The Royal Society of South Africa and the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) invite you to a webinar on ‘From Technique to Thought: Expanding the Horizons of STEM Postgraduate Training’presented by Professor Faadiel Essop FRSSAf, Director of the Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA) at Stellenbosch University.
Abstract: Many scientists view their discipline as ‘’neutral’’ and devoid of any socio-political and historical contexts, known as “scientific elitism’’. Thus, there is a gap in their instruction to be better trained to operate within the ‘’post-truth’’ world. A new Features of Science module was therefore introduced as part of an existing BSc (Hons) program in the Division of Medical Physiology (Stellenbosch University). The module content included insights into the scientific process and knowledge production, its applications, and focused on the role of socio-politico-cultural and neoliberal economic factors in this instance. Feedback indicated that students found the subject content interesting and relevant, and felt that the module enhanced their understanding of the complexity of the scientific process, while raising their awareness of humanity, empathy, and social justice. Thus, it is our opinion that the Features of Science module can be successfully implemented within the Physiology context and other STEM environments and may help to graduate science students that are well equipped and trained to handle (and lead) some of the contemporary, societal challenges facing humanity.
About the Speaker: Prof. Faadiel Essop is the Director of the Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA) at Stellenbosch University’s medical school (Cape Town, South Africa). He completed his doctoral studies at the University of Cape Town and worked as a Fulbright Fellow at the University of Texas-Houston Medical School. Prof. Essop is investigating the effects of chronic stress on cardio-metabolic diseases onset and the role of immune activation in HIV-related cardiovascular diseases. Prof. Essop was former Presidents of the Physiology Society of Southern Africa (PSSA) and the African Association of Physiological Sciences (AAPS), and is an elected council member of the International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS). He is a Fellow of the American Physiological Society, was awarded the PSSA’s prestigious Lifetime Career Achievement Award for research excellence and an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa. He recently received the prestigious Teaching Advancement at University (TAU) Fellows Award for his outstanding contributions to transformative education and particularly for challenging scientific elitism within the medical field.
Date: Wednesday 18 June 2025
Time: 17h00
ALL WELCOME
– a video of this talk will appear on our website about a week after the event.
Website: www.royalsocietysa.org.za
‘promoting science – recognising excellence in research and scholarship’