A Splash of Science and Storytelling: 2024 Jack Elsworth Lecture - Under the Sea (Translated to Afrikaans and isiXhosa)
The cast and backstage crew: Back Row- Talente; Sophie; Thabo; and Dalielah; Middle Row- Joey; Roxanne; Taella; Jonathan; Jarid; Sitara; Mymoena; Emma and Chloe; Front Row- Laa-iqa and Cesarina
A Splash of Science and Storytelling: 2024 Jack Elsworth Lecture - Under the Sea
On the evening of Tuesday, 5 December 2024, the UCT Department of Chemistry transformed into a vibrant underwater world, as young minds and curious audiences of all ages gathered for the much-anticipated annual Jack Elsworth Lecture (JEL). Hosted in collaboration with the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), this year’s production, Under the Sea, brought chemistry to life through an imaginative and immersive theatrical experience.
This beloved event continues the tradition established by the late Prof. Jack Elsworth, whose vision was to engage the public—especially children—in the wonders of chemistry through interactive lectures. The lecture theatre was packed with energy and excitement as Prof Susan Bourne started us off with a welcome on behalf of the RSC and the department before characters including King Neptune, Ursula, and a curious diver took the audience on a whimsical journey beneath the waves. Along the way, thrilling experiments and colourful performances intertwined to create an unforgettable fusion of science and storytelling. The evening ended with ice creams for everyone thanks to Prof Alan Hutton and the RSC.
The script, originally written by Ana Andrijevic, was adapted and directed by Dr Cesarina Edmonds-Smith and brought to life by a talented cast including:
- King Neptune – Mymoena Davids
- Ursula – Emma Parsons
- Minion – Chloe Netta
- The Diver – Taella Thiart
- Sitara – Sitara Hooseria
- Captain Morgan – Jarid Du Plooy
- Arthur – Dr Cesarina Edmonds-Smith
Behind the scenes, a dedicated crew ensured the production flowed seamlessly. Chemistry demonstrations were trialled and refined by Dr Roxanne Mohunlal, Francois Majola, and Dr Eileen Murray, while backstage operations ran smoothly thanks to Dr Roxanne Mohunlal, Dr Dalielah Jappie, Joey Paulse, and Jonathan McKarthy. Spotlight operator Talente Mzindle and lighting technician Zémíng Lǚ helped set the scene, while audio and visuals were managed by Thabo Mosala and Dr Cesarina Edmonds-Smith.
No detail was spared in the creation of this immersive oceanic world. A massive thank you goes to the creative team behind props and costume design: Joanne Polzin, Dr Dalielah Jappie, Laa-iqa Rylands, Dr Cesarina Edmonds-Smith, Taella Thiart, Sakeenah Jaffer, Melissa Zinyuku, Jeanluc Mutomb, Talente Mzindle, Carol Stanley, Fred Esau, and Earl Delport. Make-up was expertly done by Taella Thiart, adding to the magical transformation.
We also extend special thanks to Laa-iqa Rylands for beautifully capturing moments from the show and behind the scenes—preserving the joy, wonder, and hard work that went into this production. Gratitude was also shared with Dr Sophie Reese-Jones for her support with health and safety and ticketing, and to Robyn Crowhurst for her assistance.
Special appreciation was reserved for Dr Cesarina Edmonds-Smith, whose dedication and leadership spearheaded this year’s success. The JEL continues to be a collaborative triumph, showcasing the talent, creativity, and community spirit of UCT’s Chemistry Department.
’n Spatsel van Wetenskap en Storievertelling: 2024 Jack Elsworth-lesing – Onder die See
Die Chemie Department aan die Universiteit van Kaapstad het Dinsdagaand, 5 Desember 2024, in ’n lewendige onderwaterwêreld verander toe nuuskieriges van jonk en oud saamgekom het vir die langverwagte, jaarlikse Jack Elsworth-lesing (JEL). Die vertoning, “Onder die See”, wat aangebied is in samewerking met die Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), het chemie in ‘n lewendige verbeeldingsvlug omskep.
Hierdie geliefde vertoning sit die tradisie voort wat deur oorlede Prof. Jack Elsworth begin is. Sy visie was om die publiek—veral kinders—by die wonder van chemie te betrek deur interaktiewe lesings. Die lesingsaal het met energie en opgewondenheid oorgeloop nadat Prof. Susan Bourne namens die RSC en die departement die verwelkoming gedoen het, voordat karakters soos Koning Neptunus, Ursula, en ’n nuuskierige duiker die gehoor op ’n fantastiese reis onder die golwe geneem het. Langs die pad het opwindende eksperimente en kleurvolle optredes saamgekom om ’n onvergeetlike samesmelting van wetenskap en storievertelling te skep. Die aand is afgesluit met roomys vir almal, te danke aan Prof. Alan Hutton en die RSC.
Die draaiboek, oorspronklik geskryf deur Ana Andrijevic, is aangepas en geregisseer deur Dr. Cesarina Edmonds-Smith, en lewending gemaak deur ’n talentvolle rolverdeling wat die volgende persone ingesluit het:
- Koning Neptunus – Mymoena Davids
- Ursula – Emma Parsons
- Minion – Chloe Netta
- Die Duiker – Taella Thiart
- Sitara – Sitara Hooseria
- Kaptein Morgan – Jarid Du Plooy
- Arthur – Dr. Cesarina Edmonds-Smith
Agter die skerms het ’n toegewyde span seker gemaak die produksie verloop vlot. Chemie-demonstrasies is vooraf getoets en verfyn deur Dr. Roxanne Mohunlal, Francois Majola en Dr. Eileen Murray, terwyl die operasies agter die skerms glad verloop het danksy Dr. Roxanne Mohunlal, Dr. Dalielah Jappie, Joey Paulse en Jonathan McKarthy. Die ligoperateur, Talente Mzindle en beligtingstegnikus, Zémíng Lǚ het gehelp om die tonele te skep, terwyl klank en visuele elemente bestuur is deur Thabo Mosala en Dr. Cesarina Edmonds-Smith.
Geen besonderhede is uitgelaat nie in die skep van hierdie meesleurende seewêreld. ’n Groot dankie aan die span wat rekwisiete en kostuumontwerp bestuur het: Joanne Polzin, Dr. Dalielah Jappie, Laa-iqa Rylands, Dr. Cesarina Edmonds-Smith, Taella Thiart, Sakeenah Jaffer, Melissa Zinyuku, Jeanluc Mutomb, Talente Mzindle, Carol Stanley, Fred Esau en Earl Delport. Grimering, kundig gedoen deur Taella Thiart, het bygedra tot die betowerende transformasie
Ons sê ook besonders dankie aan Laa-iqa Rylands wat dele van die vertoning en agter die skerms pragtig vasgevang het sodat die vreugde, verwondering en harde werk van hierdie produksie bewaar kan word.
Dankbaarheid is ook gedeel met Dr. Sophie Rees-Jones vir haar ondersteuning met gesondheid, veiligheid en kaartjieverkope, en aan Robyn Crowhurst vir haar hulp.
Spesiale waardering is gegee aan Dr. Cesarina Edmonds-Smith, wie se toewyding en leierskap hierdie jaar se suksesvolle vertoning moontlik gemaak het. Die JEL bly ’n triomf van samewerking wat die talent, kreatiwiteit en gemeenskapsgees van UK se Chemie Departement ten toon stel.
Ukutshizwa kweNzululwazi noBaliselo: Iintetho zikaJack Elsworth ka-2024 – Phantsi kolwandle
Ukutshizwa kweNzululwazi noBaliselo: intetho kaJack Elsworth ka-2024 – Phantsi kolwandle
Ngongolwesibini, umhla we-5 kuDisemba 2024, iSebe leKhemistri laseUCT latshintshwa laba lihlabathi elinemibala eliphantsi kolwandle, xa abantwana kunye nezihlwele ezinomdla kuzo zonke izizukulwana bedibane kwintetho yonyaka eyayilindelwe kakhulu – iJack Elsworth Lecture (JEL). Eli cwecwe lonyaka, Phantsi kolwandle, belibanjwe ngokubambisana neRoyal Society of Chemistry (RSC), kwaye liwuphehlelele umdla kwikhemistri ngohlobo lweqonga elinemibala kunye nolwazisayo.
Le ntetho ethandwa ngumntu wonke iqhubekeka nentsusa eyaqalwa nguProf. Jack Elsworth ongasekhoyo, owayenombono wokukhuthaza uluntu—ngakumbi abantwana—ukuba bathandane ne Khemistri ngendlela ebonakalayo nengumtsalane. Ilebhu yentetho yabe igcwele amandla novuyo xa uProf. Susan Bourne eqala ngokubulisa egameni leRSC kunye neSebe le Khemistri lase UCT, phambi kokuba abalinganiswa abanjengoKumkani uNeptune, u-Ursula, kunye nomnqamlezo onomdla bangenele abaphulaphuli kuhambo olumangalisayo phantsi kolwandle. Kule ndlela, kwabakho iiprojekthi ezincomekayo neziqhushumbayo ezadityaniswa nemidlalo enemibala ukudala umxube ongasoze walibaleka phakathi kwenzululwazi nobaliselo. Ubusuku buphele nge-ice cream ebonelelwe nguProf. Alan Hutton kunye neRSC.
Ubhalo, elaqalwa ukubhalwa nguGqr. Ana Andrijevic, saguqulwa saqhutywa nguGqr. Cesarina Edmonds-Smith kwaye saboniswa liqela labalingisi abanetalente:
- Kumkani uNeptune – Mymoena Davids
- Ursula – Emma Parsons
- Minion – Chloe Netta
- Umtywili – Taella Thiart
- Sitara – Sitara Hooseria
- Kapteni Morgan – Jarid Du Plooy
- ArThur – Gqr. Cesarina Edmonds-Smith
Emva kweqonga, iqela elizinikeleyo laliqinisekisa ukuba yonke into ihamba kakuhle. Imiboniso yekhemistri yalungiselelwa kwaye zaphuculwa nguGqr. Roxanne Mohunlal, Francois Majola, kunye noGqr. Eileen Murray, ngelixa imisebenzi yangasemva yayiqhutywa kakuhle ngenxa ka Gqr. Mohunlal, Gqr. Dalielah Jappie, Joey Paulse, kunye noJonathan McKarthy. UMsebenzi wokukhanyisa walawulwa nguTalente Mzindle noZémíng Lǚ, kwaye izandi nemifanekiso yalawulwa nguThabo Mosala noGqr. Edmonds-Smith.
Akukho nanye inkcukacha eye yalahlwa ekudaleni lehlabathi elingaphantsi kolwandle. Sibulela kakhulu iqela eliyile izixhobo zemidlalo kunye neempahla: Joanne Polzin, Dalielah Jappie, Laa-iqa Rylands, Cesarina Edmonds-Smith, Taella Thiart, Sakeenah Jaffer, Melissa Zinyuku, Jeanluc Mutomb, Talente Mzindle, Carol Stanley, Fred Esau, noEarl Delport. I-makeup yenziwe ngobuchule nguTaella Thiart, yongeza kumlingo wenguqulelo.
Sikwabulela ngokukhethekileyo kuLaa-iqa Rylands ngokuthatha imifanekiso yemizuzu emihle yomdlalo kunye nezo zangasemva—egcina uvuyo, umangaliswa, kunye nomsebenzi onzima owenziwe kule projekthi.
Siyavuyisana no Gqr. Sophie Reese-Jones ngenkxaso yakhe kwicandelo lempilo nokhuseleko kunye nokwabelana amatikiti, kwanangoRobyn Crowhurst ngoluncedo lwakhe.
Inkoliseko ekhethekileyo inikwe kuGqr. Cesarina Edmonds-Smith, obalasele ngobunkokheli nokuzinikela okwenze lo nyaka waba yimpumelelo. Iintetho zeJEL zihlala zingumzekelo wempumelelo kwintsebenziswano, ebonisa italente, ubuchule, kunye nomoya womanyano weSebe leKhemistri eUCT.
