Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

Mammals the focus of Prof Frank Zachos’ inaugural lecture

04 April 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Stephen Collett

Prof Frank Zachos, a scientist and Head of the Mammal Collection at the Natural History Museum (NHM) in Vienna – one of the world’s largest natural history museums – recently delivered his inaugural lecture at the University of the Free State (UFS) on the Bloemfontein Campus.

His lecture was titled: Of bat bombs and super moms – the wondrous and wondrously curious world of mammals.

Prof Zachos, an affiliated researcher at the UFS, says he chose mammals as the topic of his lecture because he is a mammalogist and curator of mammals at the Natural History Museum. Additionally, he collaborates with Prof Paul Grobler, Head of the Department of Genetics, on mammal projects.

Exposure to almost unparalleled biodiversity in SA

With a mixture of entertaining fun facts and some proper research results, he presented his lecture, providing an overview of some of the most interesting aspects of mammals. These included their different ways of reproduction: the platypuses laying eggs, the tiny marsupial offspring growing in a pouch, and placental mammals having long gestation times. Furthermore, he compared levels of biodiversity in South Africa and Europe and highlighted some particularly bizarre mammals, such as the aye-aye, naked mole-rat, the platypus, and two extinct South African ungulates from their collection in Vienna – the quagga and the blue antelope.

Prof Zachos also discussed his own research on blue antelope genetics, as well as research on other species, in the context of the detrimental impact humans have on mammals and other wildlife.

Moreover, his lecture included a reference to Project X-Ray, a story of how the US army pursued an unsuccessful plan to use bats as carriers of mini bombs in World War II.

Prof Zachos, who is specifically known for his research on the systematics, biogeography, and genetics of red deer, as well as his theoretical work on the species problem (‘what is a species?’ – one of the most hotly debated topics in evolutionary biology), is affiliated with the UFS due to his longstanding collaboration with Prof Grobler. He says they have known each other for a long time, have published together, and that he has also served as an external reviewer for several theses coming from the Department of Genetics.

“Apart from this personal connection, what made this collaboration particularly interesting to me from a professional viewpoint, is the rich wildlife biodiversity and the research focus of Prof Grobler’s research group, which overlaps significantly with my own longstanding interests,” adds Prof Zachos.

“Working with Prof Grobler, I am involved in studies on the genetic diversity and structuring of different mammal species occurring in South Africa. The opportunity to spend time in the field for sample collection and other activities is definitely also a highlight,” remarks Prof Zachos.

Ideal combination of academic and personal growth

Regarding his connection with the UFS and its impact on shaping the future direction of his research, he states that he has a strong interest in antelopes – a group of mammals not found in Europe, but very prominent in South Africa. “Apart from that, people in the Department of Genetics have expertise in relevant areas that I personally do not have, for example bioinformatics. For me, it is the ideal combination of academic and personal growth, and I am very grateful to have this unique opportunity.”

He believes that his affiliation with the UFS and its Department of Genetics will continue to provide him with opportunities to expand his research and knowledge to different species and ecosystems.

Beyond science, he says that he has developed an interest in the country as well. “I have been reading books about South Africa, and I consider myself very privileged to have a second academic home here, which gives me the opportunity for exchange with people of different backgrounds,” he comments.

News Archive

Professor launches his book, opposition parties attend

2011-03-22

Prof. Hussein Solomon
Photo: Stephen Collett

“We are good in opposing people, but we’re less good in opposing ideas.” This was how Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State (UFS) introduced the book launch of Against all Odds: Opposition Politics in Southern Africa.

The event was hosted in collaboration with the publisher under the title: Are opposition parties in South Africa in a crisis? This formed part of a series of dialogue sessions, organised by the Centre for Africa Studies, in the run up to the local elections.

Amongst those interested who attended the evening in the Senate Hall of the CR Swart Building on the Main Campus were various politicians, students, staff en a panel consisting of academics and the respective provincial representatives of the ANC and DA.

Dr Mcebisi Ndletyana from the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), acted as arbiter.

Proff. Hussein Solomon, author of Against all Odds: Opposition Politics in Southern Africa, also lecturer at the UFS, as well as Dirk Kotzé, Head of the Department of Political Science at Unisa, delivered enriching lectures on the stance and positioning of opposition parties.

Prof. Hussein, who spoke first, circumscribed the context of the political climate in the country, based on his book. “The problem that political science encounters is that everybody becomes experts on the internet, while they have no experience of what is happening in South Africa.” He said that when political parties in the country are under discussion, voters often allow myths and/or stereotyping to influence their concept of it. ‘’If there are no opposition parties, there is no democracy and people are deprived of their vote.”

Prof. Kotzé stated in his speech that it was not only opposition parties who had to make the government watch its step, but also the status that the country acquired, amongst others, from its connections, i.e. collaborative agreements such as BRICSA and the country’s inclusion in the G20. He left the audience with a question about how they were going to become involved in politics, and with his rhetoric question referred to options like social networks and movements.

Mr Sibongile Besani, the ANC'S secretary in the Free State, said the DA grew due to it’s swallowing of other parties; something he claims is taking the country backwards. He also described the use of personalities by opposition parties as means of association a weakness. He added that voters will continue voting for the ANC because they can associate themselves with the party’s vision.

In contrast, Mr Roy Jankielsohn, provincial leader of the DA, said voters and parties unite under their core vision for the country as like in the case of the ANC during the liberation struggles.

During the question-and-answer session, which followed after Mr Jankielson’s speech, Prof. Kwandiwe Kondlo, upon completion and summary of the discussions, stated firmly that the opposition parties are in a crisis. “The start of the solution is to recognise the problem. That is why our democracy finds itself in the state in which it is; because the opposition does not fulfil the role that they are supposed to fulfil.“ Prof. Kondlo is the head of the Centre of Africa Studies at the UFS.

He concluded by stating that the economic basis in the country was not transformed. “We cannot say that people determine their futures if they posses nothing. Opposition parties must start to communicate at this level in order to table something new. Our democracy must become more inclusive at political and material level.”

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept