News archive | Summer School

We are pleased to let you know that we have added four free In Conversation sessions to the Summer School programme. Most of the authors are UCT alumni and staff. This will give you an opportunity to meet and engage with them.

Fossil finds: footprints on South Africa’s coast offer a glimpse into our ancestors’ lives

Mention the word “fossils” and most people will probably think of bones. Of course body fossils make up a large part of the global fossil record. But humans and other species leave their mark in other ways too - their tracks

How does our sun shine?

COP29: Only by returning carbon to the ground is net zero truly possible

The threat of climate change to South Africa’s agriculture

Temperatures across southern Africa are increasing. This presents a threat to many crops across the region. Rainfall projections are uncertain but the impact of climate change on agriculture is clear.

What is an ice age and how often do they happen?

Fifty years after the discovery of Lucy, it’s time to ‘decolonise paleoanthropology’ says leading Ethiopian fossil expert

On November 24 1974, renowned American paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson spotted “a piece of elbow with humanlike anatomy” poking out of a rocky hillside in northern Ethiopia.

Ukraine war: following Donald Trump’s re-election, four likely scenarios are becoming clear

Existential crisis: how long COVID patients helped us understand what it’s like to lose your sense of identity and purpose in life

Why so many people voted for Trump − 5 things to understand about MAGA supporters’ thinking

South African voters shifted support in 2024 but that’s nothing new – surveys after previous elections showed party loyalty was fluid

African nations can do more to benefit from ties with China, the world’s second-strongest economy

William Kentridge: the barbarity of the ‘Great War’ told through an African lens

Artists created images of Christ that focused not on historical accuracy but on reflecting different communities

In 1915, Norwegian artist Emanuel Vigeland, one of the most respected Scandinavian artists of his time, created an image of Christ with golden hair and fair skin.

How even the young Pablo Picasso was already foreshadowing cubism

At the end of the 19th century, long before starting to speak, Pablo Ruiz Picasso (1881-1973) was already drawing – and he grew up “capturing” everything he saw with a pencil.

How vulnerable is the University of Cape Town to destructive wildfires?

Mosses and lichens come to the rescue in battle against air pollution

African penguins could be extinct by 2035 — how to save them

Sudan’s conflict will have a ripple effect in an unstable region - and across the world

Unlocking the mind: exploring the frontier of psychiatric genomics

This lecture delves of the role of genetics in psychiatric disorders and the complex and interdisciplinary nature of psychiatry, genetics and neuroscience in unravelling the mysteries of mental illness

The neuroscience of forgiveness

Until fairly recently, forgiveness has been relegated to the field of theology and religious study, rendering it quite opaque to scientific enquiry. But what does recent science tell us about the evolution and biology of forgiveness.

Magic mushrooms: can they treat mental health disorders?

This lecture will delve into the fascinating history and contemporary science surrounding psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain species of mushrooms.

Ketamine: revolutionary new treatment for depression or pseudoscience?

Ketamine, synthesised in the 1960s as an anaesthetic, quickly gained prominence for its efficacy and safety in human and veterinary medicine. Recent years have seen a resurgence of interest in its potential to treat mental health disorders.

Johnny Steinberg at the 2025 Summer School

Winnie and Nelson: portrait of a marriage

Zapiro at 2025 Summer School

Cartooning ructions: when the parallel universe intersects with the real world

William Kentridge at 2025 Summer School

One more sea to cross

Imtiaaz Sooliman at 2025 Summer School

Dr Imtiaaz Sooliman’s lecture “The human impact of large-scale disasters” at 13:00 on Tuesday, 28 January 2025, will take participants through the logistics, challenges, emotions, and human impact of these disasters.

2025 Summer School: 20 January – 1 February

Celebrate 101 years of lifelong learning at the University of Cape Town. Join us at Summer School in January 2025 and feast your mind on lectures presented by world-class scholars on ground-breaking research topics.

Confrontation and healing through literature

Join Alistair Mackay for a conversation with award-winning author CA Davids as they discuss The Child, the story of a queer couple who move home to Cape Town from New York to adopt a child.

Editing academic texts: the essential fundamentals – by John Linnegar

This course sets out to describe and clarify the different approaches to editing examinable and publishable texts, and the levels and extent of editing permissible in each type.

Excursion to Sutherland by Patrick Woudt

The Centre for Extra-Mural Studies is offering a unique opportunity to visit Sutherland, known for the radio quietness of its night sky. The excursion will be led by University of Cape Town astronomer Professor Patrick Woudt.

A walking tour of the rocks and mountains of Cape Town by Emeritus Professor John Compton

This walking tour takes participants along the scenic and beautifully exposed rocks and mountains of Cape Town which provide the perfect place to explore and learn about geology.

GENEAOLOGY: RESEARCHIING SOUTH AFRICAN FAMILY HISTORY – AN INTEMEDIATE COURSE

This intermediate course is aimed at those with some experience of doing genealogy research.

Writing political speeches

This course is aimed at those who write speeches for politicians at all levels of government. Participants will learn how to draft good arguments, how to arrange arguments for the best effect, and how to write simply and clearly.

Hong Kong Performing Arts Tour

The Centre for Extra-Mural Studies, in collaboration with the Wubuntu organisation, is offering a performing arts tour to Hong Kong from 13 October to 20 October.

A guided tour of d-School: afrika’s state-of-the-art building

Join us for an enlightening one-hour tour of the Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking (d-school Afrika) at the UCT. Immerse yourself in the world of design thinking and witness how it comes to life in our state-of-the-art building.

Geneaology: researching South African family history

This beginners course is aimed at those with an interest in genealogy who have little or no knowledge of research in this field.

Sally Cranswick is a writer, editor, ghost writer, story coach and workshop facilitator with a special interest in life writing and memoir

Write a family story that people will want to read

This five-week course will focus on why we write family stories, who benefits from them, and how we can make them engaging enough for people to want to read.

Indigenous tree identification in Newlands forest Professor Tjakie Naude

This is an indigenous tree identification course in Newlands forest. After stopping at trees on the way to the stone bridge, we will look at trees higher up in the more pristine indigenous forest, by way of part of the Woodcutters Trail.

Understanding ADHD

Although ADHD is one of the most common developmental disorders, many people still hold on to outdated misconceptions and misinformation. Unfortunately many people with this diagnosis ire often misunderstood.

GenAI: the good, the bad and the ugly

This webinar reviews global thinking on a variety of user-related issues including the safety of GenAI (or AI-Chatbots as they used to be referred to).

CEDERBERG EXCURSION

A unique weekend excursion with Professor John Parkington to the Cederberg looking at rock art in situ, allowing participants a unique insight into the lives of the San by tracing their footsteps and analysing their art and artifacts.

Let's write a memoir essay

In a genre of its own, the memoir essay is a wonderful form which allows the writer to explore the beauty of an encapsulated memory or feeling without committing to a whole novel.

Self-publishing, step-by-step

A practical guide to the possibilities and pitfalls of bringing your book to life, from first draft to finished product. This course is designed to help authors navigate the complex and empowering world of self-publishing.

Robert and Clara Schumann: Very Private Lives

On Wednesday, 24 January, The Baxter Theatre presented an evening of songs and chamber music of Robert Schumann, Clara Schumann, and their contemporaries, giving a glimpse into the private lives of this extraordinary couple.

100 years of radio: Indelible lessons from the airwaves

Respected radio broadcaster Nancy Richards shared with her University of Cape Town (UCT) Summer School audience sage lessons from radio and what it has taken for women to be the great radio personalities they are.

‘The secret communications network that helped end apartheid’

Anti-apartheid activist Tim Jenkin delivered a lunchtime lecture fitting for the time. He spent 60 minutes recounting his role in Operation Vula, a secret mission, which led to the fall of apartheid.

‘Humanity is at a crossroads’

“Humanity is at a crossroads, globally. Our own country is at a crossroads.” This was the crux of former University of Cape Town (UCT) Vice-Chancellor Dr Mamphela Ramphele’s Summer School lecture, held on 27 January

University of Cape Town certificated applied complexity science course 2024

The University of Cape Town is offering a world-first course aimed at professionals, managers and executives in the private and public sectors, and corporate employees at various levels, SMME’s, entrepreneurs and interested individuals

Bringing the looters to justice: the case for an international anti-corruption court

The International Criminal Court’s mandated jurisdiction focuses solely upon genocide and war crimes, not corruption, which costs the world more than $1.6 trillion annually.

February 2025

Whose economy is it anyway? - Mon, 02/03/2025 - 12:41

Snippets from the story of Winnie and Nelson Mandela - Mon, 02/03/2025 - 12:30

The chilling world of organised crime: Land, air and sea - Mon, 02/03/2025 - 12:26

January 2025

Jacob Zuma’s MK Party poses a major threat to South African democracy – new book - Wed, 01/15/2025 - 15:40

Northern Cape snapshots of Fraserburg, Eksteenfontein, Khuboes, Riemvasmaak and Kimberley - Wed, 01/15/2025 - 14:47

Karoo tapestry — the lure of stillness, nostalgia for long-gone locos and the look of yesterday - Wed, 01/15/2025 - 13:50

The first kudu: building a tech startup in South Africa - Mon, 01/06/2025 - 15:37

My side of the ocean - Mon, 01/06/2025 - 15:32

The poisoners: on South Africa's toxic past - Mon, 01/06/2025 - 14:19

Glowfly dance: Literature as a changemaker- Insights into writing difficult stories - Mon, 01/06/2025 - 14:03

UCT authors at Summer School - Mon, 01/06/2025 - 10:23

November 2024

Fossil finds: footprints on South Africa’s coast offer a glimpse into our ancestors’ lives - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 16:32

How does our sun shine? - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 09:53

COP29: Only by returning carbon to the ground is net zero truly possible - Tue, 11/26/2024 - 13:38

The threat of climate change to South Africa’s agriculture - Tue, 11/26/2024 - 12:26

What is an ice age and how often do they happen? - Tue, 11/26/2024 - 12:08

Fifty years after the discovery of Lucy, it’s time to ‘decolonise paleoanthropology’ says leading Ethiopian fossil expert - Mon, 11/25/2024 - 15:15

Ukraine war: following Donald Trump’s re-election, four likely scenarios are becoming clear - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 16:31

Existential crisis: how long COVID patients helped us understand what it’s like to lose your sense of identity and purpose in life - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 16:10

Why so many people voted for Trump − 5 things to understand about MAGA supporters’ thinking - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 16:06

South African voters shifted support in 2024 but that’s nothing new – surveys after previous elections showed party loyalty was fluid - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 15:57

African nations can do more to benefit from ties with China, the world’s second-strongest economy - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 15:21

William Kentridge: the barbarity of the ‘Great War’ told through an African lens - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 11:29

Artists created images of Christ that focused not on historical accuracy but on reflecting different communities - Fri, 11/22/2024 - 10:20

How even the young Pablo Picasso was already foreshadowing cubism - Thu, 11/21/2024 - 17:06

How vulnerable is the University of Cape Town to destructive wildfires? - Thu, 11/21/2024 - 16:53

Mosses and lichens come to the rescue in battle against air pollution - Thu, 11/21/2024 - 16:14

African penguins could be extinct by 2035 — how to save them - Thu, 11/21/2024 - 15:34

Sudan’s conflict will have a ripple effect in an unstable region - and across the world - Thu, 11/21/2024 - 12:55

Unlocking the mind: exploring the frontier of psychiatric genomics - Fri, 11/15/2024 - 10:55

The neuroscience of forgiveness - Tue, 11/12/2024 - 10:42

Magic mushrooms: can they treat mental health disorders? - Tue, 11/12/2024 - 10:20

Ketamine: revolutionary new treatment for depression or pseudoscience? - Mon, 11/11/2024 - 15:46

Johnny Steinberg at the 2025 Summer School - Fri, 11/08/2024 - 15:41

Zapiro at 2025 Summer School - Fri, 11/08/2024 - 15:02

William Kentridge at 2025 Summer School - Fri, 11/08/2024 - 14:54

Imtiaaz Sooliman at 2025 Summer School - Fri, 11/08/2024 - 13:37

2025 Summer School: 20 January – 1 February - Mon, 11/04/2024 - 12:16

August 2024

Confrontation and healing through literature - Fri, 08/23/2024 - 16:33

Editing academic texts: the essential fundamentals – by John Linnegar - Fri, 08/23/2024 - 16:12

July 2024

Excursion to Sutherland by Patrick Woudt - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 16:14

A walking tour of the rocks and mountains of Cape Town by Emeritus Professor John Compton - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 15:43

GENEAOLOGY: RESEARCHIING SOUTH AFRICAN FAMILY HISTORY – AN INTEMEDIATE COURSE - Fri, 07/26/2024 - 10:59

Writing political speeches - Fri, 07/19/2024 - 16:54

Hong Kong Performing Arts Tour - Fri, 07/12/2024 - 11:47

June 2024

A guided tour of d-School: afrika’s state-of-the-art building - Mon, 06/10/2024 - 15:49

Geneaology: researching South African family history - Mon, 06/10/2024 - 11:14

March 2024

Write a family story that people will want to read - Thu, 03/28/2024 - 16:43

Indigenous tree identification in Newlands forest Professor Tjakie Naude - Thu, 03/28/2024 - 10:45

Understanding ADHD - Wed, 03/27/2024 - 12:52