Latest News Archive
Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
08 May 2024
Photo SUPPLIED
The Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Prof Paul Oberholster, has the pleasure of inviting you to the inaugural lecture of Prof Dirk Opperman.
Date: 21 May 2024
Time: 17:30
Venue: Equitas
Click here to RSVP before Wednesday, 15 May 2024. Alternatively, contact Christelle van Rooyen on +27 51 401 9190.
About Prof Dirk Opperman
Prof Dirk Opperman obtained his PhD in Biochemistry at the University of the Free State in 2008. This was followed by postdoctoral research on directed evolution with Prof Manfred T Reetz at the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research (Germany). In 2010, he was appointed in the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry. He subsequently established structural biology at the UFS, and his current research focus lies at the interface of evolutionary and structure-function relationships of biocatalysts, and their application in green chemistry. He is an NRF B-rated researcher with co-authored papers in Science, Nature Communications, and Angewandte Chemie.
His research has been funded by both local and international organisations, ranging from industries such as SASOL to the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF, UK). He has a long-standing collaboration with researchers at the Delft University of Technology (TUDelft, the Netherlands) and is currently part of a European Research Area Network Cofund (ERA-NET Cofund) partnership on Food Systems and Climate (FOSC) that develops biocatalysts for upcycling waste.
Inauguration: Download speeches and media releases
2009-10-17

Speeches
- Verklaring van die Universiteit van die Vrystaat Prof. Teuns Verschoor, Viserektor: Akademiese Bedryf (Afrikaans)
Download, Word format
- Declaration by the University of the Free State Prof. Teuns Verschoor, Vice-Rector: Academic Operations (English)
Download, Word format
- E Balwa ke Profesara Teuns Verschoor, Motlatsa Morektoro: Botsamaisi ba Dithuto (Sesotho)
Download, Word format
- Bekendstelling van Prof. Jonathan D Jansen - Regter Faan Hancke, Voorsitter van die UV-Raad (Afrikaans)
Download, Word format
- Introduction of Prof. Jonathan D Jansen - Judge Faan Hancke, Chairperson of the UFS Council (English)
Download, Word format
- Ho tsebiswa ha Profesara Jonathan D Jansen - Moahlodi Faan Hancke, Modulasetulo wa Lekgotla la Yunivesithi ya Freistata (Sesotho)
Download, Word format
- Inhuldigingstoespraak van die 13de Rektor en Visekanselier van die Universiteit van die Vrystaat (UV) Vir ’n tyd soos hierdie - Prof. Jonathan D Jansen (Afrikaans)
Download, Word format
- Inaugural speech of the 13th Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State (UFS), For such a time as this - Prof. Jonathan D Jansen (English)
Download, Word format
- Thuto ya Tlhomamiso ya Motlatsa Mokanseliri ebile e le Rektoro ya bo 13 ya univesithi ya Freistata. Bakeng sa nako e kang - ena Jonathan D Jansen (Sesotho)
Download, Word format
Media Releases
- “Ons maak nou die boek oor Reitz toe,” sê nuwe UV Rektor (Afrikaans)
Download,Word format
- “We are closing the book on Reitz,” says new UFS Rector (English)
Download, Word format
- “Re kwala buka ka Reitz” ho realo Morektoro ya motjha wa UFS (Sesotho)
Download, Word format
- Nuwe Rektor kondig verandering in koshuise aan (Afrikaans)
Download, Word format
- New UFS Rector announces changes to residences (English)
Download, Word format
- New UFS Rector announces changes to residences (Sesotho)
Download, Word format
- “Onbeskaamd elitisties,” sê nuwe UV Rektor oor visie vir Kovsies (Afrikaans)
Download, Word format
- “Unashamedly elitist,” says new UFS Rector of vision for Kovsies (English)
Download,Word format
- “Ha re itshwabele ka bokakalope” ho realo Morektoro ya motjha wa UFS Rector ka pono bakeng sa Kovsies (Sesotho)
Download, Word format