With the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic, well-being and mental health has become an important priority for many academic institutions around the world. Shibu Mamabolo, who specialises in Employee Health and Wellness discussed how Stellenbosch University is helping staff with wellness resources.

Prof Martina Meincken has initiated the process of making African violins by using indigenous African wood species. The first violin was made over three months from yellowwood and sapele by one of the best luthiers in South Africa, Hannes Jacobs from Pretoria. 

We also have a special surprise. Christian Brand joins prof Meincken and plays his piece: Sonata No. 1 for solo violin by C.J. Brand. 

(Please note that the Violin recording was done on a cellphone in a non controlled environment. This was not a professional recording in a studio. )

Read the full story here: http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=7497

According to Prof Kanshukan Rajaratnam, Stellenbosch University has a competitive edge. “Thanks to our leadership, SU has deviated from the norm in a unique manner. The School is set up to focus not only on Data Science, but also on Computational Thinking, thereby offering a unique value proposition to students, researchers and industry. I am excited to be part of shaping and growing what is an important part of the University's future."

Visit http://www.sun.ac.za/english/data-science-and-computational-thinking for more information.

In this podcast, Prof Stan du Plessis, Chief Operation Officer and Chairperson of the Institutional Committee for Business Continuity, highlights the importance of a collaborative approach to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this podcast, Renee-Hector Kannemeyer, Deputy-Director for the Division of Social Impact and also the Head of Matie Community Service, talks about the institutional activities that staff and students can participate in to celebrate Mandela Day during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In this podcast, Dr Elijah Doro from the Department of History makes the point that current debates about the cigarette ban also have to pay attention to the murky political history of tobacco.

In this podcast, Prof Lizette Rabe from the Department of Journalism speaks about the insidious nature of fake news and what we can do to curb its spread.

In celebration of World Population Day (11 July), Prof Mark Tomlinson from the Institute for Life Course Health Research highlights some of the population issues we face today and what we should do to address them.

In this podcast, Prof Bob Mash from the Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care talks about how community healthcare workers are delivering medicine to high-risk groups who can’t go to healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this podcast, Prof Aslam Fataar from the Department of Education Policy Studies talks about how teachers have gone beyond the call of duty to meet the needs of learners during the COVID-19 pandemic.