Is academic pressure really necessary? Being a final year PhD student amid a global pandemic was never part of my grand five-year plans! However, life happened, and I had to soldier on regardless of the circumstances. Given that this is my final insert…
Are you ready to conquer your fears? Covid-19 robbed me of my most favourite part of postgrad life: Conferencing. The lockdown regulations came with strict restrictions on all local and international travel; this meant that for the first time in a very…
Will the red planet be our saving grace? Scientists have been on the hunt for exoplanets and extraterrestrial life since the 1890s when Nikola Tesla suggested that electrical signals could be used to communicate with beings on Mars. Historically, the s…
Can an average South African afford an academic career? Every time Stats SA releases the country’s economic statistics, it is always a harsh reminder of how bad and unequal our economy is. A shocking statistic found by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Jus…
Why was I not taught about her in school? In line with the commemoration of women’s month, I have chosen to celebrate my superhero mama Charlotte Maxeke. I believe that her story should be documented in science textbooks and even on the biggest theatre…
How much of our universe do we know? Public science engagements have been the fuel that drives my love for astronomy. Whenever I have astronomy-related public engagements these are some of the questions I often get: Is there life out there? What is the…
What does the youth of 1976 have in common with today’s youth? As we commemorate Youth month and specifically Youth Day on the 16th of June, I have been trying to search for similarities between the youth of 1976 and the youth of today. The students th…
Is there an algorithm for choosing a supervisor? If the gods of academia work in my favour, this time next year I, will be a postdoctoral research fellow. While searching for potential postdoc positions, a thought crossed my mind: ‘Could there be an ex…
Can ignorance be cured? The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a global panic, unfortunately, during these trying times many people have suddenly become ‘medical experts’. It was alarming for me when I received a WhatsApp text message claiming …
What does a scientist nowadays look like? When the word ‘scientist’ is mentioned, what image is painted in your mind? Is there a particular gender that comes to mind? Colour? If you referenced famous sci-fi blockbusters I’m certain you would conclude t…
