Falling Walls Engage Hub South Africa
Connecting South African and international perspectives on Science Engagement
The Falling Walls Engage Hub South Africa was launched on 28 – 29 November 2022 in Cape Town, bringing together South and Southern African perspectives on Science Engagement and Planetary Health. For this 9th Hub launch, Falling Walls Engage has partnered up with the University of the Western Cape (UWC), with the collaboration of Jacqueline Goldin, Associate Professor Extra-Ordinary in the Faculty of Natural Sciences at UWC, founder of the project “Diamonds at the Sole of their Feet” and Falling Walls Engage Winner 2021.
The two-day program was woven around the four elements – Fire, Water, Air and Earth – each thematic area providing a gateway to discuss projects, opportunities and challenges for engaging with communities, and reflect on the role of science in South Africa. The event gathered 50 Science Engagement practitioners, representatives from science institutions, researchers and students from the University of the Western Cape, in addition to international participants.
Participants exchanged perspectives and best practices in relation to agrarian justice, alternative energies, healthcare, water and food security, biodiversity, indigenous knowledge, human-animal relations and access to STEM education, in addition to many insights on the institutionalisation, funding and impact of Science Engagement in South Africa. The event was hosted by International Relations and the Faculty of Natural Sciences at UWC and took place at the School of Government.
To discover more about the Hub launch, check out our article and highlight video.
Programme Overview
Monday 28 November | 10:00-16:00 (SAST) | UWC
- Keynote – Heide Hackmann, Future Africa & University of Pretoria.
🔥 Fire Panel: Friendly and Not So Friendly Fire – Chaired by David Fig, with Eugene Moll, Tanya Barben, Marina Joubert and Sebastian de Romijnn.
- Input Talk on Planetary Health – Given Moonga, Planetary Health Eastern Africa Hub (PHEAH)
🌊 Water Panel: Water Relations, Whale Songs & Waves of Change – Chaired by Amber Abrams, with Sara Niksic, Megan-Rose Francis, Tasha Mentasti, Denisha Anand and Joanne Peers.
Tuesday 29 November | 10:00-16:30 (SAST) | UWC
☁️ Air Panel: In the Sky & In the Lungs – Chaired by Zani de Wit, with Barbara Schmidt, Roshan Sonday, and Gauri Sharma, Precious Sikhosana & students (Mpendulo Sibiya, Omphile Rabyang, Refilwe Mmekwe, Juniad Townsend, Walter Silima) in live from the SARAO Postgraduate & Postdoctoral Research.
- Workshop: Amplifying your Impact: From Engagement to Action – Hosted by the Berlin School of Science Engagement and Open Science.
🌿 Earth Panel: Nourishing Earth & Human Wellbeing – Chaired by Aviva Tugenhaft, with Leanne Seeliger, Glenda Herman & Timothy Maasdorp, Eschar Mizrachi, Luigi Ceccaroni and Leanne Scott.
- Closing Panel – Chaired by Nabeel Petersen and Tasha Koch with Umesh Bawa, David Fig, Amber Abrams, Zani de Wit, Aviva Tugenhaft, Bersan Lesch and Shadrack Mkansi.
We also thank Stacy M. Hardy for her poems and participation.
