Stellenbosch University and NITheCS: A New Era for African Science

Next week at the SEFI conference in Helsinki, Pleun Hermsen will give a keynote titled “Reflection re-engineered: Don’t ask students to reflect. Create the conditions for reflection to emerge.” Reflection is often seen as something you ask of students but what happens if you stop asking and start creating the conditions instead? I’ve seen firsthand how Pleun, through the Reflective Engineer Program at TU Delft, has shaped ways of working that move beyond ticking the “reflection” box. Instead, she builds environments where reflection can naturally and powerfully unfold. I’m excited to see her bring this work to an international stage and curious to hear how her framework will resonate with the wider higher education community. #SEFI2025 #HigherEducation #EngineeringEducation #FutureOfLearning #Reflection #EducationalInnovation #EdTech

"The rise of extreme parties creates a hostile atmosphere for any sort of actor that is conducting research or is trying to do innovation. That is done by undermining the value of research, cutting funding, curbing academic independence, impeding researcher mobility and the creation of cross-border networks, and eroding trust in expertise." https://lnkd.in/eM4i9Ugb

#SouthAfrica has launched the first of its new #research bodies, the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences – a consortium uniting all 26 public universities. The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation's Imraan Patel captured the spirit of the new initiative when he said the goal is no longer "small islands of excellence, but large-scale programmes that multiply impact.” I unpack the significance of this development for #African #science in my latest piece for University World News: https://lnkd.in/dStcue2Q African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) | CHPC (CSIR) | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) | South African Centre for Digital Language Resources | CoRE AI - Cluster of Research Excellence in AI | Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence | African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) | The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities | Cape Peninsula University of Technology | Central University of Technology, Free State | Durban University of Technology | Mangosuthu University of Technology | Nelson Mandela University | North-West University / Noordwes-Universiteit | Rhodes University | Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University | Sol Plaatje University | Stellenbosch University | Tshwane University of Technology | University of South Africa/Universiteit van Suid-Afrika | University of Cape Town | University of Fort Hare | University of Johannesburg | University of KwaZulu-Natal | University of Limpopo @ULVarsity | University of Mpumalanga | University of Pretoria | University of the Free State | University of the Witwatersrand | University of Venda | University of the Western Cape | University of Zululand | Francesco Petruccione | René Kotzé

The Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS–UM6P - University Mohammed VI Polytechnic) is pleased to announce that resident researcher Tomas Veloz will deliver the next session of the Mercredis de l’IAS seminar series. Titled “On the Emergence and Evolution of Complex Adaptive Systems: Mathematical, Computational and Interdisciplinary Challenges,” the seminar will be held on Wednesday, September 24 at 10:00 AM, in Salle Laâyoune, on the UM6P - University Mohammed VI Polytechnic Campus in Benguerir. This talk explores the nature of complex adaptive systems structures that sustain themselves through ongoing interactions with their environment. From ecological communities and metabolic pathways to socio-technical and economic systems, these phenomena challenge conventional modeling tools and demand new interdisciplinary approaches. #IASUM6P #ComplexSystems #InterdisciplinaryResearch 

Something is shifting in planetary science that most people aren't talking about. We're moving from discipline-specific approaches to interconnected research initiatives that amplify each other's discoveries. The recent trends in science tell the story: - Collaboration across missions and institutions is growing rapidly, fueled by a demand for broader and deeper integration of expertise. - Interdisciplinary publications are now recognized as driving scientific progress beyond what traditional single-field studies can achieve. - Artificial intelligence is helping researchers uncover connections and patterns across diverse datasets that might otherwise be missed by human analysis. What this means: The future belongs to researchers who can think in systems, not just specializations. Are you building bridges between disciplines to enable system science? #PlanetaryScience #InterdisciplinaryScience #AIinScience

Today marks the launch of The Australian Academy of Science report ‘Australian Science Australia's Future’. The report explores critical and concerning trends in Australian science capacity and capability, and provides a roadmap for what must be done to address risks and ensure Australian science and research can meet the challenges facing the nation now and into the future. From AI and the climate crisis to an aging population and industrial transformations, the challenges facing Australia now and into the future are complex and straddle human, natural, and physical systems. Identifying opportunities and solutions goes beyond "scientists talking to scientists", said Ian Chubb. Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia President Kate Darian-Smith joined a panel at the National Symposium, speaking to how social science research and expertise can contribute to future-fit, multidisciplinary education, training and research and the robust policy reform needed to address national challenges. Congratulations to the whole AAS team, particularly Hayley Teasdale who led this comprehensive and timely project. https://lnkd.in/gazbyHt9

"Science That Changes Lives" – A Vision for South Africa's Future Innovators. "Real breakthroughs come from those who don't just do science as a career – but live it as a calling." Meet Dr. Maria Schuld, quantum computing pioneer and champion of South Africa's scientific future! At the NITheCS launch, she'll share how we can: • Cultivate disruptive research that transforms society. • Create a "home" for young, passionate scientists. • Protect & nurture Africa's next generation of deep thinkers. NITheCS isn't just an institute – it's where tomorrow's Einstein-level breakthroughs will be born! #ScienceForChange #NITheCSLaunch #FutureEinsteins

United for Impact: How NITheCS is Transforming African Science Stellenbosch University believes that the future of scientific progress lies in powerful partnerships. As Prof. Deresh Ramjugernath explains, NITheCS represents an innovative model for collaboration - uniting all 26 South African universities to leverage theoretical and computational sciences against our world's most complex challenges. This unprecedented alliance allows us to pool expertise across physics, chemistry and advanced computing to develop solutions for society's "wicked problems". By breaking down institutional silos and focusing our collective intellectual capital, NITheCS positions South Africa as a global leader in transformative, interdisciplinary research that drives real-world impact. #ScienceUnited #NITheCS

📢 We are proud to announce that the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network has entered into a strategic collaboration with the MIT Center for International Studies (CIS) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology – the world’s top-ranked university. This partnership will bring MIT faculty and students together with Hungarian researchers across HUN-REN institutes to work on joint projects in areas of global importance. 💡 The collaboration is supported by the MIT–Hungary HUN-REN Seed Fund, offering grants of up to USD 25,000 per project to enable bilateral travel, workshops, and collaborative meetings. The next application cycle opens on 16 September 2025. 🔹 Balázs Gulyás, President of HUN-REN: “This is an exciting milestone for Hungary’s scientific community, to leverage the power of international collaboration to tackle today’s complex global issues.” 🔹 Roland Jakab, CEO of HUN-REN: “The collaboration has the potential to create unique new bridges between AI, engineering, and the life sciences across the Atlantic.” 🔹 Justin Leahey, MIT CIS: “Our goal is to spark connections that can grow into long-term, large-scale research partnerships between MIT and Hungary.” We look forward to the fruitful outcomes this collaboration will bring – advancing science, innovation, and impact on both sides of the Atlantic. ✨ 👉 Read the article: https://lnkd.in/dmSVepbm ℹ️ Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dFyqTpz6 #HUNREN #MIT #research #innovation #impact #globalcollaboration #AI #sciencematters

🌍 Rethinking Academia: A Call for Change Somewhere along the way, academia lost its essence. Instead of seeking answers to humanity’s deepest questions, we became obsessed with publishing more papers, collecting more citations, and chasing more recognition. The result? A flood of mediocre articles, niche conferences, and a system that often feels toxic, unhealthy, and alienating. But science was never meant to be this way. Science is for everyone. Knowledge is for everyone. Think back to when Darwin’s works were eagerly read by people outside the scientific world, or when the whole planet watched Armstrong take his first steps on the moon. Today, however, being a scientist feels like being an alien. The gap between scientists and society has grown dangerously wide. We need to revive something we once had: spaces where scientists from different fields gather simply to think, question, and share ideas, not just present papers. The biologist sees the world differently than the chemist, and in that gray area between disciplines, magic happens. That’s where true growth lives. The Greeks understood this. The great societies of the 19th century understood this. We, too, need to bring back those conversations, open, interdisciplinary, curious, and human. 🔑 Let’s shift our focus from quantity to quality. 🔑 Let’s rebuild trust between science and society. 🔑 Let’s remind ourselves that science is as vital as art, both feed the soul. Academia doesn’t need to be toxic. Science is fun. Learning is for everyone. And as humans, it is our duty to seek answers, to keep questioning, and to keep growing. It’s time to change. And the time is now. #ScienceForEveryone #AcademicReform #InterdisciplinaryResearch #KnowledgeSharing #FutureOfScience #ScienceAndSociety