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Trailblazing win: UFS wins its first-ever Andrew Murray Prize

31 January 2024 | Story EDZANI NEPHALELA | Photo ANJA AUCAMP

In a historic triumph that reverberates over four decades since its inception, the UFS has clinched the coveted Andrew Murray Prize – now renamed the Andrew Murray-Desmond Tutu Prize – for the first time. Standing shoulder to shoulder with institutions such as the University of Pretoria (UP) and Stellenbosch University (SU), this achievement marks a significant milestone in the UFS’ journey.

At the heart of this accomplishment lies the profound contribution of Dr Martin Laubscher, distinguished Senior Lecturer specialising in Practical and Missional Theology in the Faculty of Theology and Religion. Dr Laubscher’s dedication and scholarly prowess culminated in the groundbreaking work titled Publieke teologie as profetiese teologie? (Public theology as prophetic theology), a revised edition of his doctoral thesis, which was originally crafted at Stellenbosch University in 2020, with a focus on the eminent Karl Barth.

Dr Laubscher received the Andrew Murray Prize for Theological Books in Afrikaans for his research and insightful analysis. The journey started when he realised, under the guidance of his study leader, Prof Dion Forster, that his script had the potential to be published in Afrikaans. Sun Media’s interest in publishing this work in Afrikaans, led to it being the first-ever published thesis in Afrikaans. Dr Laubscher recalls, “I was grateful and excited about Sun Media’s interest. The book emerged within a year, and during a celebratory launch Prof Forster suggested I submit it for the Andrew Murray Prize.”

Earlier this year, Dr Laubscher was excited to learn that he was being shortlisted for the prestigious award. Reflecting on the significant moment, he shares, “The elation I felt upon receiving the news was unparalleled. I was not only celebrating a personal triumph, but also etching my name as the first laureate from our faculty to secure this prestigious accolade.”

News Archive

Snow on our campuses

2012-08-07

Qwaqwa Campus
7 August 2012

Kovsies have been treated to the rather unusual sight of snow Tuesday, with the Qwaqwa Campus covered in a blanket of snow and the Bloemfontein Campus also dusted in white.

Snowflakes on the Bloemfontein Campus had people clicking away on their cameras and cellphones to capture this rare picture. The last time the City of Roses experienced this much snow was about six years ago.

Prof. Sue Walker, Head of Agricultural Meteorology in our Department of Soil, Crop & Climate Sciences, says the snowy weather over the Free State was caused by a cut-off low pressure system in association with a strong anticyclone ridging in behind the cold front.

“This draws a pool of very cold air, in the upper air, from the far southern ocean area in Antarctica driven by a strong southerly wind. This caused the freezing level, which is normally high in the atmosphere, to be lowered to the ground surface level, resulting in the snow.”

Prof. Walker says a little snow is forecast for Wednesday although rain can be expected before it clears and becomes sunny for the long weekend.

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