Executive Dean’s Public Lectures

In 2018, Professor Debra Meyer (Executive Dean, Faculty of Science) presented two public lectures on “Decolonisation: the ‘missing link’ between Sara Baartman, Comparative Anatomy and Afrikaans”. The first lecture was presented at Auckland Park Kingsway Campus in September and the second was at Doornfontein Campus in November.

Kingsway Campus – 21 September 2018

“I also acknowledge and thank Prof Debra Meyer, Executive Dean: Faculty of Science, and the staff for hosting one of the public lectures that speak to UJ’s academic trajectory. The lecture, entitled “Decolonisation: the ‘missing link’ between Sara Baartman, Comparative Anatomy and Afrikaans”, on the origins of the discipline of Comparative Anatomy and the existence of scientific racism seeks to shed light on why different race groups respond differently to racism incidents in our society. Comparative Anatomy (the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of different species) is intricately linked to Sara Baartman through Georges Cuvier, who in life acknowledged her intelligence, multilingualism and excellent memory, but in death proclaimed her the missing link in the evolution of humankind. These particular conversations are important if humanity is to flourish.” – Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of Johannesburg (5 October 2018)

Doornfontein Campus – 5 November 2018

“…Prof Debra Meyer, Executive Dean: Faculty of Science, presented the second leg of the informative public lecture… As I recently explained, this lecture addresses the origins of the discipline of Comparative Anatomy and the existence of scientific racism which seek to shed light on why different race groups respond differently to racism incidents in our society.”  – Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of Johannesburg (9 November 2018)