Desmond Thompson on Muck Rack

Desmond Thompson

Stellenbosch
As seen in: Nature, News24, The Lead (Podcast), Daily Maverick, University World News, The DGMT Learning Lunch, University of the Western Cape
Covers:  Higher Education; Science; Research; Books & Writers
Seasoned writer, editor, translator and interpreter with loads of experience in journalism and corporate communication. I tweet what I like.

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Desmond Thompson’s Biography

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Desmond Thompson is a South African freelance journalist with extensive experience across print, television and online media. He has reported from more than a dozen African countries and currently focuses on higher education, science and research. His articles appear regularly in University World News and Nature Africa.
He began his journalism career at Beeld, covering South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, before joining the investigative television programme Carte Blanche on the …

Desmond Thompson’s Journalist Portfolio

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New archive at SU sheds light on overlooked liberation history

New archive at SU sheds light on overlooked liberation history

A major archive documenting one of South Africa’s most influential – yet often overlooked – liberation tradit…

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'A crime does not rot': Africa Day lecture calls for radical slavery reparations

'A crime does not rot': Africa Day lecture calls for radical slavery reparations

Dr Panashe Chigumadzi, a historian and writer, was the speaker at Stellenbosch University's 8th Annual Africa…

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The Eva Johnson story: how a Stellenbosch teacher made history

The Eva Johnson story: how a Stellenbosch teacher made history

The third annual Walter Parry Memorial Lecture honoured educator and pioneer Eva Johnson. Johnson became the …

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Research chairs awarded to historically disadvantaged institutions

Research chairs awarded to historically disadvantaged institutions

South Africa has announced a new cohort of 41 research chairs aimed at expanding high-level research capacity…

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Beyond silos: Rethinking how research gets done

Beyond silos: Rethinking how research gets done

Universities have long organised research around disciplines, housed in departments and faculties that functi…

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US ʼn sleutelspeler in nuwe platform vir sterker voedselstelsels in Afrika

US ʼn sleutelspeler in nuwe platform vir sterker voedselstelsels in Afrika

ʼn Nuwe platform is daarop gemik om die gaping tussen navorsing en implementering ten opsigte van voedselstels…

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Articles

Beyond silos: Rethinking how research gets done

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By Desmond Thompson
| University World News
SOUTH AFRICA Universities have long organised research around disciplines, housed in departments and faculties that function as relatively self-contained units. But, as pressure grows to demonstrate social impact and respond to complex global challenges, these structures are increasingly being tested.
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Rethinking power, knowledge, responsibility in partnerships

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By Desmond Thompson
| University World News
GLOBAL For Peter Nzabanita, a career in engineering began not in a lecture hall but in the challenges of daily life in rural Uganda. “Growing up, we used to walk more than 10 km every day to fetch water,” he recalls. “I wanted to understand why and what could be done about it.” Nzabanita went on to study water engineering and began his career working with World Vision Uganda and the International Organization for Migration.
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New Africa-Europe partnership boosts mpox, Lassa research

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By Desmond Thompson
| University World News
AFRICA-EUROPE A new Africa-Europe research initiative is targeting two of Africa’s most persistent – and historically underfunded – infectious diseases, with a focus on translating scientific knowledge into vaccines, diagnostics and policy tools.
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