THE SCIENCE INSIDE Wits Radio Academy

We end of our final show for the year, by commemorating milestones in the health sector and its fight against HIV. We hear the story of HIV activist and nurse, Angela Motsusi, as she recounts her first diagnosis of HIV, overcoming stigma and living positively. We get into our first story for tonight, with head of HEAids, Dr Ramneek Ahluwalia, as he talks about the launch of the new one-pill-a day drug, dolutegravir. We discuss how the drug will reduce the impact of the HIV epidemic in South Africa. Finally, we discuss the possible nasty surprises and lessons that the newly discovered HIV subtype could have on the fight against HIV, with the head of the Centre for HIV and STIS’s, Dr Adrian Puren.

On tonight’s show, we are in conversation with 21 year old, third year Accounting Wits University student, Godiragetse Mogajane. He is the founder of Goodie Tutors, a maths and science tutoring and call centre platform. His company prides itself in its 100% pass rate annually. He talks about their achievement and how he will revolutionise the education sector through his app.

On unscience, we learn about an app, which will help you look amazing, even if you cannot decide for yourself.

We wrap up our chat with Godi as he is fondly known, to hear what growing up as a nerd in Hammanskraal was like and where Goodie Tutors is headed in the future.

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research is working on a study that will help municipalities manage wastewater through their municipal beneficiation project. The project aims to harness energy through a process called anaerobic digestion. They are also investigating how they can salvage biogases produced by human and bio waste, recover lost water in sludge and better manage wastewater. CSIR researcher Khuthadzo Mudzanani, talks about the practicalities of the research and its impact.

On Unscience, we look at an interesting study, which suggests that sleep deprived people are more likely to opt for foods and diets with a higher calorie count.

In our final story, we speak to the Head of Department of the Centre for Environmental Management, at the University of the Free State, Prof Paul Ober-holster. He chats about how they together with the CSIR have successfully implemented an algae-based wastewater treatment solution at the Motetema wastewater treatment works in the Sekhukhune District Municipality in Limpop

South Africa is a water stressed country and to conserve the limited water resources, researchers realise that wastewater rehabilitation is necessary to supplement the already frail water infrastructures. Professor Miklas Sholz speaks to us about his research, which focuses on artificial wetlands reconstruction to rid communities such as the Alexandra Township of stagnant grey water. In the interview, he also speaks about ways in which the Jukskei River can be revitalised.

On Unscience we discover another way in which our brain tricks us into believing we knew what would happen the next moment. The study reveals that we actually do not have the ability to predict events, especially in that particular state.

Tonight, we are in conversation with occupational therapist, Dr Lieketseng Ned from Stellenbosch University. She is the youngest lecturer within the Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies. She talks about her current research, which focuses on participatory visual methodologies to enhance community participation.

On Unscience, we look at something very unusual, the case of pet owner’s affection being the possible reason behind the owners losing their limbs, yikes!

Finally, we conclude our conversation with Dr Ned, as she speaks about her personal life and how her interests in indigenous knowledge and people with disabilities led her to research decolonising knowledge on health and well-being.

This week, we chat with Nano technologist Florence Lehutso, from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), as she delivers her teams’ findings on nano-pollution and the extent of pollution on our water sources if not evaluated and studied extensively.

In our final story, Wouter Le Roux from the CSIR unloads the results of his study where he discovered that water sourced from hand-dug wells in the community of Stinkwater is contaminated and unsafe to drink.

Lastly, on unscience, we find out how high-level mathematicians are tricked by some aspects of their knowledge about the world and as a result fail to solve primary school-level subtraction problems.