53: Decolonizing Science

Photo Cred: Ilya Pavlov In South Africa there has been a growing sentiment by student movements that education, including the sciences must become "decolonized". But can science be realistically decolonized? In today’s episode, Kholeka Shange chats to a scientist, Ntombifikile Phaliso and they engage on the above question and more. Phaliso's focus and responsibilities are the overall scientific curation. 45% of her time is dedicated to research within a group which involves systematic and conservation research. Sourcing external funds, collaborations, scientific compilation, fieldwork and mentorship are also key parts of her job. For her Master in Science degree at Rhodes University, her thesis was on the, “Systematic Study of Berkheya and allies (compositae). [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/347498784" params="color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true" width="100%" height="300" iframe="true" /] If you like this, you might be interested in episode 41, Africanizing Scientific Research. Researched, Edited, Produced and Scheduled by Simbarashe […]

The Academic Citizen 18 October 2017

academics

45: Season 4 Roundup

From the left: Prof Mehita Iqani, Simbarashe Honde and Dr Nosipho Mngomezulu. The Academic Citizen this year, since its relaunch in March 2017 has produced 14 episodes. In this episode, Prof Mehita Iqani and Dr Nosipho Mngomezulu reflect and look back on some of the interesting and topical conversations exploring diversity of topics and opinions relating to higher education in South Africa, today and into the future. We also bid farewell and good wishes to Prof Iqani who is going on Sabbatical from next semester. The episodes sought to explore different themes and issues affecting Higher Education in South Africa. The themes ranged from decolonization of Higher education and curriculum, women in science, medical aids, the role of universities in societies, wage gaps, issues of gender inequalities in universities. These shows have featured prominent academics and student voices from various […]

The Academic Citizen 6 July 2017

academics

41: Africanizing Scientific Research

Photo Cred: Drew Hayes What does it mean to decolonise science? How can African knowledge be integrated into scientific research? Does emphasising indigenous knowledge systems mean abandoning western knowledge systems? In this week’s episode we explore these questions with Dr Nosiphiwe Ngqwala, a lecturer at Rhodes University in the Faculty of Pharmacy. The discussion touches on questions of research into medicines and health, water purity and biotechnology and how African and western forms of knowledge can be integrated. [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/327004878" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /] Selected Publications: Tandlich R, Ngqwala NP, Tandlichova E (2014). Formative assessment of quality assurance and safety in pharmaceutical education in South Africa, European Scientific Journal, vol.3 ISSN: 1857 – 7881 Roman Tandlich, Catherine D. Luyt and Nosiphiwe P. Ngqwala (2014). A community-based rainwater monitoring and treatment programme in Grahamstown, South Africa, Journal of Hydrocarbons Mines […]

The Academic Citizen 7 June 2017

AfricanizingScientificResearch