An important milestone was reached on 9 September 2022 when Sol Plaatje University’s Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC) celebrated its first year of existence, having been founded on 1 September 2021.
The centre is the first research centre to be established at Sol Plaatje University (SPU) and is a flagship programme of the Department of Science and Innovation under the Global Change Research Plan for South Africa – funded through the National Research Foundation’s Global Change programme.
RVSC operates under four major cross-cutting challenges:
- Understanding a changing planet
- Reducing the human footprint
- Adapting the way we live
- Innovation for sustainability
With the RVSC, SPU is uniquely and strategically equipped to engage in and develop global change science research and innovation within the arid landscape of the Northern Cape.
Dr Doug Harebottle, director of the RVSC, told how initially the School of Natural and Applied Sciences (NAS) set up the RVSC in his office. Then, through awareness and promotion at research days, conferences and meetings, they introduced the centre and its planned objectives internally and externally across as many sectors as possible. Today, the RVSC employs an administrator and funds honours students as well as post-doctoral fellows. “They’re the engine of the centre,” says Dr Harebottle.
“We supported six honours students during 2022. It is exciting to see how, across a range of different disciplines, we have students engaged with various global and climate-related projects. We have one post-doctoral fellow registered under the centre, Dr Abimbola Olulawana, and we hope we will have more registered with us in future as we make our mark locally and globally,” said Dr Harebottle.
By conducting general and applied postgraduate research, the RVSC facilitates the generation and dissemination of increasing and improved knowledge about global change impacts and the dissemination of that knowledge to local decision makers to support innovative solutions to improve and sustain resources and livelihoods in the face of future climate change.
“The establishment of the RVSC has been in line with the strategic goals of SPU, to stimulate research output over the years and beyond,” said Prof Aifheli Gelebe, Head of School of Natural and Applied Sciences. “The arid zone and the environmental science research – key research areas for the centre – could turn currently perceived disadvantageous geographical location of the university into an international opportunity.”
Mr Leluma Matooane, Director for Earth Systems Sciences at the Department of Science and Innovation, highlighted the strategic role the SPU-RVSC can play in the region and applauded the way the university is supporting the centre. “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the centre reaches its full potential and becomes a hub for impactful society-driven research and service offerings for Kimberley and the province,” he said.
Ms Murunwa Mathoho, currently an RVSC-funded honours student based in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Sciences, thanked the centre for their support and said, “I would like to thank the RVSC at SPU for awarding me the bursary to study my honours degree. It changed my life. At first it was not an easy process finding the right research topic, but after some time and with the support of the Centre, I found my research topic: “Impact of fire on sparsely wooded Savanna: how could climate change influence vegetation dynamics?”
The Director of SPU’s Research Office, Ms Takatso Semenya, believes the centre will put SPU on the global map. “The establishment of the RVSC was a notable event: this research centre was the first of its kind for SPU. It is our hope that our institution will establish many more centres so that we can become more active locally and internationally in research,” said Ms Semenya.
RVSC’s objectives include:
- Conduct relevant and applied global-change research in the arid zone
- Focus on climate-change impacts
- Work within a transdisciplinary research framework
- Assist decision makers in identifying risks and vulnerabilities in different sectors
- Provide evidenced-based solutions to regional and local challenges
- Bridge the gap between science and policy
- Produce climate-smart graduates
SPU supports and congratulates all contributions made to the centre’s success as it establishes itself as a force for global change in local and global communities.
