UCT Sustainability and the SDGs 2022 - Magazine - Page 29
Community engagement
Building a sustainable on-campus community
UCT recognises that university life is about more than
academic learning, it’s also a formative period that shapes
values, culture and worldview. Through its sustainable
campus initiative, UCT aims to instil an ethos of sustainability
and environmental stewardship in its students and staff.
Unearthing a sustainable mining future
As part of this commitment, the university has maintained
A team of UCT researchers has developed innovative
a colour-coded recycling system for nearly two decades.
tools to support responsible and sustainable mine closure
The system helps the campus community to separate waste
in South Africa. The work, led by Associate Professor
correctly: green for recyclables, yellow for non-recyclables,
Megan Becker from the Centre for Minerals Research in
blue for food waste, and white for paper.
UCT’s Department of Chemical Engineering, forms part
Complementing this effort, the Green Campus Initiative
of a Water Research Commission (WRC)-funded project
promotes sustainable living through practical, everyday
aimed at improving mine closure planning, management,
actions – encouraging students and staff to burn calories,
and policymaking.
not petrol, drink from the tap and ditch plastics and singleuse items. Together, these initiatives help foster a culture
The study resulted in the creation of three key tools:
of responsibility and care for the environment across the
- the Mine Closure Risk Rating System for South Africa,
UCT community.
- the Mine Closure Risk and Opportunity Atlas for South
Africa, and;
Research and Innovation
- the Post-closure Opportunities Framework.
development. Established in 2017, the study follows more
The study is helping 昀椀ll major global data gaps on pesticide
Understanding pesticide exposure in children
than 1 000 children in the rural Western Cape of South
exposure and child health. Its 昀椀ndings are shaping new
Designed for use by government, industry, civil society,
The Child Health Agriculture Pesticide Study in South Africa
Africa to understand the impact of current-use pesticides on
areas of enquiry and providing critical evidence to guide
academia, and international agencies, these tools offer
(CAPSA), led by UCT’s Department of Science, Technology
reproductive development and neurobehaviour.
international policy and interventions that reduce exposure
a structured approach to managing the complex process
and Innovation (DSTI) - National Research Foundation
CAPSA brings together researchers from South Africa,
risks. Beyond its scienti昀椀c outputs, the study has resulted
of mine closure. Importantly, they also support South
(NRF) South Africa/Switzerland Bilateral Research Chair
Europe and the United States of America. This collaboration
in the building of skills and research capacity through
Africa’s efforts towards a just transition, ensuring that the
in Global Environmental Health, Professor Aquiel Dalvie,
has enabled the use of advanced research technologies
postgraduate training, fostered environmental justice for
shift away from mining is both equitable and sustainable
is a landmark multidisciplinary project investigating how
and strengthened the country’s capacity in environmental
affected communities, and informed national discussions
for affected communities.
agricultural pesticide exposure affects children’s health and
health science.
about pesticide regulation and rural health.
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