Hallo everyone! As we wind down 2025, it is a fitting time to reflect on the year for the Faculty. The year has had its fair share of highlights and challenges, and these might have been differed from person to person. Collectively, however, there is so much we can be proud of. I am personally immensely proud of the stories contained within the pages of this latest Newsletter. They demonstrate a rich tapestry of achievement, innovation, and service that truly encapsulates our dynamic spirit as a Faculty. In this Newsletter we have admirable accomplishments from individuals and Departments/ class groups/ research groups, whose impact resonates from local communities to the international stage. To highlight some individual highlights, we celebrate Zoë Bart, who graduated (summa cum laude) with a Bachelor of Environmental Health degree in April this year and was awarded the prestigious national Alfred Nzo Award for being South Africa’s topperforming Environmental Health (EH) student for 2024. We profile PhD student Sinalo Grangxabe, whose powerful research on climate change and gender secured her the Best Oral Presentation award at an International Conference in Paris. Furthermore, the recognition of Dr. Wade De Kock as one of the Mail & Guardian's Top 200 Young South Africans is a testament to the impactful, cross-disciplinary work our staff are doing in climate action and mentorship. These individual successes are mirrored by the collective accolades achieved by students and staff, which fill the pages that follow. What moves me most, however, is the commitment of staff, students and our collaborators; and the spirit of humanity that underpins all our activities and achievements, highlighting one of our core values of Ubuntu, compassion, and engaged citizenship. As we celebrate the wonderful achievements, it is with a heavy hear that I pay tribute to a number of dear colleagues who have departed during the course of the year: Ms Carmen Booyse, Ms Faldelah Adams, and Mr Nkosikhona Madolo. A number of our colleagues also lost their loved ones. I express my sincere and heartfelt condolences to everyone affected by the loss of our colleagues or their loved ones. May you find healing and strength. As we look forward to 2026, let us continue to do our best, dream boldly, research passionately, and engage purposefully. Together, we will continue to be more than the sum of us. Warm regards, Prof Joseph I. Kioko
from the Dean
Newsletter | Issue 6 | October 2025