The Faculty of Science has a sustained record of research excellence, and is a major contributor to the University’s high international ranking. The Faculty recognises that diversity, in all its forms, is important in scientific knowledge production^1,2, and especially in maintaining and growing research excellence. Diverse teams bring a wide range of lived experiences, ask and answer a wide range of questions, and therefore promote excellence by improving performance and providing more scientific certainty that our results and conclusions are accurate. The Faculty of Science is therefore committed to creating an environment that is not only diverse, but also just, equitable, and inclusive, in order to promote and nurture this diversity. Through this, we will continue to transform, together.

Transformation is stitched into the Faculty of Science at all levels. Each individual department has a transformation committee, comprised of academics, PASS staff and students. The Faculty Transformation Committee has representation from each department, and serves to consider faculty-wide issues around transformation and employment equity. The faculty also has a Deputy Dean for Transformation who engages with these faculty bodies, as well as relevant bodies at higher levels within UCT. In this manner, information is channelled from the executive, through to departments, and vice versa, in order to improve on policies, activities and initiatives that are relevant to transformation in the Faculty of Science.

Further information on Faculty of Science policies, data, and initiatives can be found in embedded links.

1. Freeman, R. B. and W. Huang (2014). "Collaboration: Strength in Diversity." Nature 513(7518): 305.              

2. Hong, L. and S. E. Page (2004). "Groups of diverse problem solvers can outperform groups of high-ability problem solvers." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 101(46): 16385-16389.