A handful BSc alumni and their families were recently treated to one of two guided tours: one of the ion-trapping laboratory in the Department of Physics; or the other to the work being done under the banner of the SARChI chair in Advanced Macromolecular Architectures in the Department of Chemistry and Polymer Sciences.
The tours were part of the Faculty of Science's programme during Stellenbosch University's first homecoming weekend for alumni on 4 and 5 March 2016.
Another alumni group attended a lecture on the work being done in the Department of Botany and Zoology to conserve South Africa's great white shark population. One of the speakers was Michael Rutzen, the well-known shark conservationist and one of a few people in the world who are diving with great white sharks outside the cage.
After the homecoming event Mrs Annette Evans, who obtained her BSc in the 1960s, thanked the physicists and specifically Dr. Hermann Uys for their "friendliness, patience and careful communication to explain truly fascinating research".
Mr Ian Auret, who travelled from Cape Town, specifically appreciated a visit to the staff room in the Merensky Building: "Thank you for the opportunity to visit my old faculty. After nearly 42 years the visit made for the recollection of wonderful old memories," he wrote in an e-mail.
In reaction to the great white sharks talk, Dr Bjorn von der Heyden asked for similar opportunities: "We need more of these kinds of talks – insightful, scientifically sound and pertinent to society." He is currently a lecturer in the Department of Earth Sciences at SU.
Feedback on the guided tour to the laboratory of Prof. Bert Klumpermann ranged from "impressive" to "I would certainly have considered this study area if I had to start studying again".
Mrs. Yvonne de Lange from Cape Town said she found the chemistry session hugely interesting: "I am proud to call myself an alumni of this department."
Several of the BSc alumni also attended Science Café Stellenbosch at Woordfees on 8, 9 and 11 March. During these events well-known environmentalist Dave Pepler engaged in conversation with researchers on topics like the human microbiome, the human cell and the evolution of skin colour. Science Café Stellenbosch is an initiative of the Faculty of Science to encourage the public discussion of science issues.
Keep an eye out for Science Café Stellenbosch at Woordfees 2017, as well as similar events during SU's centenary festivities in 2018.
