In September 2021, Sol Plaatje University (SPU) saw the establishment of the Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC) under the erstwhile School of Natural and Applied Sciences. This initiative was part of the Department of Science and Innovation’s (DSI) Global Change Programme and received funding from the National Research Foundation (NRF). As the first centre of its kind at SPU, RVSC’s mission was to engage in applied research on global and environmental changes, focusing on their societal impacts, particularly within the arid and semi-arid regions of the Northern Cape.
The RVSC concept, which started in 2011, emerged from a recognized need to actively disseminate knowledge and information at the local level, ensuring that scientific findings were effectively aligned with the community needs. DSI aimed to set up strategic service points in rural areas managed by university experts. These centres would provide risk and vulnerability assessment services to local communities and other stakeholders, significantly benefiting these areas.
Initially, three Centres were established at the University of Limpopo, University of Fort Hare, and Walter Sisulu University, with subsequent additions at the University of Free State (Qwa-Qwa Campus) and at SPU nearly a decade later.
In 2023, the dialogue to rename these to Centres for Global Change began, driven by the realisation that the original name did not fully capture the scope of their work. The RVSC’s activities extended beyond risk and vulnerability assessments, encompassing various aspects of the grand challenges of science, technology and policy in response to global change, with a strong emphasis on societal impact.
With endorsements from the DSI and NRF, as of 1 April 2024, the RVSC was officially renamed as the Centre for Global Change (CGC). While the core focus remains unchanged, the new name more accurately reflects the Centre’s comprehensive thematic mandate. As part of the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, the Centre is poised to continue building on its initial foundations by supporting robust postgraduate programmes, engaging in collaborative and transdisciplinary research, and driving innovative societal impact. Since its inception, the Centre has supported over 40 postgraduate students and has facilitated significant investment in equipment and research within the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences.
