Topic: Introducing broader humanities and arts concepts into the biomedical science curriculum​

Prof. Essop’s TAU (Teaching Advancement at University) fellowship project focused on the notion that scientists/engineers often view their discipline as ‘’neutral’’ and therefore devoid of any socio-political and historical contexts. This “scientific elitism” can therefore seemingly absolve scientists from such contexts, e.g. past injustices committed during apartheid as well as contemporary pressing issues like equity redress and decolonization. With the Covid-19 pandemic, scientists have been increasingly thrust into the public domain, often required to respond to outlandish claims/conspiracies and to defend the scientific enterprise itself. However, such responses require deep and critical insights into the nature of the scientific process (e.g. weaknesses, strengths, philosophies, and socio-cultural-political contexts) and its ideal to arrive at coherent truths. There is thus a gap in the training of scientists to be better equipped to operate in the ‘’post-truth’’ world. The aim of the TAU fellowship was to develop a new Honours module in Medical Physiology and to assess its uptake by students and its potential impact. Here the idea is to establish a suitable pedagogical framework for the introduction of broader humanities and arts concepts into the biomedical science curriculum. This should aid the creation of a transformative teaching and learning experience, leading to well-rounded graduates (with strengthened graduate attributes) who are better equipped and trained to handle (and lead) some of the contemporary, societal challenges we face. ​

Biography: Prof. Faadiel Essop is currently a professor in the Division of Medical Physiology (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences) at Stellenbosch University. He is also the Director (and co-founder) of the Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA) at Stellenbosch University. He is a Fulbright fellow, an NRF B2 rated researcher, and has a strong interest in two research fields: a) the effects of chronic stress on cardio-metabolic diseases onset, and b) the development of HIV-related cardiovascular diseases. Prof. Essop is a former President of the Physiology Society of Southern Africa (PSSA), the current President of the African Association of Physiological Sciences, a former board member of the General Assembly and current council member of the International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS), and chairperson of the South African National Committee of the IUPS. He also served as a member of the International Committee of the American Physiological Society and is an elected Fellow of the American Physiological Society (FAPS). He has been appointed as Associate Editor and Section Editor for Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine and PLOS One, respectively. During 2021 Prof. Essop was awarded the PSSA’s prestigious Lifetime Career Achievement Award that ‘’honors a well-established physiologist who has proven their research excellence over a period of time’’. He received a Stellenbosch University Teaching Excellence Award in 2018 and has held a national TAU (Teaching Advancement at University) fellowship from 2021 to 2022. ​