HSRC Seminar: The COVID-19 Pandemic: Class, Mental Health and Human Rights



4 June 2020



Online seminar

Overview: This webinar addresses some of the main findings of the online multilingual Covid-19 Democracy Survey conducted by researchers from the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Social Change (CSC) and the Human Sciences Research Council’s Developmental, Capable and Ethical State division (DCES). Phase 1 of the survey covers the days from 13-18 April, Phase 2 from 18-27 April, and Phase 3 from 27 April to 13 May 2020. Members of the research team share insights on class, mental health and human rights gained from the survey, which is a valuable contribution to the COVID-19 research effort from a social science and humanities perspective.

Chair: Prof Carin Runciman, UJ

Opening: Prof Crain Soudien, CEO of HSRC - The role of social sciences and humanities in COVID-19 research

Context and methodology: Prof Mark Orkin, Associate Research Fellow, Centre for Social Change, UJ

Panel:

Prof Kate Alexander, Chair of Social Change, UJ - Class, schools and masks: What the data is telling us

Dr Benjamin Roberts, Research Director, HSRC - Not in the mood: How lockdown has affected the mental health of South Africans

Prof Narnia Bohler-Muller, Divisional Director, HSRC - The Paradox of human rights in a Pandemic

Wrap-up: Dr Yul Derek Davids, Research Director, HSRC

For more information: http://www.hsrc.ac.za/en/events/seminars/webinar-covid-pandemic

HSRC Seminar: Coronavirus - Lessons in remote learning from China and Europe


7 April 2020


Online seminar

Overview: Is the quality of online teaching comparable to classroom teaching? Does the virus expose the challenges of the digital divide? This webinar offers an opportunity to hear first-hand from scholars managing these efforts in China. We also contrast the Chinese experience to those of sociologists in Italy and Germany, where the virus has forced governments to introduce unprecedented restrictions on movement in a bid to ‘flatten the curve’. Sharing knowledge and experiences will help South Africa respond to the virus and introduce appropriate measures to limit the spread of the virus. Will it be possible to replicate some of these solutions in South Africa’s uniquely unequal context?

Presenters: Mr Joshua Kobb -Vice Dean of Zhejiang International Business School (Hangzhou, China); Arch Paolo Motta – Member of European Institute of Political, Economic and Social Studies – BRICS Centre (Malaga, Italy); Prof Peter Herrmann – Research Fellow at the Human Rights Center. Law School of Central South University (Changsha, China/Berlin, Germany); Prof Ilaria Pitti – Senior Assistant Professor - University of Bolgna (Bologna, Italy)

Discussant: Mr Krish Chetty – Chief Researcher, Inclusive Economic Development, HSRC

Chair: Prof Sharlene Swartz – Divisional Executive, Inclusive Economic Development, HSRC

For more information: bit.ly/coronalessons

YouTube recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUer5RTCoFY

HSRC Seminar: On democracy and authoritarianism: Systems, ideologies, freedom and vulnerabilities in the era of COVID-19



15 April 2020


Online seminar

Overview: How do constitutional democracies such as South Africa deal with COVID-19? Do or should states facing national disasters or emergencies hold on to human rights and constitutional obligations; and if they choose to limit rights and responsibilities, on what grounds do they do so and how do we test the fairness and reasonableness of the measures taken?  This seminar engages with key questions on governance and the future of participatory democracy in an era of COVID-19.

Presenters: Prof Joleen Steyn-Kotze, SRS, DCES, HSRC; Prof Kate Alexander, Chair of Social Change, UJ; Prof William Gumede, Executive Chair for Democracy Works Foundation

Chair: Prof Narnia Bohler-Muller, Divisional Executive, DCES, HSRC

For more information and to download seminar presentation: bit.ly/demoauthocovid-19

YouTube recording: https://youtu.be/iGeQOCJuqyA

HSRC Seminar: Refracted Economies: Reimagining youth livelihoods in an age of technological innovation


23 April 2020

Online seminar

Overview: The future of work in a technological age is topical, especially in the context of wide-scale youth unemployment. Current conversations centre on helping young people enter existing professions, become entrepreneurs or enhance (often science) skills development with a view towards salaried employment. Often missing are more nuanced conversations, including how entrepreneurship, skills, knowledge, formality, sustainability, permanence, and dignity exist along a continuum when it comes to describing ‘work’. Also missing is how work as we know it - full-time, permanent and along a single trajectory - is unlikely to be the norm as we fully  enter the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). Should we not begin to differentiate between gigs, jobs, careers, livelihoods, and employment? Might we not help young people think differently about work: where it might be available and how it might change?

Presenters: Prof. Sharlene Swartz, Mr Krish Chetty and Ms Seipati Mokhema, Inclusive Economic Development (IED), HSRC

Discussants: Mr Imraan Patel, Deputy Director-General, Department of Science and Innovation; Dr Tashmia Ismail-Saville, CEO, Youth Employment Service

Chair: Dr Glenda Kruss, CeSTII, HSRC

For more information and to download seminar presentation: bit.ly/refraeconomies

HSRC Seminar: Transgender women and HIV in South Africa


26 May 2020



Online seminar

Overview: Transgender women (TGW) constitute an extremely vulnerable, stigmatized and hidden community in South Africa. Stigma and transphobic responses make transwomen more vulnerable, so they constitute a key population for HIV infection. Internationally, the prevalence of HIV amongst the transgender community is considerably higher than the general community. The material for these presentations was drawn from the Botshelo ba Trans sero-prevalence survey of TGW in South Africa, together with qualitative interviews that preceded the survey. The research was done, using a participatory approach, in the cities of Cape Town, Pretoria and East London. The work was all done in collaboration with transinclusive organisations and with the CDC.

Presenters: Dr Donald Skinner and Dr Allanise Cloete, Human Sciences Research Council



Chair: Leigh Ann van der Merwe, founder of the Social, Health and Empowerment Feminist Collective of Transgender Women of Africa (SHE)

For more information and to download seminar presentation: bit.ly/transgendersemi

HSRC Seminar: Water innovation in South Africa

5 May 2020



Online seminar

Overview: South African scientists have been among the significant contributors to new knowledge creation in the water innovation domain, especially in water treatment technologies. This innovation dynamism has however not been translated into a large-scale uptake of new technologies to avert the looming threat of water shortage. This study takes a close look at the challenges and opportunities in the adoption and diffusion of water-related innovations to meet the growing demand for water resources in the context of a changing climate. Our research findings indicates that financing constraints, technical validation and cost factors are among the main hurdles limiting the ability of innovators to scale up their inventions for commercialisation.

Presenter: Dr Alexis Habiyaremye, HSRC/ University of Johannesburg



Chair: Dr Sikhulumile Sinyolo, HSRC

For more information and to download seminar presentation: bit.ly/waterinnov

HSRC Seminar: The Role of Research in Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) for Rural Transformation and Technological Innovations in South Africa

28 May 2020


Online seminar

Overview: Indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) are gaining currency as new strategies for Africa’s development. IKS is a unique system of knowledge owned, inherited or developed by close groups, communities or individuals of common historical or genetic origin. For generations past and present, IKS have driven healthcare, food and nutritional, safety and security, housing construction, and ecosystem management practices in Africa’s rural communities. Yet, colonialism and religion have labelled IKS as fetish, cultic, primitive and superstitious practices. This seminar explores nuances that would reverse the rapid demise of IKS; exploit the synergy between research and IKS; and interrogate how IKS and research interface would provoke technological innovations for rural transformation in South Africa.

Presenter: Prof. Francis O.C. Nwonwu, HSRC


Chair: Carol van Wyk, Department of Science and Innovation

For more information and to download seminar presentation: http://bit.ly/iksseminar

HSRC Seminar: Getting children back to school safely - What the medical experts say


29 May 2020

Online seminar

Overview: Following a nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on 19 May 2020, the Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshegka announced that schools will re-open, in a phased manner, from 1 June 2020.
 This seminar, from paediatric medical experts, discusses the risk levels for school going children through three questions: (1) Do children get Covid-19?, (2) Are children Covid-19 super-spreaders?, (3) How can we make schools relatively safe?

Presenters: Prof. Refiloe Masekela and Dr Moherndran Archary, University of KwaZulu-Natal
; Prof. Sithembiso Velaphi, University of the Witwatersrand

Chairs: Dr Vijay Reddy, HSRC and Dr Nic Spaull, University of Stellenbosch

For more information and to download seminar presentations: bit.ly/childrensemi

HSRC Seminar: Blue Economy for Women's Economic Empowerment

4 November 2019

HSRC Building Pretoria

Overview: This seminar discusses the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and research on the extent of women’s inclusion in the Indian Ocean’s Blue Economy sectors, as well as recommendations to facilitate an enabling environment and creative policy thinking and development for women’s economic empowerment through the Blue Economy.

Presenter: Prof. Joleen Steyn Kotze, Developmental, Capable and Ethical State (DCES), HSRC

Chair: Dr Michael Cosser, Developmental, Capable and Ethical State (DCES), HSRC

Note: DCES is the new name for the Democracy, Governance and Service Delivery (DGSD) programme at the HSRC.

For more information and to download seminar presentation: http://bit.ly/blueseminar

The HSRC's Dr Saahier Parker is interviewed on Channel Islam International about the Covid-19 awareness survey being undertaken by the HSRC. For more on the survey: www.hsrc.ac.za/COVID19