The colloquium provided a platform for researchers from various disciplines to share their work, exchange ideas and identify opportunities for collaboration.
The event highlighted the Faculty's commitment to fostering research excellence and addressed complex societal challenges through multidisciplinary approaches.
Researchers and academics at the event.
Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Christa Grobler welcomed the audience, followed by Prof Jorge Marx Gómez (Mandela University Honorary Professor) who presented the multidisciplinary research collaborations with the University of Oldenburg.
He emphasised the value of international partnerships to advance scientific research and creating opportunities for collaborative innovation.
Professors Wilna Theron and Christa Grobler sharing their collaboration and Prof Jorge Gómez presenting on his multidisciplinary research collaboration
Professors Grobler and Wilna Oldewage-Theron followed with a reflection on their research collaboration journey of more than 26 years, demonstrating how partnerships across institutions and disciplines can generate impactful research outcomes.
Prof Oldewage-Theron is a Registered Dietitian (RD) and Professor and ARC/DALRRD/UFS Chair: Agro-Processing for Climate-Smart Food Systems/co-Chair Climate-Smart Intervention Impact Assessments at Free State University, as well as a Professor Emerita in Nutritional Sciences at Texas Tech University (USA).
International perspectives were further shared by Prof Seth Klobodu (Department of Nutrition and Food Science California State University, USA), and Prof Kelebogile Setiloane (Nutrition, Department of Health Behaviour & Nutritional Sciences, University of Delaware, USA).
Two postdoctoral researchers from the University of the Free State Dr Frank Hayford (Department of Dietetics, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana) and Dr Madeleine Nienaber (PhD graduate in Food, Nutrition and Wellness, Mandela University) showcased their current research, highlighting the important role of emerging researchers collaborating with established ones in strengthening research capacity.
The afternoon session showcased the wide expertise within the Faculty of Science with the Departments of Nutrition, Agricultural Sciences, Biosciences and Biotechnology, Biostatistics and Computer Science illustrating how different scientific disciplines contribute to advancing food and health research.
Topics ranged from nutrition and agriculture to biotechnology, data analysis and computing, demonstrating the importance of integrating diverse areas of expertise to address real-world challenges.
The colloquium concluded with an open discussion and feedback session, reflecting on the presentations and exploring opportunities for future interdisciplinary collaboration.
The engagement reinforced the Faculty's vision of creating an environment where knowledge sharing, innovation and collaboration drive influential research benefitting both society and the scientific community.
The Interdisciplinary Research Colloquium reaffirmed the University's commitment to advancing collaborative research, strengthening national and global partnerships and developing innovative solutions to contemporary challenges in food and health research.