 24 February 2022 from 09:00.
The keynote speaker is political scientist
Prof RW Johnson from the University of Oxford. Prof Johnson is an emeritus fellow at Magdalen College and is the author of several acclaimed political books. The other speakers are all from the Departments of Political Studies and Governance, and Philosophy and Classics. Terrence Corrigan from the
South African Institute of Race Relations will speak on The relationship between critical race theory and decolonisation.
Find full programme here
RSVP: Alice Stander StanderAFM@ufs.ac.za (please specify dietary requirements, as a light lunch will be served)

Science-for-the-Future host learners at Boyden Observatory
2017-06-15
Prof Jan Smit from the North-West University captivated
the learners with his presentation.
Photo: Supplied
In order to advance innovative Mathematics and Science teaching and learning, Science-for-the-Future from the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Faculty of Education hosted close to 100 Grade 10 Mathematics and Science achievers from 18 local secondary schools at the Boyden Observatory in Bloemfontein on 7 June 2017.
According to Dr Cobus van Breda, the Programme Director of Science-for-the-Future, the purpose of such events is also “to encourage learners to enter into science-related studies and careers, including the teaching profession, since we are in desperate need of good Maths and Science teachers in South Africa”.
The evening included contributions by two visiting National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) award-winning presenters.
Prof Peter Dunsby from the Cosmology and Gravity Centre at the University of Cape Town gave the audience much to think about with his presentation titled ‘From the Big Bang to the Big Rip. Should we be afraid of the Dark Side of the Universe?’
Prof Jan Smit from the North-West University, on the other hand, explained basic Physics concepts using mostly household items. Mariette Erwee and Prof Matie Hoffman from the UFS concluded the evening with stargazing through the telescopes, as well as an open-air session on constellations.