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Advancing Biogeochemistry Research at the UFS

12 November 2024 | Story Jacky Tshokwe | Photo Supplied

Dr Mariana Erasmus (Vice Director, CMBG) demonstrates some of the equipment in the newly established, state-of-the-art laboratories at the Centre for Mineral Biogeochemistry.

The University of the Free State (UFS) recently hosted a landmark event-the national launch of the South African Biogeochemistry Research Infrastructure Platform (BIOGRIP) - in the Centenary Complex on its Bloemfontein Campus. This significant occasion marked the establishment of the Centre for Mineral Biogeochemistry at the UFS and underscored South Africa’s growing commitment to biogeochemistry research.

Prof Anthea Rhoda welcomed the distinguished gathering of scientists, students, industry leaders, and stakeholders, highlighting the launch as a collaborative milestone in South Africa's scientific journey. In her address, Prof Rhoda emphasised the importance of the interdisciplinary nature of biogeochemistry, where biology, geology, and chemistry converge to offer insights into critical issues such as climate change, water quality, and soil health. She remarked on the necessity of collaboration, explaining that BIOGRIP’s platform, built on shared resources and expertise, exemplifies the power of uniting across institutional boundaries to accelerate impactful discoveries.

The programme featured insightful scientific talks by leading experts, each focusing on how biogeochemistry addresses key environmental issues such as sustainability and resource management. These presentations reinforced BIOGRIP’s commitment to advancing knowledge that can influence policy and improve practices.

Attendees were also given guided tours of the state-of-the-art laboratories in the Centre for Mineral Biogeochemistry, which provided a behind-the-scenes look at the advanced tools and methods employed in studying interactions between minerals, biology, and the environment. For many, this was a highlight, as they observed firsthand how biogeochemical research is conducted and contributes to soil health, pollution control, and environmental conservation.

The launch provided ample networking opportunities, fostering connections among academics, government representatives, industry professionals, and environmental organisations. Over a catered lunch, participants engaged in vibrant discussions about potential collaborations and the role of biogeochemistry in addressing South Africa’s environmental challenges.

The BIOGRIP national launch stands as a milestone event, not only for the UFS, but for the broader South African scientific community. With the establishment of this research platform, South Africa is well-positioned to tackle pressing environmental issues through innovative research and cross-sector collaboration. The event left attendees inspired and motivated, setting an optimistic tone for the future of biogeochemistry research in the region.

News Archive

“I, too, am an African,” says visiting US drama professor

2013-03-06

Africans are of blood and of soil, says Prof Charles Dumas in his inaugural lecture at the UFS. Speaking on the topic I, too, am an African, Prof Dumas reminisced about his life and experiences on the continent.
Photo: Minette Grove
05 March 2013

Lecture (pdf)

What is an African? Is it those born in Africa, defined in racial and genealogical terms, or those who identifies with the continent in nationality and ancestral location? Did the descendants of enslaved Africans in the US, the Caribbean or Brazil lose their Africaness when their ancestors were put on slave ships to the New World?

These were some of the questions raised by Prof Charles Dumas, visiting senior professor in the Department Drama and Theatre Arts, in his inaugural lecture at the university.

Proclaiming attachment to the continent, Prof Dumas told his audience there are two types of Africans: Africans of the blood and Africans of the soil. In a speech titled, “I, too, am an African,” he stated that he lay claim to his ancestral birthright not because of blood relationship to an identifiable ethnic group or birthright to the continent, but because he earned it.

“I suggest another way that one can be an African, is through trial and struggle to be reborn an African in spirit. It is a ritual journey that may be taken by anyone. For, after all, if we are to believe the anthropologists who tell us that human life as we know it began in the Olduvai Gorge, genetically we are all African in origin.”

Prof Dumas, a senior professor at Penn State University in the USA, took the audience on a journey of his experiences on the continent, starting in 1978 when he first came to South Africa as a legal observer. Noticing the changes between Apartheid and today’s South Africa, he said this generation are committed to learn from each other – and that is the most important, he said.

“With their hopes and aspirations they earnestly desire to live in the new South Africa that we promised them. We must support them in their effort. It is time we stored our old baggage in the closet.”

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