Professor William Bishai, the Director of the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV (K-RITH) and Professor Linda Richter, an Honorary Professor in Psychology and a Fellow of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, have been awarded an A-rating by the National Research Foundation (NRF).

This is a special honour indicative of the international recognition by peers of the contribution by these researchers to the body of knowledge.

The recent opening of a new Psychology laboratory on UKZN’s Pietermaritzburg campus by the Dean of Research, Professor Cheryl Potgieter, signals a clear commitment to fostering quality research.

Although described by Psychology’s Dr Michael Quayle as a "very modest facility", comprising 20 computers, some desks, chairs and recording equipment, the new lab will revolutionise the way research is conducted in the Discipline.

Law students aiming to be prosecutors were informed about the career – and in particular the Trainee Prosecutor Programme - during Law Student Chapter meetings recently held on the Pietermaritzburg and Howard College campuses.

The goal of the two events was to give students an opportunity to engage with legal representatives about skills development, career prospects and other opportunities available to them when they obtain their qualifications and join the work force.

Dr Lungi Mkhize-Kwitshana, a Research Co-ordinator from the College of Health Sciences, led a delegation of UKZN Medical Parasitology experts to represent the University at the National Department of Health multi-sectoral stakeholder meeting in Pretoria.

The delegation comprised of Professor Meera Cheegan, Professor Myra Taylor, Professor Jane Kvalsvig, Professor Joyce Tsoka-Gwegweni and Professor Eyrun Kjetland.

Isifundo sika-Alan Paton kulonyaka sigxile ezingxenyeni zepolitiki ezisezinkondlweni zikaPaton.

Isifundo sethulwe uSolwazi wezifundo zesiNgisi uMbongeni Malaba, okwamanje oyi-academic leader kundikimba yezolimi nezezincwadi, ebesibanjelwe ehholo iColin Webb e-UKZN esikhungweni saseMgungundlovu.

Isifundo besibizwa ngokuthi: “Could you not write otherwise? The Political Dimension of Alan Paton’s poetry”.

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“Women in Academia: Is there a recipe for success?” was the title of a much anticipated UKZN-initiated workshop presented by Professor Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan, 2005 South African Woman of the Year Awardee and recipient of the NRF President’s Award. 

The answer to the presentation poser - according to Chimsamy-Ruran - is: “There is no recipe!”

Female academics faced several obstacles on their route to success.

After an 18-hour flight from O R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg I arrived at my destination - Atlanta in the United States.

It was not the final destination, rather just one of my destinations. I would have loved to tour the city but time was against me as I had to catch a connecting flight to Iowa and a city called Des Moines where I was welcomed by snow and freezing temperatures. Des Moines is a fairly small city and with true determination one can bike all the way around it in just a few hours - something I achieved!

People who consume alcohol have a higher likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behaviour and getting infected with HIV than teetotallers.

They are also less likely to adhere to their HIV treatment while binge drinkers are the least likely to take their medicine!

These are some of the findings of research conducted by Dr Paul Shuper, an independent scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAHM), and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto, Canada.

UKZN’s Student Surgical Society has held its first surgical skills session at the Department of Surgery’s Skills Laboratory at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine (NRMSM).

For some of the students, it was the first time they were exposed to suturing while others were in attendance to master the technique.

The session started with an introductory lesson on correct surgical scrub and etiquette in theatre. All were amazed at how quickly three hours had passed.

Academics and postgraduate students in the College of Health Sciences benefited from a Database Searching and Endnote training session at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine (NRMSM) recently.

Initiated as a staff development activity, the training was a hands-on opportunity for all - even postgraduates - to hone their research skills by learning useful ways to source research articles, journals, books and audio-visual databases using the latest global search engines.