This award-winning publication was named South Africa’s Top Corporate Publication and Publication of the Year in 2024 by the South African Publications Forum. RE.SEARCH magazine offers high-level stakeholders a glimpse of the University’s latest research and innovation efforts.

I’m proud that all nine of our faculties are represented in this edition; I hope this trend will continue with upcoming issues.

The theme for issue 12 is ‘Global’, and submissions are open, so please start thinking about what you’d like to submit. A follow-up communique will provide more detail about the next theme.

In this issue, each story features a different avenue of digital technology that’s being employed, whether it’s making research on ticks more accessible, or protecting people from ransomware or the legal implications of generative artificial intelligence (AI).

With more than a century of academic excellence behind us, UP is suitably poised to look towards the future through cutting-edge, relevant research that seeks African solutions to global problems. As the world grows ever more digitally focused, it is increasingly important that we remain globally relevant while protecting ourselves from a digital crisis.

It is also vital that, through our research, we enable Africa to ride the digital wave and not be left behind, which would further exacerbate the North-South divide. With our research, we endeavour to be active contributors to global innovation. 

In this edition, we demonstrate the various ways in which UP is driving digital leadership and making today matter. You can look forward to the following features in Issue 11:

• Cracking the corporate culture code (page 4)
• Linking the digital (block)chain (page 6)
• Addressing ransomware concerns (page 8)
• Greening data (page 10)
• AI in supply chains (page 12)
• Keeping ChatGPT out of court (page 14)
• The digital revolution in forensic science (page 16)
• Discerning disinformation and fake news (page 18)
• AI in the broadcast industry (page 20)
• Understanding online shopping choices for sustainability (page 22)
• AI in science education at schools (page 24)
• AI meets nature (page 26)
• Using AI to save crops and industry (page 28)
• Developing a digital library for research on ticks (page 30)
• The digital afterlife (page 32)
• Creativity: humanity’s superpower (page 34)

Enjoy reading this edition of RE.SEARCH and learning about the fascinating work being done across UP. In order to popularise our research when you engage with your contacts, please amend your email signature to include this banner, which you can select the image and hyperlink it directly to the magazine’s landing page on our Research Matters platform (www.up.ac.za/research-matters/magazine).

A special word of thanks to all our contributors, who may elect to receive a limited-edition printed copy. We value all contributions; while they may not appear in a particular edition, please be assured that we are keeping them on record for another issue that may have a more appropriate theme.

We welcome your feedback, please send it to [email protected]

Happy reading!