South Africa’s Risk and Vulnerability Science Centers: The Vision, Strategies and Opportunities for Collaboration

A delegation from five South African universities that host Risk and Vulnerability Science Centers (RVSCs), along with representatives from the South African Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), will share their insights on these centers in a public presentation from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, in 416 Design.

These RVSCs, which are housed at the University of Limpopo, University of Fort Hare, Walter Sisulu University, Sol Plaatje University and University of the Free State, are part of the DSI and the National Research Foundation of South Africa’s efforts to foster innovations for a knowledge-based economy. Their main objective is to strengthen postgraduate and staff capabilities in research and development concerning food and water security, land degradation neutrality, and the resilience of socio-economically marginalized communities to climate change, and to make scientific research more applicable to policy and society. The delegation will discuss the visions and strategies of the centers at their respective institutions and explore opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange with the faculty and staff at Iowa State University.