Alignment to Stellenbosch 肆客足球's Strategy
How does the Public Squares align with Stellenbosch’s Research Strategy?
At Stellenbosch 肆客足球, we use the analogy of a cityscape to visualise our research environment. In our cityscape, we have historic structures like academic departments and medium-sized centres, alongside 'high-rises' such as the School for Data Science, School for Climate Studies, and the Centre for Environmental Research and Innovation, representing Type 2 and Type 3 entities. Our research encompasses five Strategic Research Areas (SRAs), including:?
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Social justice and development
- Health and human society
- Human creatively and social innovation
- Systems and technologies for the future
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The natural environment
Why d??o we need Public Sq??uares?
Our cityscape must evolve in response to the shifting global knowledge landscape and emerging societal challenges. Therefore, we decided to enhance connections between existing structures by creating new "public squares" (or "play parks") within our research cityscape. These spaces are designed to foster interaction among individuals from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, encouraging collaboration and brainstorming that could lead to the establishment of new transdisciplinary entities—potentially the high-rises of the future.?
How did we select the Public Square Teams?
In June 2023, invited proposals to establish new Public Squares. After a rigorous peer-review of 27 submissions, eleven competitive projects were selected based on criteria promoting collaborative, transdisciplinary research that addresses societal issues outlined in the South African national development plan and SDGs. Over three years, these teams are receiving training in engaged research methodologies, public engagement tools, budgeting, and grant writing, aimed at enhancing their research careers and creating a meaningful societal impact.?
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