Faculty hosts yet another popular Faculty Day

The Faculty of Veterinary Science annually hosts its Faculty Day on the Onderstepoort campus. It is a proud tradition which aims to highlight the research activities of the faculty as well as exposing young researchers, postgraduate and final year undergraduate students to a conference environment when presenting their research in the form of oral presentations and a poster session.

 

It also provides an ideal opportunity for industry and our loyal sponsors to meet with our staff and to engage with our post- and undergraduate students as well as our alumni.

 

The exciting event is always marked by various highlights and 2025's, opened by the Dean of the faculty, Prof Vinny Naidoo was no exception.

 

The annual Sir Arnold Theiler Memorial Lecture was this year delivered by Dr Mike Kock, a former senior lecturer in the faculty, who gave a thought-provoking and vibrant presentation. The lecture with the interesting title of "Sailing Away from the Safe Harbour of Traditional Veterinary Science: Choosing the Wildlife Path - A Professional Journey of Dreaming, Exploring and Discovering", captured the attention of those present.

 

To watch a recording of the event, click here: https://opvetfacultyday.co.za/

To access more information about Dr Kock please click here: https://opvetfacultyday.co.za/keynote-speaker-2025/

 

The successful day was concluded with the faculty’s annual research prize giving event to honour the top Faculty of Veterinary Science researchers led by Prof Marinda Oosthuizen, Deputy Dean: Research and Postgraduate Studies, and a cocktail function.

 

Congratulations to the winner of the Researcher of the Year award for 2025, Prof Henriette van Heerden and the rest of the Top 10 researchers in the Faculty:

 

Rest of Top 10 Researchers:

2. Prof Lyndy McGaw

3. Prof Peter Thompson

4. Prof Vinny Naidoo

5. Prof Geoffrey Fosgate

6. Prof Luis Neves

7. Prof Chris Marufu

8. Prof Marinda Oosthuizen

9. Prof Musafiri Karama

10. Prof Amelia Goddard

 

Congratulations also to the Emerging Researcher of the Year, Dr Anika de Witt.

 

OTHER WINNERS

 

Best Oral:

Dr Christine Steyn and Bishop Ramagoma (joint winners)

Runner-up: Carlo Cossu

 

Best Undergraduate VRE Oral Presenter:

Winner: Tebogo Nkosi

Runner-up: Pascale Viviers

 

Best Poster:

1. Winner: Jessica Naidoo

2. Runner-up: Kari Grobler

 

All photos of Faculty Day prizegiving: https://bit.ly/FacultyDay2025