Good News

BULLETIN 18 June 

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# Cross faculty collaboration between two diverse Tshwane University of Technology faculties culminated in an innovative production that will debut at this year’s National Arts Festival this month. The latter is aptly themed Shaping Together. Following a fruitful engagement between the French South African Institute of Technology under the leadership of Prof Anish Kurien, Rostislava Pashkevitch-Ngobeni, conceived the idea and concept for the production, entitled UNLiMiTED. This piece, which incorporates Artificial Intelligence, is directed by Pashkevitch-Ngobeni, with choreography by part-time lecturer Bryan Mtsweni, and lighting design by lecturer, Wandile Mgcodo.

# Scientists from the University of Cambridge in England have found that an item widely used in kitchens can absorb planet-heating carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They used activated charcoal and “charged” it like a battery and found it would absorb carbon dioxide directly from the air. Scientists were able to separate the carbon dioxide from the charcoal by heating the sponge to between 90 and 100 degrees breaking the bonds between the CO2 and the hydroxide ions. The scientists say their technique requires far less energy and can be powered by renewables alone.

# The 1000 Women Trust has launched a national From-Bystander-to-Upstander competition. 1000 Women Trust brand manager, Adrie Jurgensen says this initiative aims to mobilise learners across South African schools to address bullying. Jurgensen says with the distribution of 20-thousand pamphlets to schools, the organisation invites participation in the competition, and encouraging schools on how to intervene when bullying occurs at schools:

# Two Western Cape high school learners have been selected for the SEAmester programme and will be participating in an exciting research voyage on board the SA Agulhas II for 10 days. The Western Cape Department of Education’s spokesperson, Bronagh Hammond says Aimee Stollie, a Grade 12 learner at Môrester Akademie, and Akhona Zondo, a Grade 12 learner at Simon’s Town High School, will join oceanographic, fisheries, biogeochemical and biological experts on the SA Agulhas II from today until next week Friday:

# And finally: The Tony Awards for excellence in Broadway theatre took place at New York City’s Lincoln Centre yesterday. Shaina Taub won best score and best book of a musical for Suffs, the story of the suffragette movement. Best revival of a musical went to Merrily We Roll Along, with Daniel Radcliffe picking up best featured actor, and Jonathan Groff best lead actor in a musical. David Adjmi’s play Stereophonic, about a 70s-era rock band making an album, took the Tony for best play and best direction for Daniel Aukin.

Stay tuned for more news………….