The US Witsie

Wits and the Embassy of Ukraine to South Africa come together to honor a scientist son of both countries.

The much anticipated Balinsky Symposium was a commemoration of the life and legacy of world-renowned Wits scientist Professor Boris Balinsky, who died in 1997.

The two-day event was a celebration of the pioneering biologist, embryologist, and entomologist’s research endeavors, achievements and passion for science over his 92 years of life. In his academic life he earned deep respect as a scientist, teacher, mentor and leader whose work in experimental embryology and electron microscopy was lauded as ground breaking and visionary. He authored over 140 scientific papers and his textbook An Introduction to Embryology was translated into five languages reaching students and scholars across the globe with over 100 000 copies printed (pictured above).

Speaking live, his "academic grandchild", Professor Hazel Sive was able to show Professor Balinsky's seminal work has been influential to her own academic research and breakthroughs. Professor Sive, a member of the Wits Fund Board, became Dean of the College of Science, and Professor of Biology at Northeastern University, Boston USA in June 2020. She is a research pioneer, award-winning educator and innovator in the higher education space.

Starting from her undergraduate years at Wits, when she was introduced to the frog Xenopus by Dr. Barry Fabian, Dr. Sive has become a world leader in frog care and methodology. She initiated the Early Development and Cell Biology of Xenopus Course at Cold Spring Harbor Labs, that continues annually, more than 30 years on. She is Editor-in-Chief of Xenopus: A Lab Manual (2023, Cold Spring Harbor Press): with 18 Chapters and 213 authors, there has never before been a book of this magnitude focusing on the Xenopus system.

Read more about the symposium here.

Wits US Representative, Nooshin Erfani-Ghadimi, was on campus at Wits University in February this year, and has shared some updates, pics and videos of her time there:

I had the opportunity to visit the Wits University campus in Johannesburg for a series of meetings, in February 2024. 

Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS) in new premises – the oats baron’s house:
The SCIS is an interdisciplinary research centre focused on understanding and addressing inequality in the global South, and around the world. It is directed by Professor Imraan Valodia, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Climate, Sustainability and Inequality.
In my visit with the teams, we discussed particular US partners and donors, including the Schrier Foundation, Ford Foundation, Open Society Initiatives.
We discussed approaches to new donors and partners and to work together to strategically push forward these important connections.
Interestingly, the SCIS has found a new home in one of Wits national treasurer properties, on the Wits Business School campus. Called “North Lodge”, it used to be a home of an “oats baron", and is an historical landmark.

 
 
 
 
David and Angela Fine Chair for Innovation, and the Wits Innovation Centre (WIC):
I met up with Adam Pantanowitz (Fine Chair, and WIC Director) and Letlotlo Phohole (Deputy Director of the WIC) at their team’s new home at the “Wits Plus” building on west campus. They had moved to the space just a few days previously, and some of the staff were also brand new. There is a lot of potential for ensuring spaces for ideation and creation, work, and teaching and meeting for staff and students in years to come. 
The team is already working on helping faculties with their IP and patent management. And the hosting of industry/corporate R&D labs on campus is also imminent. And the senior leadership of the University is very much involved and supportive of the role of the Chair and WIC in setting up Wits for its 2nd century.

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