CPUT is playing a key role in developing a new generation of scholars.

And to make sure it meets this goal, CPUT has set up a number of support structures for postgraduate students, including access to a wide range of bursaries.

The bursaries range from R20 000 to well over R100 000 and are funded by external organisations and the university.

CPUT is encouraging postgraduate students to make use of this opportunity.

Local and international students can apply for the CPUT Postgraduate Bursary, which offers funding for full and part-time students enrolled in postgraduate programmes across the six faculties.

Students in the Science, Engineering and Technology as well as in the Social Sciences and Humanities fields have the option to apply for funding from the National Research Foundation (NRF).

The university also receives funding from the Mauerberger Foundation, which supports top students registered for Master study in various fields.  The Webb Trust, on the other hand, funds needy students.

To qualify for funding, students must meet certain criteria. More information on the bursaries and application forms can be found at http://www.cput.ac.za/postgraduate-student-funding

Students can also contact the Centre for Postgraduate Studies at 021 953 8600 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The cut-off date for CPUT bursary applications is 8 March 2013, while for the NRF it is 15 March.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News

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The Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town campus recently hosted the Learner-Meet Scientist @Work Programme. The programme provides role models for prospective CPUT students. Learners get the experience of visiting science laboratories and an opportunity to talk to postgraduate ‘scientists’ personally.

The programme started two years ago and is facilitated by Dr Shaheed Hartley, acting Dean of Contract Research in the Faculty of Applied Sciences. The programme aims to provide prospective students with insight in the science field at large.

“It’s important for our learners to get exposure to venues of study and career possibilities,” said Dr Hartley. He said the programme helps learners to make informed decisions about their future. The programme benefits learners, especially those in grade twelve. It also helps in marketing the courses the CPUT has on offer.

The Learner-Meet Scientist@Work Project began after an awareness campaign was held to promote Science and Technology in 1996. This was in response to a call to build a human resource for science and technology base of South Africa.

“CPUT thus embarked on this project to expose learners to some of the areas of study and research in science and technology. The project aims to promote Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) as a study field to meet the demand for scientific human capital in the country,” reports Dr Hartley.

The programme aims to inform learners from previously disadvantaged schools that Science, Engineering and Technology careers are achievable, socially relevant, rewarding and fun. It also aims to improve the image of science and technology as a career. It aims to provide information about SET and careers, expose learners to hands-on experience offered in these fields. It finally aims to impact on the learners’ attitudes and aspirations, to help them make informed decisions about their future.

Learners who attended the session were grade eleven and twelve learners from Cathkin, Harry Gwala, Florida and Spine Road high schools. Learners with Physical Science, Biology and Mathematics learning areas were chosen to participate in the programme.

*by Liziwe Ndalana

Written by CPUT News
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Four outstanding researchers have been announced as finalists in the 2019/2020 National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-South32 Awards.

Known as the Science Oscars of South Africa, the awards recognise excellence and outstanding contributions to science, engineering and technology (SET) and innovation in South Africa.

The four CPUT finalists are:

• Prof Jeanine Marnewick, Director of the Applied Microbial and Health Biotechnology Institute and Research Chair: Biotechnology, in the Communication Award category.
• Prof Victoria Jideani, Leader: Cereals and Legumes Biopolymer Research for Food Security, in the category TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Researcher.
• Prof Vernon S Somerset, Associate Professor: Environmental Chemistry, in the category TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Researcher.
• Dr Mahabubur Chowdhury, Senior Lecturer: Department of Chemical Engineering, in the category TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher.

The awards are the largest, most comprehensive, and sought-after national awards of their kind in the country and were also the first science awards in South Africa. The theme for the 2019/2020 NSTF-South32 Awards is Plant Health. This is in recognition of the 2020 International Year of Plant Health as declared by the United Nations. The annual awards function is expected to be held in an online format this year.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Prof Jeanine Marnewick loves spreading the word about Rooibos and its health properties and her passion has earned her a nomination for a prestigious award.

Marnewick, Director of the Applied Microbial and Health Biotechnology Institute and Research Chair: Biotechnology, is in the running for the Communication Award of the National Science and Technology Foundation (NSTF)-South 32 Awards.

The awards were established in 1998 as a collaborative effort to recognise outstanding contributions to Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) and innovation by SET-related professionals and organisations in South Africa.

Marnewick was nominated and chosen as a finalist in the same category in 2018.

“Elucidating the health properties and substantiating health claims around Rooibos as well as disseminating these findings are the key objectives of our research. Rooibos, a proudly South African herbal tea now adopted under the Nagoya Protocol, serves as a complementary strategy to ensure increased daily intake of important bio-actives as a health promoting and/or disease preventing option,” she says.

She raises public awareness about her work mainly through print media, broadcast media and the Internet in addition to invited formal lectures, and public/lay presentations.

“Each of these communications ultimately have the purpose of informing the public, the consumer, and the industries of new contributions our research studies have made to the field. Accessibility is a critical factor in these communications and as such I avail myself to the media, and through the years I have built good relationships with various journalists and promotions/media companies.”

Marnewick believes that through effective communication, societies and local industries are benefiting from the research outcomes. She adds that for the consumer this means providing them with scientifically substantiated information to make a better-informed choice/decision about what consumer goods to buy that will contribute to their overall health.

For the industries the scientific outcomes and communications serve as value additions to their rooibos products, be it the farmer, the producers or the niche area such as beauty and health.

Asked about her career highlights, Marnewick said there had been many but in the communication environment it has “been the knowledge growth I have experienced over the past few years of the consumer and industry about the health promoting properties of Rooibos. This is a clear indication that the research we are doing is relevant and important to our communities and industries.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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