30 January 2026

This lecture will explore how stem cells are unlocking this possibility through a groundbreaking technology known as brain organoids. These 3D structures are grown from lab-made stem cells, a special cell that can develop into any type of cell and helps to repair or grow new tissues. Brain organoids mimic early brain development and are changing the way researchers study human biology, evolution and neural diseases. This lecture will take participants on a journey from the basics of stem cell science to the futuristic world of lab-grown mini-brains.

This richly illustrated lecture will explore how synaesthesia, an unusual way of experiencing the world, influenced the music-making of these composers. It will also consider contemporary synaesthetes, such as Leonard Bernstein, Itzhak Perlman and Hélène Grimaud, as well as the way in which synaesthetic experiences impact on other disciplines, such as literature and science.

Join us for a two-and-a-half-hour session to discover the d-school Afrika and to participate in a collaborative problem-solving challenge using design thinking. This session is perfect for those eager to explore the basics of design thinking. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of key concepts such as human-centred design and will learn how to use empathy to create better solutions. It is a relaxed and enjoyable experience where experimentation and new ideas are encouraged.

In 1948 Alan Paton’s Cry the Beloved Country achieved international success as did the novelists Nadine Gordimer, Dan Jacobson and Peter Abrahams in the 1950s. DRUM magazine empowered Can Themba and Es’kia Mphahlele. In the 1960s prominent writers included Athol Fugard, Douglas Livingstone, Ingrid Jonker, Dennis Brutus, Alex La Guma and James Matthews. In the 1970s there were Oswald Mtshali, JM Coetzee and Athol Fugard. In this presentation we tell the story of these years and perform excerpts showing how South Africa’s authors have illuminated our complicated history.

In 2025 South Africa assumed the presidency of the G20 at a pivotal moment for the global economy and future of multilateralism. This lecture, following the Leaders’ Summit in November, South Africa’s leadership of the G20 will be critically assessed – exploring the substantive policy outcomes achieved, from climate finance and debt reform to digital inclusion and development cooperation. It will also reflect on how South Africa navigated complex geopolitical tensions to protect and strengthen the multilateral process, offering fresh insights into the role of middle powers in shaping global governance.

For a person with persistent pain, finding the right person to help is tough. Who can provide a diagnosis? Whom should you trust? Who will help you to recover? This panel of clinicians will discuss common difficulties and practical strategies to help navigate this journey. We aim to equip participants with insight into how the healthcare system works, to understand clinical training pathways for pain, and to provide a set of useful questions to help them find a suitable person or team to support them in their journey of recovery.

The lecturers have written about hundreds of people living in the Karoo over the last twenty-one years. In their writing they often bring long-dead characters, their achievements and adventures, back to life. This lecture is a nostalgic journey into the Karoo space and story archives, as well as a celebration of their dedication to a region that many once thought was dry, empty and devoid of any interesting features. Today, of course, the word Karoo evokes feelings of warmth, adventure and a welcome escape from the pressures of urban life.

A light-hearted but thoughtful look at what happens when non-Black South Africans can speak even a few words of an African language – let alone when they become more fluent. A few language-learning tips will be given.

Recommended reading
Dowling, T. 2006. African Voices: Speak Xhosa With Us. African Voices.

Jade Gibson’s novel, Glowfly Dance, is a haunting account of intimate partner violence as witnessed through the eyes of a young girl. Jade will speak about the personal experience of navigating the difficult terrain between subjectivity and objectivity; how a novel can be part of a process of bringing about social change; and the impact on her personal and professional life as a speaker and writer. The discussion will appeal to all those interested in the writing process, and how personal stories can act as a catalyst for change.

This lecture explores how information wars threaten democracy and the ideal of a shared humanity. Using recent case studies, Redi Tlhabi will expand on how individuals find themselves signing up for echo chambers that invariably shape their world and how they see others. She will critique the media’s amplification of such divisive politics and its complicity in creating the marketplace of lies. The lecture will conclude with how the manipulation of truth, the monetisation of outrage and hate have influenced her journey leading her rejection of neutrality.