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ASK – A StrangerKind – coming to the UFS

25 July 2022 | Story Lunga Luthuli

From an early age, many have been taught that strangers are not only a danger to the individual, but to the communities too.

A StrangerKind (ASK), an organisation hosting unconventional conversations in communities on topics and responding to questions that many may not have the opportunity to ask, has partnered with the University of the Free State to host the talks that aims to promote curiosity, diversity, and social cohesion.

As part of the ASKcampus – a first to be hosted at any university in the country – participants will have an opportunity to talk to a stranger in a safe setting and ask any question that comes to mind, without any judgement.

Michelle Nöthling, Assistant Researcher in Kovsie Support Services, said: “The ASK event is an opportunity for participants to pick a topic from a list that sparks curiosity and book an available 45-minute time slot. During your session, you sit down to a one-on-one conversation with a stranger who will briefly introduce themselves and their topic. They will then share their personal life experience on that topic with you.”

The event, which will be launched at the Thakaneng Bridge, Bloemfontein Campus, on 28 July 2022, is open to both UFS staff and students.

“During the individual sessions, participants may ask the strangers anything about the chosen topic. We even encourage you to ask those questions that you might otherwise have been too shy, or felt were too ignorant, to ask. What is more, is that the strangers you will meet will be fellow UFS staff and students. But you will not know who your stranger is until you sit down with them,” said Michelle.

Individuals who want to know more about becoming a UFS stranger are encouraged to visit the organisation’s YouTube channel or register to attend training and become a ‘stranger’.

Be curious. Be brave. Talk to strangers.

Launch details:
Date: 28 July 2022
Time: 10:00-14:00
Venue: Thakaneng Bridge, Bloemfontein Campus

News Archive

Zoology and Entomology celebrates 100 years

2012-05-12

Dr Candice Jansen van Rensburg and Prof. Jo van As.

The Department of Zoology and Entomology is celebrating its hundredth birthday. To commemorate this, a series of lectures will be presented throughout the year. The lectures focus on the history of the department, as well as past and current research activities.

At the first lecture, Prof. Jo van As, Head of the Department, presented a comprehensive history of the academic background of the department, including information on all the preceding heads of Zoology and Entomology. He also gave an overview of the history of the Aquatic Ecology research group that he started in 1988 when he first became the Head of the Department.

In her lecture, Dr Candice Jansen van Rensburg outlined the activities of the newly established Nematology study group. She stressed the importance of establishing this field of expertise in an effort to address the lack of trained nematologists in South Africa.

Future lectures will be presented by the department’s various study groups and will be held on a quarterly basis. The lectures are held in the Biology 1 lecture hall (BL1) and are open to all. The celebrations will culminate in a centenary banquet later in the year. – Prof. Linda Basson.

The dates for future lectures are as follows:

10 May: Arachnology and Acarology
2 August: Eco-Ethology and Environmental Entomology
15 November: Herpetology and Insect-Plant Interactions

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