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08 May 2024
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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.
Prof Jonathan Jansen’s term extended for a further five years
2014-03-19
During its first meeting of the year, held on Friday 14 March 2014 on the Bloemfontein Campus, the Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) decided to appoint Prof Jonathan Jansen for a further term as Vice-Chancellor and Rector.
Prof Jansen was appointed in this position on 1 July 2009. His term will be extended for a further five years on 1 July 2014.
“Prof Jansen’s vision for the future of the UFS is in line with that of Council. He led the university successfully through a challenging time and his ability to bring people from different backgrounds together has made a huge difference in how the institution is perceived nationally and internationally. We are thankful that his services could be maintained for a further term and look forward to working with him,” said Judge Ian van der Merwe, Chairperson of the Council.
Prof Jansen said that he is honoured and humbled to be granted a second term. “I will work even harder to advance academic excellence and deepen human relations at this great institution," he said.
The term of the Vice-Chairperson of the Council, Mr Edward Kieswetter, was also extended for another three years during the meeting. Mr Kieswetter, Group Chief Executive of Alexander Forbes Equity Holdings (Pty) Ltd, has been a member of the Council since November 2004. This will be his third term as Vice-Chairperson.
Issued by: Lacea Loader (Director: Communication and Brand Management)
Telephone: +27(0)51 401 2584 or +27 (0) 83 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za
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