News | Faculty of Science

UCT researchers develop AI model for 11 South African languages

A new artificial intelligence (AI) language model trained specifically on South Africa’s 11 official written languages will be presented at the Language Resources and Evaluation Conference (LREC) in Mallorca, Spain.

UCT researchers uncover molecular ‘switch’ that fuels cancer progression

The Scientific Computing Research Unit (SCRU) have uncovered a critical molecular "switch" that drives the formation of cancer-associated antigens.

Climate change hits South African women unevenly: why race, class, age and power matter

A climate risk assessment uses information on climate hazards, exposure, vulnerability and responses to identify where, who or what is most at risk to climate impacts.

UCT Inaugural Lecture: Professor Sheetal Silal

On Tuesday, 12 May 2026 at 18:00 SAST, Professor Silal will deliver her inaugural lecture titled “Models, Policy and People: Predicting Health Impact in a Complex World”.

The best celebrated at the Science Students Awards

During the Science Student Awards ceremony on Wednesday, 01 April 2026, nearly 110 students secured over 200 class and departmental awards for the 2025 academic year.

Two educators recognised for teaching excellence in UCT’s Faculty of Science

On Tuesday, 24 March 2026, the Faculty of Science at the University of Cape Town (UCT) honoured the recipients of its annual Teaching Awards, recognising individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the student learning experience

African coastlines face unprecedented sea level surge crisis

A groundbreaking study led by researchers at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Department of Oceanography has revealed that Africa’s coastlines are facing a rapidly accelerating crisis.

Blue Crane under threat from agricultural landscapes

A recent study suggests that intensive agricultural landscapes in the Western Cape may be reducing the breeding success of the iconic Blue Crane, South Africa’s national bird.

UCT’s Zarina Patel inducted into the Academy of Science of South Africa

Associate Professor Zarina Patel, a leading scholar in urban sustainability and environmental governance at UCT, has been elected to the Academy of Science of South Africa.

Transforming maths with human connection

UCT Distinguished Teacher Award is the highest accolade awarded to teaching staff at all levels within the university and recognises and celebrates excellent and transformed teaching practice.

Two UCT students named Google PhD Fellows

The Google PhD Fellowship Program supports exceptional graduates who are conducting groundbreaking research in computer science and related fields. This year, two students based at the University of Cape Town.

‘Career highlight’ for VC’s award winner Sayed Hess

Sayed Hess has spent 28 years quietly strengthening the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science EGS. His dedication has now been recognised with a Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Service Excellence.