22 Jan 2025

Prepare to be enlightened (and possibly frightened) as we explore what it is like to be a snake, lizard or turtle, why reptiles were more dominant in the past yet are declining now, how they have adapted to terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, how they breed, care for their young, feed and defend themselves and what their role is in nature. Did you know that modern birds are really feathered dinosaurs, that there are some warm-blooded reptiles, and that many predatory reptiles, including crocodiles and pythons, are caring parents?

Joline Young will give a presentation, An Overview of Cape Slavery, which will be followed by a discussion of her book, An Uncomfortable Paradise, which deals with the history of indigenous dispossession and slavery in Simon’s Town. Joline will be in discussion with Sandra Rowoldt Shell.

This lecture will explain why ethics is an enabler of science and technology and not a hindrance. It will clarify the significance of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for current planning around the governance of AI technology. The relationship between ethics and human rights, and standards and principles will be explained to demonstrate that ethics is also an enabler of international law rather than a competitor with human rights law when it comes to regulating emergent technologies such as AI.

The 2021 fire on the University of Cape Town campus brought planted trees into focus, especially the palms and pines, with fingers pointed to the role of exotic trees in fanning this catastrophic fire. This lecture will introduce the diversity of trees commonly grown in the southern suburbs of Cape Town and on the university campus. Flammability properties of dominant species will be presented, informing discussions on the suitability of some species as garden plants.

Join us for a showcase performance by a quartet of talented singers from Opera UCT, accompanied at the piano by their director, Professor Jeremy Silver. The programme is meticulously curated to combine popular favourites with moving excerpts from the rich operatic repertoire. The performers will also share insights about the music they perform.