The Honours year in EGS is indeed a busy and exciting one! Honours students immerse themselves in an exciting journey where theory meets practice, exploring real-world issues through dynamic class discussions, assignments and fieldtrips. This interdisciplinary learning approach challenges students to think critically, collaborate creatively, and gain a deeper understanding of the world around them. Some highlights from 2024 include:

Hout Bay Beach

Urban Ecology students explored the interplay between society and conservation/restoration. They spent the afternoon sampling water, making maps and looking critically at the landscape
 

Nighttime Ecology

·         Students walked through Groot Constantia and discussed the impacts that excessive noise, artificial lights, and urban night warming could have on nocturnal ecologies.

Cederberg Fieldtrip

·         Bioeconomy students took a trip to the Cederberg where they visited organic rooibos farms, did some tea tasting, and engaged with local communities.

Cissie Gool House

·         Urban Political Ecology students visited Cissie Gool House where they helped plant fresh food in the community garden.
 

Baxter Theatre

• Students watched the play, ‘Neighbourhood’, at the Baxter Studio. The play was commissioned by the Baxter Theatre to investigate the battle for affordable housing and tackled several of the themes explored in class.
  

  Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

  ·         Bioeconomy students walked around Kirstenbosch and discussed political ecologies and decolonial conservation in a post-apartheid space

  

  The Labia

  ·         Students watched the ‘Mother City’ documentary at the Labia. Through the story of activist, Nkosikhona Swartbooi, the film follows the struggle for affordable housing in the city of Cape Town over a period of 6 years. The story captures the struggle led by the Reclaim the City movement to challenge the remains of apartheid spatial planning. 

  Postgraduate Colloquium

  ·         An exciting opportunity for the Honours students to present their research findings and flex their presentation and research skills. This is a celebration of the diverse and interdisciplinary research that takes place within the Department and is famously wrapped up with our annual Biriyani lunch in the courtyard

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