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30 March 2022 | Story Nonsindiso Qwabe | Photo Nonsindiso Qwabe
US Consul
US Consul General Vincent Spera (centre) and his delegation, alongside Dr Cornelius Hagenmeier (UFS), Dr Jesse Lutabingwa (App State), Morena Tsholo Mopeli (Mopeli Royal family representative), Qwaqwa Campus principalship, and Dr Grey Magaiza and Prof Geofrey Mukwada (UFS project coordinators, far right).

“There are many shared values between the US and SA, such as a commitment to institutions, the belief in the importance of science and research, investment in education, and a commitment to human rights. This comes through in partnerships such as this; science-based, collaboration-based partnerships designed at their core to strengthen the University of the Free State and the Appalachian State University.”

These were the words of the US Consul General in Johannesburg, Vincent Spera, during his visit to the Qwaqwa Campus on Wednesday 23 March 2022.

His visit reaffirmed the long-standing partnership between the University of the Free State Qwaqwa Campus and the Appalachian State University in North Carolina, USA.

Consul general commends research partnership

Spera said as the representative of the US Government, it was powerful and important to learn more about the research and capacity-building initiatives that are taking place as a result of the partnership between the two institutions.
The US Consulate is a key link in the strategic partnership between the two institutions. In 2020, the US Embassy and Consulates in South Africa funded the implementation of projects at the two institutions through the R8 million mountain-to-mountain research grant.

Since then, the grant has introduced two master’s degree offerings in Community Development and Mountain Environments, five meteorological weather stations – with one based on the Qwaqwa Campus, leadership capacity building for black women in academia, and doctoral research projects. This grant is funded by the US Embassy and Consulates in South Africa.

“It’s exactly why we have these university partnerships, and it’s really meaningful to see it in practice,” he said.
Spera and his delegation were given an overview of the ongoing projects by the UFS project leaders, Dr Grey Magaiza and Prof Geofrey Mukwada, and the Appalachian State University project leader and Vice-Chancellor for International Education and Development, Dr Jesse Lutabingwa.

The long-term relationship began in 2008 as a framework for academic and scientific cooperation across multiple scopes of teaching and research activities for students and staff members on the Qwaqwa Campus.

News Archive

Renowned forensic scientist speaks at the UFS
2014-04-02


Forensic science is about the truth. At the presentation delivered by Dr David Klatzow, were, from the left: Tinus Viljoen, lecturer in Forensic Genetics, Dr Klatzow and Laura Heathfield, also a lecturer in Forensic Genetics.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs 

It is necessary for more research to be done in the field of forensic science in South Africa. This is according to Dr David Klatzow, well-known forensic scientist, during a lecture delivered at the University of the Free State (UFS) last week.

The university is offering, for the first time this year, a BSc degree in Forensic Science in the Department of Genetics. This three-year degree is, among others, directed at people working for the South African Police Service on crime scenes and on criminal cases in forensic laboratories. Students can also study up to PhD level, specialising in various forensic fields.

There is no accredited forensic laboratory in South Africa. “It is time to look differently at forensic science, and to deliver research papers on the subject. In light of the manner in which science is applied, we have to look differently at everything,” Dr Klatzow said.

Dr Klatzow praised the university for its chemistry-based course. “Chemistry is a strong basis for forensic science,” he said.

A paradigm shift in terms of forensic science is needed. Micro scratches on bullets, fingerprints, DNA, bite marks – all of these are forensic evidence that in the past led to people being wrongfully hanged. This evidence is not necessarily the alpha and omega of forensic science today. DNA, which seems to be the golden rule, can produce problems in itself. Because a person leaves DNA in his fingerprint, it is possible that DNA is transferred from one crime scene to another by forensic experts dusting for fingerprints. According to Dr Klatzow, this is only one of the problems that could be experienced with DNA evidence.

“No single set of forensic evidence is 100% effective or without problems. Rather approach the crime scene through a combination of evidence, by collecting fingerprints, DNA, etc. It is also very important to look at the context in which the events happened.

“A person sees what he expects to see. This causes huge problems in terms of forensic science. For example, if a criminal fits the profile of the perpetrator, it doesn’t follow that this specific criminal is the culprit. It isn’t what we don’t know that gives us trouble, it’s what we know that isn’t so,” Dr Klatzow said.

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