UCT Summer School 2027

Presented from Monday 18 to Tuesday 19 January, this accessible course explores the extraordinary process that powers almost all life on Earth. Rob Louw reveals how plants capture sunlight and transform it into the energy and oxygen that sustain ecosystems across the planet. Participants will discover the elegant science behind chlorophyll, sugars and plant adaptation, while exploring why different plants thrive in different environments. The course also examines contemporary issues such as climate change, rising carbon dioxide levels and food security, highlighting the continuing importance of photosynthesis to our future.

Over five mornings, this thought-provoking course explores the complex and often contentious relationships between people, wildlife and nature in Cape Town. Led by Professor Nicoli Nattrass, it examines debates surrounding deer, caracals, baboons, rats and domestic cats, revealing how different values shape conservation decisions. Set against the pressures of climate change, urban growth and environmental change, the course considers who and what nature is for in the Anthropocene. Challenging, engaging and highly relevant, it offers fresh perspectives on biodiversity, animal welfare and the future of multi-species living in Cape Town.

This four-day course, from Monday 18 to Thursday 21 January, uncovers the surprising and fascinating connections between Napoleon and Africa. Discover how Africa shaped Napoleon’s rise, his legend and his final years. From the campaign that helped transform him into a romantic hero to the political upheavals that dramatically altered colonial-era Africa, the continent played a striking role in his story. The course also explores Napoleon’s exile and death in Africa, and the extraordinary fate of the last claimant to his imperial legacy, who pursued his own heroic ambitions there.

Over five stimulating mornings, this hands-on course invites participants to explore the relationship between touch, materials and creative thinking. Led by artist and teacher Jill Trappler, it encourages experimentation with a range of surfaces, textures and mark-making processes, examining how physical engagement shapes perception, imagination and artistic practice. Through guided activities and reflective exploration, participants will discover new ways of seeing, making and responding to the world around them. Ideal for artists and beginners alike, the course focuses on developing skills, ideas and creative confidence rather than producing finished artworks.

Over five mornings, become an armchair traveler and transform treasured journeys into compelling travel stories. Guided by seasoned photojournalists Chris Marais and Julienne du Toit, participants will learn how to mine memories, diaries, photographs and mementoes for rich material, shape engaging narratives and identify suitable publishing platforms. The course covers pitching, story structure, visual storytelling, headlines, captions and editorial review. By the end, participants will have the tools to craft a polished travel feature, preserve personal archives and share their adventures with a wider audience through confident, effective travel writing.

Over five engaging mornings, this experiential course introduces the transformative field of art therapy through a blend of discussion, case studies and hands-on creative exploration. Led by Tessa Whyatt, participants will discover how art, play and creativity can support healing, self-awareness and personal growth. Through guided art-making activities, they will explore concepts such as symbolism, mindfulness, materiality and emotional expression while gaining insight into art therapy with children, adults and groups. No artistic experience is required. The course offers a welcoming space for reflection, learning and meaningful personal discovery.

Presented from Monday 18 to Friday 22 January, this course explores humanity’s next adventure in space. Professor Don Kurtz examines ambitious plans by NASA, China and the European Space Agency to return astronauts to the Moon and ultimately journey to Mars. Discover the scientific opportunities, technological challenges and ethical questions surrounding future space exploration, including whether humans or robots are better suited to explore distant worlds. From lunar bases and rare-earth mining to the mysteries of Mars and Jupiter’s moons, this course offers a fascinating glimpse into the future of exploration.

Journey through the layers of the Eternal City in this five-lecture course, from Monday 18 to Friday 22 January. Discover how ancient, medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and modern Rome coexist in one extraordinary urban landscape. Explore the city’s topography and expansion, uncover the traces of classical Rome, and follow its transformation from medieval decline to Renaissance renewal. Encounter architectural and sculptural masterpieces of the Baroque before examining Rome’s reinvention as Italy’s capital from 1871. This course offers a fascinating guide to reading, understanding and appreciating Rome’s remarkable complexity today.

Presented by the Land and Accountability Research Centre (LARC), this three-lecture series, from Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 January, explores why customary land rights remain central to South Africa’s future. Focusing on rural communities in former homelands, it traces how colonialism and apartheid disrupted indigenous land systems, leaving legacies of insecurity and contested authority. Discover how customary law shapes access to land and resources, while development and mining create new pressures. Combining legal analysis with community experiences, LARC asks what fairer, more accountable and inclusive land governance could look like.

This three-part course, running from 18 January to 20 January, examines the ethical challenges of ensuring that populations in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, particularly in Africa, benefit from health research conducted in their regions. Drawing lessons from COVID-19 vaccine inequities, it explores how patent-based intellectual property systems can limit access to medicines and healthcare. It introduces alternative ethical and human rights approaches that promote equitable research benefits and stronger oversight. It analyses global pandemic governance, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and civil society efforts to improve fair access to medicines and research outcomes worldwide.

Courageous Corals invites you into the extraordinary world of coral reefs, where tiny animals create vast underwater ecosystems that sustain an astonishing diversity of marine life. Professor Mike Bruton explores the science, beauty and fragility of these natural wonders, revealing how climate change and ocean acidification threaten their future. Discover surprising new research, including how drifting coral larvae use sound to find healthy reefs and how conservationists are harnessing this to aid reef recovery. Blending fascinating science with stories of resilience, this lecture offers inspiration and hope for our oceans.

In fifteenth-century Florence, Sandro Botticelli rose from humble beginnings to join the intellectual circle of Lorenzo the Magnificent. Commissioned by the Medici, his masterpieces La Primavera and The Birth of Venus contain mysterious Neo-Platonic symbolism. This course explores the hidden meanings behind these works, investigates the identity of Venus and examines the influence of Girolamo Savonarola, who led the ‘Burning of the Vanities’. It also traces Botticelli’s emotional decline and changing artistic style, culminating in his final signed masterpiece, The Mystic Nativity, which is believed to contain an encoded message.

Presented from Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 January, this insightful course explores the challenges and opportunities facing children in a rapidly changing world. Drawing on expertise in paediatrics and complementary healthcare, Dr Eva Perez Visus examines rising concerns around mental health, emotional wellbeing and neurodiversity with compassion and clarity. Through practical examples and interactive discussion, participants will discover how grandparents and other caring adults can provide stability, connection and resilience in young lives. The course offers valuable strategies for supporting children, streng

Presented from Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 January, this fascinating course traces the story of human evolution across the diverse landscapes of Africa. Led by Emeritus Professor John Compton, it explores how shifting environments, from dense rainforests and open savannahs to coastal regions, shaped the lives and adaptations of our ancestors over millions of years. Drawing together evidence from geology, climate science and archaeology, the course reveals how changing habitats influenced survival, migration and innovation,ultimately contributing to the emergence of Homo sapiens and the remarkable story of our species.

Discover how an unlikely alliance between humans and wolves became one of history’s most enduring partnerships. This three-lecture course, from Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 January, traces the domestication of dogs deep into the Palaeolithic, long before agriculture. Explore how less fearful wolves may have approached human camps, gradually evolving from scavengers into trusted hunting partners and protectors. Follow the physical and behavioural changes that shaped early dogs, eventually producing today’s astonishing diversity of breeds, while uncovering how this ancient bond influenced human survival, society and our relationship with animals.

Cape Town’s housing crisis takes centre stage in this five-day lecture series, from Monday 18 to Friday 22 January, coordinated by Francois Viruly. Through lively conversations with experts from academia, civil society and the public sector, participants will explore why affordable, quality housing remains out of reach for many. Discover how property markets shape the city, challenge common myths and examine the enduring effects of spatial inequality. Blending research with real-world perspectives, the series asks what must change to create a fairer, more inclusive and sustainable Cape Town for all.

This performance lecture examines how South African writers and playwrights responded to apartheid and its aftermath from 1976 onwards. Following the Soweto Uprising, authors such as Nadine Gordimer, J.M. Coetzee, Njabulo Ndebele, Sindiwe Magona, and Andre Brink explored state repression and everyday life under apartheid. Protest theatre flourished through the work of Athol Fugard, John Kani, and others, while poets gave voice to resistance. After 1994, writers including Antjie Krog, Zakes Mda, Ivan Vladislavic, and Damon Galgut addressed democracy, reconciliation, inequality, violence, and identity, reflecting South Africa’s continuing social challenges.

Centre for Criminology lecture series
18-20 January and 25-27 January 17:00 pm Classroom 2A (49),
This is a series of six lectures at R690 (full price), Staff and students = R345, FOSS and DM = R621

This lecture will consider the growth of gang mass killings and the state responses, including policing strategies when it comes to gang violence. It will discuss explanations for the changing pattern of gang recruitment and alignment in the Western Cape and how communities have sought to respond. Lastly, it will examine opportunities for intervention by all stakeholders.

Over two weeks of classes,this practical beginner’s course provides an engaging introduction to isiXhosa communication and culture. Guided by Dr Nolubabalo Tyam,participants will build confidence in speaking,listening,reading and writing through interactive activities and everyday conversations.Learn essential vocabulary,pronunciation and grammar while practising greetings,introductions,requests and descriptions of work or study life. With opportunities for structured conversation,presentations and intercultural learning,the course equips participants with valuable language skills to connect more meaningfully with isiXhosa-speaking communities and enrich their South African experience.

Over three weeks of lively classes, this beginner-friendly course introduces participants to the French language through conversation, listening and practical communication. Led by Madame Dominique Williams, it focuses on understanding and speaking French with confidence, emphasising natural intonation rather than perfect accents. Participants will discover useful vocabulary, recognise familiar “transparent words” and learn to make sense of language through context. Interactive and enjoyable, the course encourages active participation and real communication, providing a solid foundation for further study while opening a window onto the richness of French language and culture.

Jubilant Jellyfish takes you on a captivating journey into the lives of some of the ocean’s most ancient and resilient inhabitants. Having survived for more than 500 million years, jellyfish challenge conventional ideas about intelligence, adaptation and survival. This lecture explores their extraordinary biology, from self-regenerating species and seemingly immortal life cycles to remarkable floating colonies that function as a single organism. Discover how these enigmatic creatures have endured dramatic changes that wiped out countless other species and consider what their success can teach us about life, evolution and resilience.

AN UPPER CAMPUS TOUR: WHAT IS IN A NAME?
This will be an upper campus tour of named buildings and spaces, looking at what's behind some of these names.

Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a hat and water.

Understanding Critical Care: Life, Death and Decision-Making in the ICU is a fascinating four-lecture course presented from Tuesday 19 to Friday 22 January. Led by Professor Ivan Joubert, it offers a rare opportunity to explore the high-stakes world of intensive care medicine. Discover how life-saving technologies are used, who benefits most from critical care, and why some of healthcare’s toughest decisions must be made. From sepsis and antibiotic resistance to organ donation and end-of-life care, this thought-provoking course reveals the science, ethics and humanity at the heart of modern medicine.

This lecture will examine the criminal justice system’s response to domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) since the passage of the Domestic Violence Act in 1998. It will discuss the shortcomings around implementation, the barriers to accessing justice for DV/IPV survivors, and the value of expanding gender-based violence prevention and response beyond a legalistic and punitive model.

This lecture will explore the last three Beethoven Piano Sonatas and how profound emotional intimacy, radical structural innovation, and philosophical transcendence define these late masterpieces, tracing Beethoven's ultimate evolution as a composer.

Led by Dr Tian Chen, this two-day course, running from Wednesday 20 to Thursday 21 January, uses contemporary art to explore East Asian societies and challenges shaping them today. Through works by artists including Xu Bing, Yayoi Kusama and Do Ho Suh, participants will examine social change, memory, migration, urbanisation, gender and censorship. Combining powerful visuals, film clips and analysis, the course explores art as social critique and cultural translation, while connecting East Asian experiences with South African concerns around identity, belonging and reconciliation, offering fresh perspectives on societal transformation.

At last year’s Summer School, Nigel Vermaas celebrated South African jazz musicians who have left us. This year, he turns to those keeping the music vibrantly alive. From veterans Hilton Schilder and McCoy Mrubata to Marcus Wyatt, Kesivan Naidoo, Kyle Shepherd and Tutu Puoane, discover musicians balancing tradition with bold experimentation. Meet the Dyer family, Shane Cooper, Mark Fransman and dedicated mentors nurturing new generations. Guided by Vermaas, enjoy the music, stories and creative spirit of these remarkable artists shaping the present and future of South African jazz.

This lecture takes audiences on a remarkable journey through the Golden Age of Islam; a period of extraordinary innovation that helped shape the modern world. Drawing on years of international research, Professor Mike Bruton uncovers the achievements of pioneering Muslim scholars whose advances in astronomy, medicine, mathematics, engineering and the natural sciences laid foundations for later breakthroughs in Europe and beyond. Challenging familiar histories and celebrating a rich tradition of discovery, this eye-opening lecture reveals a more connected story of human knowledge, ingenuity and scientific achievement across cultures and centuries.

This lecture questions what we know – and what we should know – about behaviour that is neither sexual nor physical. It asks whether we should pretend that everything is fine, allowing inappropriate behaviour to slip through the cracks because we are women and it is deemed ‘fine’ or ‘just how things are’. This is relevant for anyone who has been told they are overreacting, and for anyone ready to stop pretending that all is well when it clearly is not.

Join us for a sparkling gala of opera presented by the Director of Opera UCT, Professor Jeremy Silver. Featuring gifted opera students and a small instrumental ensemble, the evening will showcase captivating excerpts from a wide-ranging repertoire. Celebrate the power and beauty of opera in a festive evening that promises a feast of musical excellence.

Madness: Stories of Uncertainty and Hope is a thought-provoking two-lecture series presented over two days, Thursday 21 to Friday 22 January, by psychiatrist Sean Baumann. Drawing on his experiences at Valkenberg Hospital and insights from his acclaimed book, these lectures explore the complex realities of mental illness, from enduring questions about the nature of madness and consciousness to contemporary approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Combining clinical expertise, philosophy, science and the arts, the series offers a compassionate and illuminating perspective that challenges stigma and deepens understanding of the human mind.

The discovery of a living coelacanth off the South African coast in 1938 ranks among the most extraordinary moments in scientific history. In this lecture, Professor Mike Bruton shares his personal involvement in the study and conservation of this iconic fish, drawing on decades of research across Africa, Madagascar and Indonesia. Far from being a primitive relic, the coelacanth has revealed remarkable adaptations and survival strategies that continue to surprise scientists. Blending adventure, discovery and cutting-edge biology, this lecture explores a species that has transformed our understanding of evolution and resilience.

Follow the extraordinary story of the CSS Alabama, a Confederate warship whose exploits reached from the American Civil War to Cape Town and beyond. Jillian Young Gorton reveals how this cleverly disguised vessel attacked United States shipping, strained Anglo-American relations and inspired the enduring Cape song ‘Daar kom die Alabama’. From piracy on distant oceans to its dramatic sinking off Cherbourg, discover how the Alabama’s legacy continued in a landmark international arbitration case that helped shape Geneva’s emergence as a centre of global diplomacy and international law.

What if the value generated by land and natural resources benefited everyone? Challenging conventional thinking about inequality, taxation and wealth, Robert Stewart questions whether economies could be organised more fairly. Explore how the value of land, minerals and location is often captured by owners rather than shared across society, while taxes burden work and enterprise. Discover an alternative approach based on collecting land rent for public benefit. In clear, accessible terms, the lecture considers how this could reduce inequality, simplify taxation and create a fairer distribution of wealth.

Chagall’s dreamers, brides and lovers inhabit a world of loss and exile, reflecting his Russian Jewish roots and faith. Initially influenced by Cubism in Paris, he later developed a narrative style, seen in his Old Testament paintings of the 1960s, dominated by ultramarine blue. Symbolising wisdom and the cosmos, blue unified his artistic vision. His biblical etchings, monumental paintings and stained-glass windows established him as a great interpreter of Scripture. Despite surviving Nazi persecution through rescue from France, Chagall remained an outsider in exile, drawing inspiration from childhood memories and his Jewish heritage.

Former BBC TV news journalist and documentary producer Vivien Morgan takes audiences on a journey through the technologies that transformed how we see the world. Beginning in 1989, with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the arrival of handheld video cameras, Morgan draws on her experience as a pioneering video journalist filming conflicts. From newsreels to camera phones, explore how video democratised news and empowered ordinary people to document history. Finally, consider how artificial intelligence is driving the next revolution in visual media and challenging what we trust.

Anarchism is often misunderstood as chaos, but it is a diverse political philosophy rooted in moral philosophy, economics, and social theory. This lecture explores its origins, linking anarchist ideas to the small, mobile hunter-gatherer societies in which humans lived for over 95% of history. These communities reflected many principles associated with anarchism, including limited hierarchy and shared responsibility. Rather than providing a fixed blueprint for society, anarchism’s lasting significance lies in its critical examination of authority, power, and domination, challenging accepted structures and demanding that all forms of hierarchy justify their existence.

Led by photojournalists and independent publishers Chris Marais and Julienne du Toit, this two-part course, running over two days from Thursday 28 to Friday 29 January, explores the Karoo’s landscapes, communities and resilience. Through photography, storytelling and local insight, participants discover remote back roads, hidden histories and diverse communities. The second lecture examines how civil society sustains small Karoo towns, addressing governance challenges while protecting heritage, architecture and infrastructure. Together, the sessions highlight grassroots action, collective responsibility and valuable lessons for community-led development and preservation across SA today.

How did the Bo-Kaap become one of Cape Town’s most distinctive neighbourhoods? Stephen Townsend traces its evolution from 1762, revealing the events, decisions and changing ideas that shaped its character. Explore the dramatic impact of the City Council’s expropriation of hundreds of homes in the 1930s and the emergence of conservation thinking from the 1940s onwards. Drawing on his personal involvement since the early 1970s, Townsend examines how heritage laws and evolving ideas of authenticity and integrity have influenced efforts to protect this remarkable historic urban landscape.

Discover how the University of Cape Town is turning sustainability ambitions into meaningful action. In this engaging lecture, Manfred Braune explores UCT’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy, highlighting initiatives in renewable energy, water conservation, waste reduction, biodiversity and sustainable transport. Through inspiring real-world examples, participants will see how students, staff and partners are working together to build a more resilient future. The session also examines the unique role universities play in driving environmental change through operations, research, teaching and community engagement, offering both practical insights and a compelling call to action.

Where to from here for South Africa’s democracy? Parliamentary correspondent Tara Roos explores a political landscape transformed by declining single-party dominance, rising populism and the growing influence of coalition government. Drawing on her book, Where To From Here?, she examines the 2024 elections, the Government of National Unity and an increasingly fragmented party system. Can coalitions strengthen accountability, or will they deepen political instability? With public trust under pressure and anti-establishment politics gaining ground, this timely lecture considers the choices, challenges and possibilities shaping South Africa’s democratic future.

Led by Manfred Braune, UCT Director: Environmental Sustainability, this guided tour explores the HPI d-school Afrika on Middle Campus, UCT’s greenest building and a 6-Star Green Star-rated academic building. Participants will discover what makes a building environmentally sustainable and learn about the challenges and opportunities encountered in achieving its green building status. The tour will also introduce the d-school’s work in design thinking and its programmes for UCT faculties and external stakeholders. Meet in front of the Kramer Building at 10:30 am for the 10:45 am tour.

David Cornwell’s Hell of a Country reimagines the notorious 1974 Scissors Murder, in which Marlene Lehnberg and Marthinus Choegoe conspired to kill Susanna van der Linde, wife of Lehnberg’s lover. In this lecture, Cornwell explores the true crime case and the creative process of transforming historical facts into fiction. He discusses the novel’s inspirations, including Apartheid-era power dynamics, and examines the role of genre in shaping the narrative. Through selected excerpts, he highlights key themes, literary influences and the ways fiction can illuminate complex social and historical realities.

Turn South African history upside down with the remarkable story of Thulamela, a sophisticated kingdom that flourished long before European contact. Hidden in the Pafuri region of Kruger National Park, Thulamela was connected to trading networks stretching across the Indian Ocean. Paul Zille explores royal graves, gold artefacts and imported glass beads that reveal a society rich in craftsmanship, commerce and cultural exchange. Discover how ivory, gold and global connections made Thulamela an important regional centre, challenging familiar narratives and revealing a complex, interconnected pre-colonial South Africa.

This lecture explores the Kenyan-Nubian community, a largely stateless group that has lived in Kenya since the 1890s while tracing its ancestry to ancient mercenaries from present-day Aswan, Egypt. It examines how the community has forged a sense of belonging and social continuity despite being denied formal citizenship for much of its history. Moving beyond narratives of marginalisation, the lecture highlights the active strategies Kenyan-Nubians use to sustain identity and community, including oral histories, political engagement, institutional self-governance, and everyday cultural practices that reinforce connections to place, people, and heritage.

From feared Blackbeard to the pirates still operating today, Vivien Morgan takes audiences on a lively voyage through the colourful history of piracy. Discover the buccaneers, privateers and profiteers who terrorised ships during piracy’s Golden Age and uncover why sailors chose life under the skull and crossbones. Separating fact from fiction, Morgan dispels familiar myths about peg legs and parrots and reveals how pirates really lived and died. Along the way, explore how Treasure Island, Peter Pan and Pirates of the Caribbean transformed ruthless seafarers into enduring popular legends.

Editorial cartoonist Brandan Reynolds takes audiences behind the headlines to reveal how political cartoons capture, challenge and reshape the stories of our time. Through a lively, visually rich collection of cartoons, discover how satire and sharp observation illuminate shifting political narratives and public sentiment. From Jacob Zuma, Cyril Ramaphosa and the Zondo Commission to xenophobia, climate change and Donald Trump, Reynolds revisits defining events through the cartoonist’s eye. Along the way, explore how humour, visual storytelling and political analysis combine to create a distinctive record of contemporary history.

AN UPPER CAMPUS TOUR: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GROOTTE SCHUUR CAMPUS
This tour will start with the 18th C slave burial site and will move onto the realisation of Solomon’s vision.

Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a hat and water.

What happens when doing the right thing means breaking the law? This three-lecture course, held on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 January, explores Sophocles’ Antigone and its timeless conflict between conscience and state authority. Through discussion, examine moral duty, political power, unjust laws and the consequences of resistance. Connecting the play with South Africa’s experience of apartheid, dissent and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the course asks when obedience becomes complicity and defiance a moral necessity, offering insight into justice, responsibility and the courage to act in difficult times.

Award winning documentary filmmaker Enver Samuel will use an episode from his powerful series Truth be Told that unpacks cases from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission thirty years later through the voices of children of those killed by apartheid security police.

The session will reflect on the TRC archives and find new ways of using film as a tool for healing.

WAT WAS HIE?, directed by Luke De Kock, is a short documentary exploring Cape Town’s complex histories of colonialism, slavery, Indigenous resistance and memory. The session begins with a live bushman mouthbow performance by Glen Arendse, followed by a screening of the film. Through movement, re-enactment and poetic reflection, the documentary connects historical events to the landscapes where they occurred, highlighting figures such as Krotoa and legacies including slavery and the dop system. A post-screening discussion and Q&A will invite audiences to reflect on memory, resilience, healing, belonging and art’s role in confronting difficult histories.

From the earliest encounters between humans and honeybees to the vital role bees play in modern agriculture, this lecture explores an extraordinary relationship spanning thousands of years. It reveals the story of the Cape honeybee, a remarkable subspecies whose unusual biology challenged scientific assumptions and transformed our understanding of social behaviour in insect societies. Through the lens of evolution, cooperation and survival, discover striking parallels and contrasts between human and honeybee communities. Blending natural history, science and social insight, it offers a fresh perspective on one of nature’s most intriguing partnerships.

For generations, Table Mountain has inspired awe, but what does its future hold? In this fascinating two-hour lecture, Extraordinary Professor Eugene Moll draws on more than five decades of ecological research and personal experience to reveal the mountain’s remarkable natural history. Explore its unique plant life, conservation challenges and complex relationship with human activity, while uncovering the successes and shortcomings of its management over time. Thought-provoking and richly informed, this session offers fresh insight into one of Cape Town’s greatest treasures and the shared responsibility of safeguarding it for future generations.

How can technology help solve some of Africa’s most pressing challenges? In this inspiring two-hour lecture, Fanelesibonge Mbuyazi shares real-world examples of AI and digital innovation creating meaningful social impact, from combating identity fraud to expanding access to healthcare. Drawing on experience in South Africa and the United States, she explores how technology, policy and community needs intersect. Participants will examine the opportunities and ethical challenges of AI in under-resourced contexts and discover practical ways to design inclusive digital solutions that empower communities and drive positive change across the continent.

What happens when a bully and the person he bullied meet again decades later? Bully Dialogues brings Bryan Schimmel and Clinton Fein together to transform a painful shared history into a powerful conversation about harm, accountability and reconciliation. Drawing on lived experience, they rethink how bullying is understood, from harm-reduction approaches and meaningful accountability to the language used to describe those involved. Looking ahead, they explore how AI, deepfakes, impersonation and algorithmic amplification are reshaping bullying, challenging schools, organisations and communities to develop responses for an increasingly complex digital world.

This is an illuminating course on the immune system, presented from Monday 25 to Thursday 28 January. Led by Professor Elisabeth Mayne, it explores the remarkable immune system and its central role in maintaining health, fighting disease and shaping our wellbeing. Discover how lifestyle choices influence immune function, how scientific understanding of microbes has evolved, and why some microorganisms are essential partners in good health. Combining cutting-edge science with practical insights, this engaging course offers a deeper understanding of the body's extraordinary defence system and its impact on everyday life.

Embark on a five-day journey through more than four centuries of opera, from Monday 25 to Friday 29 January, following the enduring Orpheus myth across the operatic stage. Discover why this ancient tale has inspired composers for generations and how music continually reshapes its meaning. Beginning with the original myth, explore four distinctive operas, from Claudio Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo (1607) to Neo Muyanga’s Euridice (2026). Rich audio-visual extracts bring each work vividly to life, revealing how composers transform myth, character and drama through the expressive power of music.

This three-day course, from Monday 25 to Wednesday 27 January, explores the historical roots of Putin’s authoritarian rule and asks how deeply it is embedded in Russia’s political past. From the absolute authority of the Tsars through the increasingly repressive Soviet era to Putin’s Russia today, the course traces striking continuities in the exercise of power. Examine the suppression of political opposition, control of the media and weakening of independent institutions, while considering a provocative question: is Putin’s rule an aberration, or the continuation of a long Russian political tradition?

Over five creative mornings, this immersive course invites participants to slow down, observe deeply and discover drawing as both an artistic practice and a form of meditation. Guided by artist Terence Visagie, participants will explore geometric forms, light, shade, perspective and observational techniques while strengthening hand-eye coordination and creative confidence. Through exercises in constructive drawing, composition, Notan studies and figure drawing from life, students will develop essential artistic skills in a relaxed, supportive environment. Ideal for beginners and intermediate artists, the course emphasises enjoyment, mindfulness and meaningful creative growth.

This is a short course about writing (and reading) novels. Participants will practise in class, exchange their work, and discuss the suggested readings, which are all to do with the beginnings of novels.

A short story is more than a series of events. Over five sessions, participants will develop an original story from first idea to completed draft, exploring how character, conflict, setting and plot combine to create emotional impact. Guided exercises will help writers build memorable characters, generate tension, craft vivid scenes and shape effective story structures. Attention will also be given to strong beginnings and satisfying endings. By the end of the course, participants will have completed a short story and gained practical techniques for future fiction-writing projects and creative growth.

Over five mornings, this practical and inspiring course explores how scientific discoveries become real-world innovations that improve lives. Led by Associate Professor Afolake Temitope Arowolo, participants will learn how to identify opportunities within research, navigate intellectual property, understand funding and regulatory pathways, and develop viable business models. Drawing on case studies from healthcare, diagnostics and medical technology, the course reveals the journey from laboratory breakthrough to successful venture. Ideal for researchers, students and health professionals, it provides valuable entrepreneurial skills and culminates in an exciting opportunity to pitch new ideas

Over five mornings, this practical course explores how resilience can be developed through intentional action and self-awareness. Led by therapist and resilience coach Tessa Whyatt, participants will discover the science behind resilience, wellbeing and prosilience, the ability to prepare for future challenges before they arise. Through interactive discussions, multimedia resources, reflective exercises and practical tools, the course bridges the gap between knowing and doing. Participants will learn strategies to strengthen emotional, mental and physical wellbeing, prevent burnout and build lasting habits that support a healthier, more balanced life.

Led by Elizabeth Handley, this five-day course, running from Monday 25 to Friday 29 January, explores Beethoven’s life, turbulent times and revolutionary musical innovations. Through five richly illustrated lectures featuring music, videos and letters, participants will examine his key relationships, distinctive musical fingerprints and evolving creative periods. The course considers how his advancing deafness inspired works of unprecedented scope and originality, culminating in his final masterpieces, and explores Beethoven’s enduring legacy and profound influence on generations of composers who followed.

Presented from Monday 25 to Friday 29 January, this course explores the extraordinary story of bird evolution, from their dinosaur ancestors to the remarkable diversity of species found across the globe today. Professor Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan examines some of science’s most intriguing questions, including the origins of feathers, the evolution of flight and the long-standing puzzle of the chicken and the egg. Discover how mass extinction events shaped the natural world and gain fascinating insights into the evolutionary history of creatures that continue to fill our skies with colour, song and wonder.

Jonathan Ancer takes audiences on an entertaining journey through some of South Africa’s most astonishing true stories, exploring why he wrote a book about lies, myths, scandals and absurdities. From a controversial firepool and claims of 10 miracle babies to apartheid-era absurdities, broken promises and a devastating pyramid scheme, these tales often seem stranger than fiction. Blending humour with serious reflection, Ancer reveals how deception has shaped the country’s past and present, while showing why questioning dubious claims, challenging misinformation and separating fact from fiction matter more than ever.

Statins are among the most widely prescribed medicines worldwide, best known for lowering cholesterol and preventing cardiovascular disease. This presentation explores their broader anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects, including their potential role in tuberculosis and other infectious diseases. It will also examine emerging evidence that statins may reduce age-related inflammation and disease, potentially contributing to healthier ageing and longevity.

Presented from Monday 25 to Wednesday 27 January, this lively and accessible course reveals the extraordinary molecular world that lies beneath everyday life. Dr John Woodland guides participants from the structure of atoms and chemical bonds to the complex molecules that make life possible, including DNA and proteins. Discover why water behaves so strangely, how molecules can become medicines or poisons, and how chemistry is driving modern advances in drug discovery. Designed for curious minds, this course uncovers the hidden connections that shape our bodies, our world and the universe.

This three-day course, from Monday 25 to Wednesday 27 January, journeys from haiku’s origins in seventeenth-century Japan to its flourishing worldwide today. Participants will discover how this deceptively simple form captures nature, spirituality, war, protest and identity, while exploring Japanese aesthetics such as mono-no-aware and yugen. Learn techniques including season words, juxtaposition, sense-switching and zooming, and encounter related forms such as monoku and senryu. Combining literary appreciation with creative practice, the course provides practical techniques, inspiration and habits to develop distinctive haiku and establish a rewarding, regular poetry-writing practice.

The Aksum Kingdom was one of the ancient world’s greatest civilisations, flourishing in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea region until the 7th century CE. After adopting Christianity in the 4th century, it was succeeded by a Christian kingdom claiming descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. In West Africa, powerful states emerged, leading to the Mali and Songhay Empires, renowned for wealth, trade, and Islamic scholarship. This four-lecture course examines these kingdoms’ political, social, religious, artistic, and cultural achievements, highlighting their influence across Africa and beyond.

Discover the enduring wisdom of Stoicism in this three-lecture course, from Monday 25 to Wednesday 27 January, through the extraordinary life and writings of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. Facing war, plague, betrayal and the immense pressures of power, Aurelius turned to Stoic philosophy for resilience, discipline and moral clarity. Explore how his private reflections, collected in Meditations, offer practical guidance for navigating uncertainty and adversity. Discover why his teachings on controlling our responses, living virtuously and meeting life with reason and courage remain strikingly relevant today.

First presented in 2023 and returning by popular demand, Neuroscience: Then and Now! revisits a favourite Summer School lecture with exciting new insights into the latest advances in brain science. Dr Hayley Tomes takes audiences on a captivating journey from the ingenious experiments of early researchers, who probed the mysteries of the mind without modern technology, to today’s revolutionary tools that allow scientists to observe the brain in unprecedented detail. Discover how neuroscience has evolved, explore groundbreaking innovations, and gain a deeper appreciation of one of science’s greatest frontiers.

Led by Emerita Associate Professor Lesley Marx, this three-day course, running from Monday 25 to Wednesday 27 January, journeys through the fascinating afterlives of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. From its controversial 1847 debut to its status as a literary classic, participants will explore why the novel continues to captivate audiences. Through selected film clips, discover how filmmakers have transformed Brontë’s tale into tragic romance, destructive obsession and cross-cultural reinterpretations, while exploring the creative dialogue between literature and cinema across generations and cultures.

Led by Ettienne Mostert of UCT’s Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika, this interactive workshop introduces Design Thinking, a human-centred approach to innovation and problem-solving. Participants will tackle a practical design challenge, exploring how empathy, creativity, experimentation, and collaboration can address complex problems. Through hands-on activities, they will learn to understand people’s needs, generate ideas, and test potential solutions while experiencing the Design Thinking mindset in action. Venue: Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika, UCT Middle Campus. Meeting point: d-school Afrika. No prior experience is required to participate.

Led by art guide Michael Barbour, this three-day course, running from Monday 25 to Wednesday 27 January, explores Michelangelo’s profound relationship with Florence, where he spent more than 30 years and developed his artistic practice under Medici patronage. Participants will examine major works including the celebrated David, a powerful symbol of Florentine republican pride, and unfinished sculptures such as the Slaves. The course also considers Michelangelo’s architectural achievements, including the Laurentian Library and New Sacristy, revealing how Florence shaped the development and enduring legacy of this Renaissance master.

This lecture explores the roles of copy-editing and proofreading in preparing texts for publication. Aimed at aspiring authors and anyone interested in the publishing process, it explains how these crafts improve writing through corrections to language, accuracy, consistency and presentation. Participants will examine examples of unedited texts, copy-edited manuscripts and final proofread proofs to understand each stage. The session highlights key differences between copy-editing and proofreading, including their depth of engagement, time requirements, working methods, types of errors addressed and the level of interaction required between editors, proofreaders and authors.

This five-day lecture series, from Monday 25 to Friday 29 January, examines the strength of accountability and the rule of law in South Africa at a time of growing institutional scrutiny. Frontline experts explore challenges facing the criminal justice system, judiciary and anti-corruption bodies, from prosecutorial accountability and court performance to judicial misconduct. Drawing on recent controversies and inquiries, the series asks a vital question: can South Africa’s constitutional institutions withstand pressure and hold powerful actors accountable when the very guardians entrusted with protecting the rule of law face scrutiny?

This lecture examines territorially organised youth violence among school-going young people and school dropouts in black townships. It explores how inequality, unsafe schools, territorial divisions, threatened masculinities and the search for belonging shape pathways into violence. Moving beyond the binary of ‘violent perpetrator’ and ‘vulnerable victim’, it considers how boys may experience, witness, perpetrate, resist or prevent violence, while remaining accountable for harmful conduct.

Jonathan Ancer traces Pravin Gordhan’s remarkable journey from a ponytailed young activist confronting apartheid to a government minister challenging state capture. Drawing on his experience co-writing an unauthorised biography of Gordhan, Ancer reveals how “connecting the dots” uncovered a life deeply entwined with South Africa’s liberation struggle. He also explores the biographer’s responsibility to preserve memory with honesty and rigour. Reflecting on biographies of both Gordhan and apartheid spy Craig Williamson, Ancer considers the ethical challenge of writing fairly about people we admire, condemn, or struggle to understand personally.

Fermented foods have been part of human diets for millennia, but their relevance to maternal and infant health is only now being fully appreciated. This lecture explores how fermented foods may contribute to a healthy maternal microbiome, support immune function and influence the earliest microbial exposures of infants through breastfeeding. Participants will gain insight into the science behind fermentation and its potential role in improving maternal and child health outcomes.

This lecture offers a fascinating exploration of one of the most influential forces in human life: power. Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience research, Dr Melike Fourie reveals how our brains detect hierarchy, status and social influence, often before we are consciously aware of them. Discover how power shapes decision-making, risk-taking, empathy and our relationships with others, and why the pursuit of power can sometimes undermine the very qualities that help us succeed. This thought-provoking lecture provides fresh insights into human behaviour, leadership and the social workings of the mind.

A LOWER CAMPUS TOUR
This tour will move from the Kramer Building to several lower campus sites including the SS Mendi memorial.

Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a hat and water.

This presentation explores the role of copy-editing in preparing theses and dissertations for examination. Aimed at postgraduate students, aspiring editors and those interested in academic publishing, it shows how editors can strengthen research writing while preserving the student’s voice, ideas and arguments. Special attention is given to second-language English speakers and limited supervisory feedback. Using before-and-after examples, the session demonstrates appropriate editorial interventions and examines structure, factual accuracy, consistency and language quality. Participants will gain insight into producing polished, examiner-ready academic work while maintaining academic integrit

The Air We Share? Mapping Pollution and Inequality in Cape Town offers a fascinating exploration of the unseen links between environmental health and social inequality. Using cutting-edge satellite technology and geographic information systems, this thought-provoking lecture reveals how air pollution is unevenly distributed across Cape Town and why some communities face greater environmental risks than others. Through the lenses of environmental justice, public health and urban development, it uncovers the forces shaping healthier and less healthy neighbourhoods, and considers how data can drive more equitable policies, planning and community action.

This lecture will examine current debates on migration and the use of criminal law in South Africa. It will examine the concurrent criminalisation of migration, under section 49(1)(a) of the Immigration Act as if it was violence and the limited state responses to physical xenophobic violence. It will then look at the legal challenges being raised in response to these developments and offer a new conceptualisation of migration as a mechanism of decolonisation in Southern Africa.

Marking the 200th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s death in 2027, this lecture-recital explores the musical influences that shaped his genius. As a young pianist, Beethoven studied Johann Sebastian Bach’s Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, whose 48 preludes and fugues provided technical training and compositional inspiration. Bach’s influence became increasingly evident in Beethoven’s later works. Presented by Grant McLachlan, the event brings this musical connection vividly to life through discussion and performance, featuring some of Cape Town’s leading musicians performing works by Bach and Beethoven and celebrating their enduring artistic legacy.

While familiar with South Africa’s liberation history, the author only discovered activists Norman and Leon Levy in 2020. A lockdown Zoom interview with the 90-year-old twins inspired his book, Mensches in the Trenches, which highlights unsung Jewish activists. This lecture focuses on these lesser-known figures—lawyers, journalists, trade unionists, teachers, and others—who quietly fought for democracy. Without seeking recognition, these ordinary "menschen" made vital contributions under dangerous conditions, offering an inspiring example for modern-day activists striving to make a difference in dark times.

Helminths are long-lived parasitic worms that have co-evolved with us over millennia. Globally, these parasites infect nearly one-quarter of the human population. Despite efforts, infection control remains inadequate, and helminth infections continue to be classified as neglected tropical diseases. This exciting lecture dives into why these organisms are so successful, how they influence our immune systems to thrive, and how these infections can impact our ability to control other infections and conditions.

This lecture explores one of the most pressing questions facing young people, parents and educators today. Drawing on the latest research from neuroscience, psychology and psychiatry, Associate Professor Goodman Sibeko investigates how social media shapes the developing adolescent brain, influencing reward, attention, identity and social connection. The lecture examines both the benefits and risks of online engagement, including concerns around sleep, anxiety and wellbeing, while separating popular myths from scientific evidence. Participants will gain a balanced, thought-provoking understanding of social media’s impact on adolescent mental health.

Discover Cape Town’s striking Art Deco heritage, from elegant apartment blocks to commercial landmarks across the city centre, Atlantic Seaboard and Southern Suburbs. This presentation traces the arrival and development of Art Deco in Cape Town, exploring why the style took hold relatively late and how local architects and furniture makers embraced its distinctive aesthetic. Encounter notable surviving buildings alongside architectural treasures that have disappeared. Through these stories, gain a fresh appreciation of Cape Town’s Art Deco legacy and the importance of conserving this remarkable architectural heritage for future generations.

Top-tier drug traffickers have long hovered dangerously close to the South African state. In mid-2025, senior policeman Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi ignited an unprecedented scandal by alleging that a drug cartel had infiltrated the criminal justice system, politics and private security. Daily Maverick journalist, and author Caryn Dolley draws on years of investigation to trace the local and global figures behind these shadowy networks. She explores how organised crime, corruption and state capture have intersected and merged. Caryn will share her experiences of digging into these noxious networks and the related dangers.

This lecture traces the escalating militarisation of anti-poaching efforts across southern Africa’s conservation landscapes, and the securitised responses this has produced. It examines the historical roots of conflict between conservation regimes and local communities, showing how poaching itself is often a contested category shaped by inequality and exclusion rather than simple criminality.

Flowers Consume War brings poetry and law together through the latest anthology by Professor Brian Williams, a UCT alumnus and author of eight poetry collections. Exploring peace, love, violence, injustice, war and human dignity, the event features a conversation with Mr Thabani Masuku SC, examining literature, law, human rights and constitutional values. Through poetry and dialogue, the programme invites students, academics, alumni and the public to reflect on conflict, challenge injustice and promote peace, justice and human dignity in society.

Over two mornings, this course traces the remarkable journey of artificial intelligence from Alan Turing’s pioneering ideas to today’s autonomous systems. Dr Claude Formanek cuts through hype and misinformation to explain how machines evolved from simple rule-based programs into tools capable of learning, reasoning and decision-making. Participants will explore the breakthroughs that shaped AI, its growing influence on society, business and global politics, and the emerging technologies redefining the future. Accessible, thought-provoking and highly relevant, this course offers a clear understanding of one of the most transformative forces of our time

Presented from Thursday 28 to Friday 29 January, this thought-provoking course explores one of the most transformative technologies of our age. Emeritus Professor David Wolfe examines how drones are reshaping the battlefield and everyday life, from military surveillance and precision operations to applications in agriculture, environmental management and disaster response. Participants will consider the opportunities, challenges and ethical questions raised by rapidly advancing drone technology, while gaining insight into its growing influence on society, security and the global economy. Discover how these remarkable machines are changing the world around us.

Although the CNS has often been referred to as an immune-privileged site, an evolutionary adaptation protecting it from damaging immune-mediated inflammation; it is now more widely accepted that the CNS is under constant immune surveillance. Despite the presence of effective barriers, various pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites can disrupt the blood brain barrier that may often have chronic implications or prove to be fatal.

Led by author Dr Rohan Quince, this two-day course, from Thursday 28 to Friday 29 January, journeys through more than two centuries of Shakespeare on South African stages. From Henry IV, Part I in Cape Town in 1801, travel through colonial theatre, Afrikaans translations and performances shaped by apartheid and resistance. Encounter landmark productions including Umabatha and John Kani’s Othello, alongside pioneering Coloured, Black and Indian performers. Discover how each generation has reinvented Shakespeare, transforming his plays into powerful reflections of South Africa’s changing politics, identities and cultural life.

This lecture examines the future of local government in South Africa after 30 years of democratic experimentation. It argues that local government has been constrained by provincial and national authorities, limiting its role in strengthening democracy beyond service delivery. As a result, many municipalities face challenges such as poor performance, skills shortages, and corruption. The lecture explores whether the 2026 local government elections could mark a turning point in revitalising local government. It assesses the district development model, questioning whether it promotes democratic participation or centralises decision-making away from local communities.

Journey back 3,500 years in this two-lecture course exploring what environmental science and archaeology can reveal about the biblical Exodus. Focusing on proposed routes through Egypt, Sinai, the Negev and Jordan, discover how ancient climate, water sources, vegetation and landscapes may have differed dramatically from those today. The course examines the 42 encampments recorded in Numbers and asks whether environmental evidence supports or challenges traditional interpretations. Blending biblical studies with paleoclimate, archaeology and historical geography, it offers a fascinating new perspective on an enduring ancient narrative, without seeking definitive answers.

For many years, medicine has relied on a single reference genome that fails to capture the full richness of human genetic diversity. This fascinating lecture explores how the groundbreaking human pangenome is transforming our understanding of DNA and opening new possibilities for diagnosing rare diseases, particularly in Africa. Dr Melissa Nel reveals why many families have faced long and frustrating searches for answers, and how a more inclusive genetic map is helping medicine uncover previously hidden clues. Discover a scientific revolution that promises more accurate, equitable and personalised healthcare for all.

This two-day course, from Thursday 21 to Friday 22 January, brings an extraordinary family story of adventure, loss and love to life. The Skipper’s Daughter follows the author’s mother, who, aged sixteen, sailed around the world with her ship-captain father in 1938. After tragedy at sea, she later married the Second Mate, a survivor of a wartime torpedo attack. A companion memoir, The Second Mate: Portrait of a Sailor as a Man of Letters, draws on his letters home, revealing a remarkable seafaring life across oceans, war and generations.

Louisa Treger discusses her latest novel, A Fatal Love, inspired by Ruth Ellis, the last woman executed in the UK. Moving beyond the sensational headlines surrounding Ellis’s conviction for killing the man who abused her, Treger reveals a darker story of coercion, violence and vulnerability. She explores her feminist reimagining of Ellis’s life and the questions it raises about justice and domestic abuse. Seventy years later, why do victims who fight back still face systems that fail to protect them? A compelling exploration of power, violence, compassion and justice.

This two-day course, from Thursday 28 to Friday 29 January, explores how contemporary visual artists in South Africa and Namibia confront difficult Southern African histories. Drawing on colonial photographic archives, monuments and memorial practices, artists reconnect with ancestors, traditions and histories disrupted by colonialism. Through care, appropriation, humour and subversion, they offer fresh perspectives on power, memory and identity. Discover how art can create space for acknowledgement, debate, repair and healing across generations and communities, with rich visual materials and video clips introducing leading emerging African artists.

Technology remains one of the few global industries operating without a unified ethical framework or professional requirement. As AI development accelerates, the "move fast and break things" mantra is failing the most vulnerable. Drawing on experience from government digital services to corporate Big Tech and the humanitarian sector, this lecture examines the urgent shift from theoretical ethics to the practical implementation of technology that works for everyone.

This two-day course, from Thursday 28 to Friday 29 January, explores a fascinating paradox of modern military history: why German forces repeatedly excelled on the battlefield yet ultimately lost both world wars. Discover how speed, initiative, mission command, combined arms warfare and manoeuvre created formidable battlefield effectiveness against larger opponents. The course then looks beyond tactical brilliance to the bigger picture, examining how political leadership, resources, logistics and grand strategy determine victory. Accessible to all, it reveals why winning battles does not necessarily mean winning wars, and why strategy matters.

Daily Maverick technology and business journalist Lindsey Schutters unpacks why established financial institutions are adopting the very elements of the cryptoverse that are driven by speculation, control, aggressive oversight and hype rather than actual engineering utility.

Led by Dr John Woodland, Research Officer in UCT’s Department of Chemistry and H3D Centre, this visit to St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Somerset Road, De Waterkant, explores the church, its historic neighbourhood and magnificent pipe organ. Learn about the area’s architectural and cultural heritage before discovering how the organ’s thousands of pipes, stops and console create its remarkable sounds. A short recital and demonstration will showcase the instrument’s expressive range, followed by an opportunity for participants to experiment with different stops and registrations. Meeting point: St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.

Why would people risk their lives to defend land? Dr Dineo Skosana explores the intense struggles surrounding mining on indigenous territories, revealing land as far more than an economic resource. It embodies identity, ancestry, spirituality and collective survival. Drawing on Karl Polanyi’s concept of “fictitious commodities”, the lecture examines the clash between mining regimes that treat land as extractable and tradeable, and communities for whom it is inseparable from social life. Discover why commodification provokes resistance and what these conflicts reveal about the limits of market-centred understandings of land and nature.

What happens when the courts become central players in shaping a democracy? This lecture explores the expanding role of South Africa’s judiciary over three decades of democratic rule, particularly when political institutions have struggled to provide effective leadership and policy direction. It asks whether judicial activism has strengthened constitutional democracy or shifted too much power towards the courts. Has the judiciary’s role been a necessary response to political dysfunction, or does it risk creating lawfare and juristocracy? Explore this fascinating tension between law, politics, power and accountability with Ralph Mathekga.

Artificial intelligence has transformed the modern world, but what can it reveal about the nature of human intelligence itself? In this stimulating lecture, Associate Professor Jonathan Shock delves into past developments in AI, giving examples of its use and how technology has changed with time. The lecture explores recent case studies of AI use and misuse, particularly what intelligence and the mind look like when studied from the perspective of AI and what can be learned about AI by studying ourselves.

Generative AI’s biggest secret isn’t the code - it’s the data. Beneath the "cloud" lies a maturing supply chain with a massive physical footprint in land and water. This lecture investigates the reality of the data economy: how data is harvested, who annotates it, and the harms that emerge when this "fuel" is flawed. We will also explore the shift toward data sovereignty and data held in the public trust - new paradigms that move power from corporate interests to community governance.

Nature journalling involves recording observations of birds, plants, trees and other aspects of the natural world to strengthen observation skills and deepen connections with nature. This course encourages participants to slow down, practise mindfulness and develop the habit of truly seeing rather than simply looking. Attendees will create their own journal and take part in guided outdoor activities, learning practical techniques for documenting observations and identifying birds by their shapes and features. No previous experience or artistic ability is required, making the course accessible to anyone with curiosity, enthusiasm and an interest in exploring nature.

How do the places we inhabit shape who we are? In this engaging two-hour interactive lecture, Dr Jhono Bennett traces South Africa’s spatial history from precolonial settlements to contemporary cities, revealing how colonialism and apartheid continue to influence movement, identity and belonging. Through storytelling, visual material, discussion and collaborative mapping, participants will explore township life, informal settlements, gated communities and urban inequality. By connecting personal experiences with broader historical forces, this thought-provoking session invites fresh conversations about memory, justice, repair and the future of South Africa’s shared spaces.

Presented as four engaging lectures over a single day, Saturday 30 January, Lessons from the Autopsy Table: What the Dead Teach the Living offers a fascinating journey into the world of forensic pathology. Drawing on gripping South African case studies from his bestselling books, Prof. Ryan Blumenthal reveals how forensic investigations uncover hidden truths, solve mysteries and serve justice. From unusual deaths and medical enigmas to the ethical and emotional challenges of the profession, this accessible course combines compelling storytelling with science, offering profound insights into life, death and the human condition.

Led by Dr Julie Taylor, Founder and Director of Guns & Rain, this intimate Woodstock studio visit explores how artists transform unusual materials and ideas into contemporary art. Meet artists Hannah Macfarlane, who uses Karoo wool and wet felting to explore labour, nature, intimacy and vulnerability, and Zenaéca Singh, whose sugar and molasses works engage with South Africa’s colonial history and indentured Indian labour. Participants will encounter their materials, techniques and creative processes firsthand. Venue and meeting point: 105 Victoria Road, Woodstock; entrance on Cavendish Street. Off-street parking is available.

Collect your brochure from the UCT Summer School Office during office hours.