Written by Dr Christel van der Vyver
A spirit of collaboration and scientific curiosity filled the air as approximately 130 third-year BSc students gathered for the annual BSc Honours Interdepartmental Recruitment Event on Friday, 16 May. The event was hosted by the Departments of Genetics, Microbiology and Biochemistry on Stellenbosch campus and brought together students interested in the different fields of Life Sciences, including Medical Virology and Microbiology, and Molecular Biology, postgraduate students, and academic staff members from the various Departments.

The event, which aimed to guide students toward postgraduate opportunities and research interests, served as a unique platform for third-year undergraduates to explore potential Honours pathways and immerse themselves in the exciting research culture of their future departments. Information regarding program structure, the online application process, application deadlines, prerequisite requirements, bursary opportunities etc, was communicated to the attendees.

What set this year’s event apart was direct engagement with postgraduate students currently pursuing Honours, MSc and PhD degrees within the various Departments. These postgraduate students led lab tours and introduced participants to the various research groups within the Departments. Promotional stalls were set upby the postgraduate, showcasing some ongoing Departmental research, which gave the attendees an inside look at the research activities and programs within each department. Many also shared personal anecdotes and advice on navigating the transition from undergraduate to postgraduate studies.

“The goal is to give students real insight, not just into what each field entails academically, but what it feels like to be part of a research team,” said Drs. Christell van der Vyver and Justin Lashbrook, event coordinators from the Department of Genetics. “This kind of exposure is invaluable when students are deciding where their passion and skills best align.”

The interdepartmental nature of the event encouraged cross-disciplinary exploration. Attending students also had the opportunity, while enjoying some refreshments and finger food, to interact with academic staff members in an informal setting, which could address questions and provide guidance regarding academic program choices.

As the research landscape continues to evolve, events like this are instrumental in shaping the next generation of scientists, not just by informing them about their choices but by inspiring them to take the first confident step into a scientific career.