UCT Sustainability and the SDGs 2022 - Report - Page 39
Liesbeek River clean-up
The Liesbeek River is a key waterway in Cape Town’s
southern suburbs, where the UCT campus is
located. In February 2022, dozens of UCT staff and
students took part in a Liesbeek River clean up,
carried out in partnership with UCT’s Future Water
Institute, the Dutch Consulate in Cape Town, the
City of Cape Town and local residents. This is an
annual exercise, which has expanded from a simple
goal of cleaning the canal to converting canalised
sections back into a river, so that it can support
ecological systems.
South Africa’s floating university
SEAmester is a unique shipboard programme for South African
students that integrates interdisciplinary coursework, hands-on
ship-based experiences, and interaction with leading South
African marine researchers. By aligning with core peer-reviewed
scientific objectives, SEAmester allows students to collect data
in an oceanic region of global importance and to be part of an
international programme with data standards and protocols.
Greater awareness of the ocean’s physical, biogeochemical,
and ecological response to climate change, highlighted through
ship-board experiences, has already started to inspire and attract
students into the marine sciences.
The 2022 cruise had on board 46 students from
21 universities, which brings the total number of
students who benefited from this experience to
222 students.
Sustainability and the SDGs 2022 – 39
