Mosibudi Matlatse is studying towards a BSc in Physiotherapy at Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) and is a member of the Dean's Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability (DACES). He reports on various DACES activities throughout the year:  

REFOREST FEST

Over the Easter Weekend (7-10 April 2023), nine FMHS students attended Greenpop's 2023 Reforest Fest held at Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat in the Overberg. This festival is an annual restoration celebration that brings people from diverse backgrounds together to plant trees. More than 5 000 trees were planted at this year's Reforest Fest. Tickets and transport were sponsored by DACES.

EARTH WEEK                                                              

Earth Week is one of the main projects spear-headed by the Environmental Sustainability portfolio under SU's Facilities Management where all eco-champions come together to raise awareness on sustainability. This year's week-long festivities on Tygerberg Campus included the renewal of the garden at the Hippokrates Residence, a recyclable art exhibition in the Clinical Building, games night hosted by Meerhoff Residence and the DIY Herb Garden which was a collaboration between Huis Francie van Zijl, Huis Nkosi Johnson, the Golden Key International Honour Society and the Tygerberg Student Representative Council.

MBCHB I WORKSHOPS

In May this year, Prof Bob Mash, head of Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, and Ms Christine Groenewald presented a lecture on Environmental Stewardship to the second cohort following the renewed MBChB curriculum. The lecture highlighted the importance of sustainable living and life choices, and also included international agreements and legislation regarding sustainability, and the SU Environmental Sustainability Plan. The following week, these first-year students toured the campus and visiting facilities related to three main sustainability themes: water, waste and energy. After the tours they identified five actions that can be implemented to reduce waste, water and energy and presented them to the class.

DIVISION OF PHYSIOTHERAPY

Staff at the Division of Physiotherapy were taken on a sustainable campus tour in May to learn about what is happening behind the scenes to make our campus more environmentally sustainable.

In June, Dr Christian Lueme presented a lecture on Planetary Health to final-year physiotherapy students, and shared information on how the Department of Health is working towards reducing the carbon footprint of its health facilities.

MEMORIAL TREE PLANTING

The FMHS has an annual memorial tree-planting event where trees are planted in memory of students and staff members who passed away in the last year. These trees increase biodiversity and reduce the campus' carbon emissions. This year's memorial tree-planting ceremony was also significant because it was the faculty's first ever burial of ashes of those who donated their bodies for the advancement of medical knowledge and the teaching of medicine and health sciences students. The ceremony was attended by the FMHS Dean, Prof Elmi Muller, Prof Nanette Briers, Head of Division of Clinical Anatomy, Prof Bob Mash, DACES chairperson, as well as families, friends, colleagues, and students.

WHERE TO FROM NOW?

Over the course of next few months, members of DACES and staff from Facilities Management will be hosting “corridor" workshops with staff in the clinical building. These workshops form part of a series of activities across the university community to create awareness among staff and students about the SU Environmental Sustainability Plan and the actions needed to get our campuses to net zero by 2050. DACES and Greenpop are inviting FMHS staff and students to join in the ecosystem restoration of the parking islands at Helderberg Hospital in Somerset West on Saturdays 5 and 12 August 2023.

Caption: An image from the Reforest Fest held at Bhodi Kaya.  

Photo credit: Greenpop