DROP IN DAY TICKETS

This course will describe attempts to understand rock paintings, moving further into the minds and intentions of the painters. We associate our understandings with ethnographic records of hunters and gatherers from southern Africa and beyond who do or do not paint. Although we highlight the Western Cape, there will be many more examples of rock art from other parts of the subcontinent and beyond. The primary conclusion is that rock art was a complex meaning-making tradition rather than one that merely depicted objects from the artists' surroundings.

The 1930s gave us the defining images of depression, unemployment, fascism, international communism and militarism, leading to genocide and nuclear war. It started with the financial collapse triggered by the Wall Street Crash and ended with the political collapse of the Second World War. No decade before or since has subjected the world to such stress. Unemployment, inequality and deprivation caused outrage and helplessness. Everywhere governments were at a loss as to how to deal with events. Extremist parties and unlikely coalitions were often the result.

Medici hegemony in Florence spread across time from the fourteenth to the eighteenth centuries. The famous men all had mothers, wives and sisters – often mentioned only by name or listed on a family tree. Some of these women who were born de Medici or who married into the family were notable contributors to the culture, enterprise, power and collections of this dynasty. Some attracted public admiration or disdain. Others confined their roles to maternal and uxorial concerns, whilst some managed family, as well as charitable or cultural or religious activities.

This course will explore the political, social and cultural forces that shaped Western art, reflected in the lives and work of its most transformative artists. The following artists will be discussed: Giotto, Masaccio, Michelangelo, Jan van Eyck, Pieter Bruegel, Watteau, Fragonard, Jacques-Louis David, Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Degas, Gustave Courbet, Edouard Manet, Francisco Goya, Marina Abramovic, William Kentridg, Ai Wei Wei and Zanile Muholi.

Earth was considered to be created by a god within the relatively recent past – c6 000 years ago. However, when people started to look at the rocks rather than religious texts, they began to realise that Earth was incredibly old. The presence of fossils allowed for an initial and detailed ordering of the relative age of rocks. It was only in the early twentieth century, with the discovery of radioactive elements, that absolute, numerical ages were successfully applied to rocks, giving rise to our modern understanding of Earth’s eventful past.

The Swahili world stretches 3 000 kilometres along the African coast from Somalia to Mozambique. For two thousand years the peoples of the East African coast have interacted with Indian Ocean trade networks, creating the dynamic Swahili world. This course will introduce this cosmopolitan culture through written and material evidence from antiquity to the twentieth century.

The interpretation of light, space and time in art has been influenced by prevailing theological and philosophical ideas, and by the irresistible pull of the zeitgeist through social and political forces. Can time be framed if it is constantly changing and nearly all art is static? This course will demonstrate how artists through the ages have navigated the difficulties of conveying the enduring law of physics: light, space and time.

The lectures focus on the Wars of the Roses tetralogy (Henry VI 1–3 and Richard III), finishing with an alternative view of Richard to that portrayed by the Bard. The ascension of James I/VI following the death of the last Tudor, Elizabeth I, created a new environment and a need for Shakespeare to establish his influence in the much-changed royal court. The story of Macbeth falls in the middle of the medieval period and, although the play bears no resemblance to the historical character, it has strong medieval influences.

Monday 19–Wednesday 21 January 3.00 pm

In the music of Medieval Europe the major third key is avoided. We explore why this is and why this seductive interval took the music world by storm at the start of the Renaissance period.
The Baroque period saw the establishment of modern harmony. We explore how the development of different tuning systems struggled to keep up with the more adventurous harmonic experiments of composers from Monteverdi to Bach.

The growth of jazz in the early twentieth century gave a new meaning to the sensuality of harmony.

This course will discuss the critical elements required to enjoy a healthy and fulfilling retirement. It focuses on the psycho-social and financial aspects – both equally important. First the five myths of retirement will be examined, followed by a scan of the eight elements that make up a successful retirement and the four phases of retirement, and how to navigate them. Next is a focus on financial planning. The content will be as relevant to those approaching retirement as it will to those who are already retired.

This course explores the significant and evolving relationship between Africa and China in the twenty-first century. It begins by examining the development of political ties, tracing the history from China’s support for African liberation movements during the Cold War to the economic dimensions of this relationship, including trade, investment and infrastructure development projects. Finally, it looks at China’s increasing security presence on the African continent.

This course examines the global and local impacts of climate change through a social justice lens, using real-world examples to show how it deepens existing inequalities in the Global South. The concept of a ‘just transition’ to a net-zero carbon future is discussed. This approach moves away from fossil fuels while ensuring the transition is, prioritising creating opportunities, protecting livelihoods and addressing historic inequalities. The final lecture focuses on the legal and policy tools supporting a ‘just transition’, highlighting the role of active citizenship through democratic and governance structures.

This course will describe attempts to understand rock paintings, moving further into the minds and intentions of the painters. We associate our understandings with ethnographic records of hunters and gatherers from southern Africa and beyond who do or do not paint. Although we highlight the Western Cape, there will be many more examples of rock art from other parts of the subcontinent and beyond. The primary conclusion is that rock art was a complex meaning-making tradition rather than one that merely depicted objects from the artists' surroundings.

The 1930s gave us the defining images of depression, unemployment, fascism, international communism and militarism, leading to genocide and nuclear war. It started with the financial collapse triggered by the Wall Street Crash and ended with the political collapse of the Second World War. No decade before or since has subjected the world to such stress. Unemployment, inequality and deprivation caused outrage and helplessness. Everywhere governments were at a loss as to how to deal with events. Extremist parties and unlikely coalitions were often the result.

Medici hegemony in Florence spread across time from the fourteenth to the eighteenth centuries. The famous men all had mothers, wives and sisters – often mentioned only by name or listed on a family tree. Some of these women who were born de Medici or who married into the family were notable contributors to the culture, enterprise, power and collections of this dynasty. Some attracted public admiration or disdain. Others confined their roles to maternal and uxorial concerns, whilst some managed family, as well as charitable or cultural or religious activities.

This course will explore the political, social and cultural forces that shaped Western art, reflected in the lives and work of its most transformative artists. The following artists will be discussed: Giotto, Masaccio, Michelangelo, Jan van Eyck, Pieter Bruegel, Watteau, Fragonard, Jacques-Louis David, Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Degas, Gustave Courbet, Edouard Manet, Francisco Goya, Marina Abramovic, William Kentridg, Ai Wei Wei and Zanile Muholi.

Earth was considered to be created by a god within the relatively recent past – c6 000 years ago. However, when people started to look at the rocks rather than religious texts, they began to realise that Earth was incredibly old. The presence of fossils allowed for an initial and detailed ordering of the relative age of rocks. It was only in the early twentieth century, with the discovery of radioactive elements, that absolute, numerical ages were successfully applied to rocks, giving rise to our modern understanding of Earth’s eventful past.

The Swahili world stretches 3 000 kilometres along the African coast from Somalia to Mozambique. For two thousand years the peoples of the East African coast have interacted with Indian Ocean trade networks, creating the dynamic Swahili world. This course will introduce this cosmopolitan culture through written and material evidence from antiquity to the twentieth century.

The interpretation of light, space and time in art has been influenced by prevailing theological and philosophical ideas, and by the irresistible pull of the zeitgeist through social and political forces. Can time be framed if it is constantly changing and nearly all art is static? This course will demonstrate how artists through the ages have navigated the difficulties of conveying the enduring law of physics: light, space and time.

The lectures focus on the Wars of the Roses tetralogy (Henry VI 1–3 and Richard III), finishing with an alternative view of Richard to that portrayed by the Bard. The ascension of James I/VI following the death of the last Tudor, Elizabeth I, created a new environment and a need for Shakespeare to establish his influence in the much-changed royal court. The story of Macbeth falls in the middle of the medieval period and, although the play bears no resemblance to the historical character, it has strong medieval influences.

Monday 19–Wednesday 21 January 3.00 pm

In the music of Medieval Europe the major third key is avoided. We explore why this is and why this seductive interval took the music world by storm at the start of the Renaissance period.
The Baroque period saw the establishment of modern harmony. We explore how the development of different tuning systems struggled to keep up with the more adventurous harmonic experiments of composers from Monteverdi to Bach.

The growth of jazz in the early twentieth century gave a new meaning to the sensuality of harmony.

This course will discuss the critical elements required to enjoy a healthy and fulfilling retirement. It focuses on the psycho-social and financial aspects – both equally important. First the five myths of retirement will be examined, followed by a scan of the eight elements that make up a successful retirement and the four phases of retirement, and how to navigate them. Next is a focus on financial planning. The content will be as relevant to those approaching retirement as it will to those who are already retired.

This course explores the significant and evolving relationship between Africa and China in the twenty-first century. It begins by examining the development of political ties, tracing the history from China’s support for African liberation movements during the Cold War to the economic dimensions of this relationship, including trade, investment and infrastructure development projects. Finally, it looks at China’s increasing security presence on the African continent.

This course examines the global and local impacts of climate change through a social justice lens, using real-world examples to show how it deepens existing inequalities in the Global South. The concept of a ‘just transition’ to a net-zero carbon future is discussed. This approach moves away from fossil fuels while ensuring the transition is, prioritising creating opportunities, protecting livelihoods and addressing historic inequalities. The final lecture focuses on the legal and policy tools supporting a ‘just transition’, highlighting the role of active citizenship through democratic and governance structures.

This course will describe attempts to understand rock paintings, moving further into the minds and intentions of the painters. We associate our understandings with ethnographic records of hunters and gatherers from southern Africa and beyond who do or do not paint. Although we highlight the Western Cape, there will be many more examples of rock art from other parts of the subcontinent and beyond. The primary conclusion is that rock art was a complex meaning-making tradition rather than one that merely depicted objects from the artists' surroundings.

The 1930s gave us the defining images of depression, unemployment, fascism, international communism and militarism, leading to genocide and nuclear war. It started with the financial collapse triggered by the Wall Street Crash and ended with the political collapse of the Second World War. No decade before or since has subjected the world to such stress. Unemployment, inequality and deprivation caused outrage and helplessness. Everywhere governments were at a loss as to how to deal with events. Extremist parties and unlikely coalitions were often the result.

Medici hegemony in Florence spread across time from the fourteenth to the eighteenth centuries. The famous men all had mothers, wives and sisters – often mentioned only by name or listed on a family tree. Some of these women who were born de Medici or who married into the family were notable contributors to the culture, enterprise, power and collections of this dynasty. Some attracted public admiration or disdain. Others confined their roles to maternal and uxorial concerns, whilst some managed family, as well as charitable or cultural or religious activities.

This course will explore the political, social and cultural forces that shaped Western art, reflected in the lives and work of its most transformative artists. The following artists will be discussed: Giotto, Masaccio, Michelangelo, Jan van Eyck, Pieter Bruegel, Watteau, Fragonard, Jacques-Louis David, Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Degas, Gustave Courbet, Edouard Manet, Francisco Goya, Marina Abramovic, William Kentridg, Ai Wei Wei and Zanile Muholi.

Earth was considered to be created by a god within the relatively recent past – c6 000 years ago. However, when people started to look at the rocks rather than religious texts, they began to realise that Earth was incredibly old. The presence of fossils allowed for an initial and detailed ordering of the relative age of rocks. It was only in the early twentieth century, with the discovery of radioactive elements, that absolute, numerical ages were successfully applied to rocks, giving rise to our modern understanding of Earth’s eventful past.

The Ancient Egyptian civilisation represents the cradle of Western medicine. This course highlights the basic Ancient Egyptian concepts regarding health and will highlight various aspects of ancient medical care, including medical and surgical therapies. The Greek period started with Asclepius, after whom the first hospitals, the Asklepieia, were named. Hippocrates left approximately seventy medical text books. Much of Roman medicine was focused on the army. Much of the Greco-Roman medical tradition was incorporated in the very sophisticated Arabic medicine, the base for Medieval medicine, gradually metamorphosing into modern Western medicine.

The interpretation of light, space and time in art has been influenced by prevailing theological and philosophical ideas, and by the irresistible pull of the zeitgeist through social and political forces. Can time be framed if it is constantly changing and nearly all art is static? This course will demonstrate how artists through the ages have navigated the difficulties of conveying the enduring law of physics: light, space and time.

The lectures focus on the Wars of the Roses tetralogy (Henry VI 1–3 and Richard III), finishing with an alternative view of Richard to that portrayed by the Bard. The ascension of James I/VI following the death of the last Tudor, Elizabeth I, created a new environment and a need for Shakespeare to establish his influence in the much-changed royal court. The story of Macbeth falls in the middle of the medieval period and, although the play bears no resemblance to the historical character, it has strong medieval influences.

Monday 19–Wednesday 21 January 3.00 pm

In the music of Medieval Europe the major third key is avoided. We explore why this is and why this seductive interval took the music world by storm at the start of the Renaissance period.
The Baroque period saw the establishment of modern harmony. We explore how the development of different tuning systems struggled to keep up with the more adventurous harmonic experiments of composers from Monteverdi to Bach.

The growth of jazz in the early twentieth century gave a new meaning to the sensuality of harmony.

This course explores the significant and evolving relationship between Africa and China in the twenty-first century. It begins by examining the development of political ties, tracing the history from China’s support for African liberation movements during the Cold War to the economic dimensions of this relationship, including trade, investment and infrastructure development projects. Finally, it looks at China’s increasing security presence on the African continent.

This course examines the global and local impacts of climate change through a social justice lens, using real-world examples to show how it deepens existing inequalities in the Global South. The concept of a ‘just transition’ to a net-zero carbon future is discussed. This approach moves away from fossil fuels while ensuring the transition is, prioritising creating opportunities, protecting livelihoods and addressing historic inequalities. The final lecture focuses on the legal and policy tools supporting a ‘just transition’, highlighting the role of active citizenship through democratic and governance structures.

The first lecture will look at how optical telescopes work and how new technology has revolutionised their construction, operation and scientific abilities. The second lecture goes beyond the visible, looking at the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescopes near Carnarvon, South Africa, the James Webb Space Telescope which observes in the infra-red to see back to the time of the formation of the first stars after the Big Bang thirteen billion years ago, and gamma-ray telescopes that observe the biggest explosions since the Big Bang.

The 1930s gave us the defining images of depression, unemployment, fascism, international communism and militarism, leading to genocide and nuclear war. It started with the financial collapse triggered by the Wall Street Crash and ended with the political collapse of the Second World War. No decade before or since has subjected the world to such stress. Unemployment, inequality and deprivation caused outrage and helplessness. Everywhere governments were at a loss as to how to deal with events. Extremist parties and unlikely coalitions were often the result.

We are approaching a world where autonomous AI 3will routinely act on our behalf. As AI agents become integrated into our lives, questions arise: how can we ensure these agents align with human values, respect social norms, and prioritise cooperation? This course explores how autonomous AI agents will impact on various sectors, including healthcare, finance, education and everyday interactions and discuss possibilities and potential risks, as well as the urgent need to design AI systems that actively cooperate with humans and each other, adhering closely to our shared ethical standards.

This course will explore the political, social and cultural forces that shaped Western art, reflected in the lives and work of its most transformative artists. The following artists will be discussed: Giotto, Masaccio, Michelangelo, Jan van Eyck, Pieter Bruegel, Watteau, Fragonard, Jacques-Louis David, Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Degas, Gustave Courbet, Edouard Manet, Francisco Goya, Marina Abramovic, William Kentridg, Ai Wei Wei and Zanile Muholi.

The Ancient Egyptian civilisation represents the cradle of Western medicine. This course highlights the basic Ancient Egyptian concepts regarding health and will highlight various aspects of ancient medical care, including medical and surgical therapies. The Greek period started with Asclepius, after whom the first hospitals, the Asklepieia, were named. Hippocrates left approximately seventy medical text books. Much of Roman medicine was focused on the army. Much of the Greco-Roman medical tradition was incorporated in the very sophisticated Arabic medicine, the base for Medieval medicine, gradually metamorphosing into modern Western medicine.

Irma Stern is the most famous twentieth-century South African artist. Given that nearly 150 years have passed since her birth, and 2026 marks 60 years since she died, why is she still such a compelling personality and artist? The lectures will explore the voice of Stern through her correspondence with friends and colleagues, as well as her writing, and will use specific examples to illustrate her personal and social connections.

When South Africa embraced constitutional democracy by introducing the 1996 Constitution, it did so in a context of a global embrace of the constitutional model. Thirty years after the rise of Modi, Erdogan and Trump – to name a few – reveal a different authoritarian picture.

These lectures will first examine this turn away from constitutional democracy before reflecting on its prospects in South Africa, where in the last election 27% of voters supported anti-constitutional parties.

The first lecture will look at how optical telescopes work and how new technology has revolutionised their construction, operation and scientific abilities. The second lecture goes beyond the visible, looking at the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescopes near Carnarvon, South Africa, the James Webb Space Telescope which observes in the infra-red to see back to the time of the formation of the first stars after the Big Bang thirteen billion years ago, and gamma-ray telescopes that observe the biggest explosions since the Big Bang.

The 1930s gave us the defining images of depression, unemployment, fascism, international communism and militarism, leading to genocide and nuclear war. It started with the financial collapse triggered by the Wall Street Crash and ended with the political collapse of the Second World War. No decade before or since has subjected the world to such stress. Unemployment, inequality and deprivation caused outrage and helplessness. Everywhere governments were at a loss as to how to deal with events. Extremist parties and unlikely coalitions were often the result.

We are approaching a world where autonomous AI 3will routinely act on our behalf. As AI agents become integrated into our lives, questions arise: how can we ensure these agents align with human values, respect social norms, and prioritise cooperation? This course explores how autonomous AI agents will impact on various sectors, including healthcare, finance, education and everyday interactions and discuss possibilities and potential risks, as well as the urgent need to design AI systems that actively cooperate with humans and each other, adhering closely to our shared ethical standards.

This course will explore the political, social and cultural forces that shaped Western art, reflected in the lives and work of its most transformative artists. The following artists will be discussed: Giotto, Masaccio, Michelangelo, Jan van Eyck, Pieter Bruegel, Watteau, Fragonard, Jacques-Louis David, Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Degas, Gustave Courbet, Edouard Manet, Francisco Goya, Marina Abramovic, William Kentridg, Ai Wei Wei and Zanile Muholi.

The Ancient Egyptian civilisation represents the cradle of Western medicine. This course highlights the basic Ancient Egyptian concepts regarding health and will highlight various aspects of ancient medical care, including medical and surgical therapies. The Greek period started with Asclepius, after whom the first hospitals, the Asklepieia, were named. Hippocrates left approximately seventy medical text books. Much of Roman medicine was focused on the army. Much of the Greco-Roman medical tradition was incorporated in the very sophisticated Arabic medicine, the base for Medieval medicine, gradually metamorphosing into modern Western medicine.

Irma Stern is the most famous twentieth-century South African artist. Given that nearly 150 years have passed since her birth, and 2026 marks 60 years since she died, why is she still such a compelling personality and artist? The lectures will explore the voice of Stern through her correspondence with friends and colleagues, as well as her writing, and will use specific examples to illustrate her personal and social connections.

When South Africa embraced constitutional democracy by introducing the 1996 Constitution, it did so in a context of a global embrace of the constitutional model. Thirty years after the rise of Modi, Erdogan and Trump – to name a few – reveal a different authoritarian picture.

These lectures will first examine this turn away from constitutional democracy before reflecting on its prospects in South Africa, where in the last election 27% of voters supported anti-constitutional parties.

Isaac Newton created modern science in the seventeenth century. Late in the nineteenth century the atom was discovered to have a structure which was difficult to understand. Thus, it was necessary to create and understand quantum mechanics. The first person to understand this problem was the Dane Neils Bohr. There were many great thinkers to follow, and Robert Oppenheimer was one of the finest. Chosen to lead the development of the most horrible weapon imaginable, Richard Feynmann opened many new doors and introduced a structure to help understand quantum mechanics.

When, exactly, did the Renaissance begin? Some believe that changes in thinking and artistic styles first appeared at the turn of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, while others date these events a century later. Perhaps there were already ‘Renaissance-like’ manifestations in Europe during the Middle Ages – that thousand-year period of relative ignorance and superstition that followed the fall of the Roman Empire. But why did the Renaissance even begin, and why in Italy? Answers to these questions will be explored in these lectures, illustrated with beautiful images and glorious music.

We assume there is a distinct dichotomy between animals and humans. This may be an illusion. We are far more animal and part of nature than we are likely to admit. The purpose of this course is to re-think the place we occupy in nature. The course will discuss the topic at various levels. It will start with the origin and definitions of life and the evolution of plants and animals. Following this will be the evolution of primates and Homo sapiens, finally leading up to the evolution of consciousness.

This course, richly illustrated with clips, will focus on adaptations of Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Emma. We will explore how these films and television serials have either given deft expression to the complexities of their source material, or have subsumed those complexities into the generic conventions of romantic comedy. Comment will be made on the particular challenges faced by those who have attempted adaptations of Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park and Persuasion. The course will be shaped around ‘the sense of an ending’.

This course will explore the origins, evolution and enduring worldwide influence of Art Deco as the major design movement of the twentieth and now also the twenty-first century. First, the transition from Art Nouveau to Art Deco is illustrated, after which we focus on the central period of its development from 1910 to 1939. The spirit and splendour of Art Deco permeated every aspect of life and its enduring legacy is still with us today – as will become apparent in this course.

Step into the world of medical device innovation, where innovative technology meets real-life needs. This course will reveal how the human-centred approach shapes effective, meaningful healthcare solutions.
The first lecture discusses how successful devices begin with a deep understanding of people. The second lecture brings theory to life via vivid case studies. Hear inspiring accounts of products created to empower the user, such as a novel wrist splint, an ultrasonic sensor attachment for canes for the blind, a 3D printed prosthetic and an innovative sleep apnoea diagnostic and treatment device.

Eighty years ago the world learned that Hiroshima had been shattered by a weapon of unprecedented destructiveness. Eight days later the Japanese accepted the Allied terms of surrender. Was the news as much of a surprise to the Japanese and the world as it seemed? All sides fighting in the Second World War, including the Japanese, had been racing to develop a nuclear-type bomb. Regardless, it took a second bomb, dropped three days later on Nagasaki, to convince the Japanese to surrender. The world is still adjusting to the aftermath.

Isaac Newton created modern science in the seventeenth century. Late in the nineteenth century the atom was discovered to have a structure which was difficult to understand. Thus, it was necessary to create and understand quantum mechanics. The first person to understand this problem was the Dane Neils Bohr. There were many great thinkers to follow, and Robert Oppenheimer was one of the finest. Chosen to lead the development of the most horrible weapon imaginable, Richard Feynmann opened many new doors and introduced a structure to help understand quantum mechanics.

When, exactly, did the Renaissance begin? Some believe that changes in thinking and artistic styles first appeared at the turn of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, while others date these events a century later. Perhaps there were already ‘Renaissance-like’ manifestations in Europe during the Middle Ages – that thousand-year period of relative ignorance and superstition that followed the fall of the Roman Empire. But why did the Renaissance even begin, and why in Italy? Answers to these questions will be explored in these lectures, illustrated with beautiful images and glorious music.

We assume there is a distinct dichotomy between animals and humans. This may be an illusion. We are far more animal and part of nature than we are likely to admit. The purpose of this course is to re-think the place we occupy in nature. The course will discuss the topic at various levels. It will start with the origin and definitions of life and the evolution of plants and animals. Following this will be the evolution of primates and Homo sapiens, finally leading up to the evolution of consciousness.

This course, richly illustrated with clips, will focus on adaptations of Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Emma. We will explore how these films and television serials have either given deft expression to the complexities of their source material, or have subsumed those complexities into the generic conventions of romantic comedy. Comment will be made on the particular challenges faced by those who have attempted adaptations of Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park and Persuasion. The course will be shaped around ‘the sense of an ending’.

This course will explore the origins, evolution and enduring worldwide influence of Art Deco as the major design movement of the twentieth and now also the twenty-first century. First, the transition from Art Nouveau to Art Deco is illustrated, after which we focus on the central period of its development from 1910 to 1939. The spirit and splendour of Art Deco permeated every aspect of life and its enduring legacy is still with us today – as will become apparent in this course.

Step into the world of medical device innovation, where innovative technology meets real-life needs. This course will reveal how the human-centred approach shapes effective, meaningful healthcare solutions.
The first lecture discusses how successful devices begin with a deep understanding of people. The second lecture brings theory to life via vivid case studies. Hear inspiring accounts of products created to empower the user, such as a novel wrist splint, an ultrasonic sensor attachment for canes for the blind, a 3D printed prosthetic and an innovative sleep apnoea diagnostic and treatment device.

Eighty years ago the world learned that Hiroshima had been shattered by a weapon of unprecedented destructiveness. Eight days later the Japanese accepted the Allied terms of surrender. Was the news as much of a surprise to the Japanese and the world as it seemed? All sides fighting in the Second World War, including the Japanese, had been racing to develop a nuclear-type bomb. Regardless, it took a second bomb, dropped three days later on Nagasaki, to convince the Japanese to surrender. The world is still adjusting to the aftermath.

Isaac Newton created modern science in the seventeenth century. Late in the nineteenth century the atom was discovered to have a structure which was difficult to understand. Thus, it was necessary to create and understand quantum mechanics. The first person to understand this problem was the Dane Neils Bohr. There were many great thinkers to follow, and Robert Oppenheimer was one of the finest. Chosen to lead the development of the most horrible weapon imaginable, Richard Feynmann opened many new doors and introduced a structure to help understand quantum mechanics.

The term Baroque came to designate the period in the arts from roughly 1600 to 1750 and encompasses the careers of some of the greatest painters, sculptors, architects and composers the Western world has ever produced. Originally carrying negative connotations, Baroque art is now regarded as robust and decorative, massive and grandiose, complex and full of motion. This course explores the way in which the Baroque masters followed on from the great artists of the High Renaissance but infused their work with a vigorous new spirit.

We assume there is a distinct dichotomy between animals and humans. This may be an illusion. We are far more animal and part of nature than we are likely to admit. The purpose of this course is to re-think the place we occupy in nature. The course will discuss the topic at various levels. It will start with the origin and definitions of life and the evolution of plants and animals. Following this will be the evolution of primates and Homo sapiens, finally leading up to the evolution of consciousness.

This course, richly illustrated with clips, will focus on adaptations of Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Emma. We will explore how these films and television serials have either given deft expression to the complexities of their source material, or have subsumed those complexities into the generic conventions of romantic comedy. Comment will be made on the particular challenges faced by those who have attempted adaptations of Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park and Persuasion. The course will be shaped around ‘the sense of an ending’.

This course explores the intersection of music and health. Beginning with the common ground of rhythms in the body and in music, the conceptual basis of the healing power of music will be explored. It delves into the lives of health professionals who were artists. Alongside the artistic fulfilment, musicians face a range of health issues, including pain and injuries, hearing and vocal health problems, and mental health challenges. The possibility of consilience between artistic and scientific modalities, two different languages for understanding the world, will be presented and discussed.

This course will explore the origins, evolution and enduring worldwide influence of Art Deco as the major design movement of the twentieth and now also the twenty-first century. First, the transition from Art Nouveau to Art Deco is illustrated, after which we focus on the central period of its development from 1910 to 1939. The spirit and splendour of Art Deco permeated every aspect of life and its enduring legacy is still with us today – as will become apparent in this course.

This course will discuss Chinese and Japanese gardens, their traditions and divergence in construction, location, plants and philosophy. The nobility created Kaiyushiki or ‘strolling’ gardens to impress, explore, to entertain guests and to provide diversions. The scholar gardens of Suzhou created intimate spaces with complex walkways and stone constructions, with rocks and pools emulating mountainous scenery to inspire painting and poetry among the literati. The tea garden was the journey towards the tea house, in preparation for the shared ritual to come.

Eighty years ago the world learned that Hiroshima had been shattered by a weapon of unprecedented destructiveness. Eight days later the Japanese accepted the Allied terms of surrender. Was the news as much of a surprise to the Japanese and the world as it seemed? All sides fighting in the Second World War, including the Japanese, had been racing to develop a nuclear-type bomb. Regardless, it took a second bomb, dropped three days later on Nagasaki, to convince the Japanese to surrender. The world is still adjusting to the aftermath.

A paradox is a statement that leads to a circular and self-contradictory argument or describes a situation that logically is impossible. A true logical paradox is a paradox constructed in such a way that there really is no way out of the loop. This course will discuss perceived scientific paradoxes which can be resolved with a bit of fundamental scientific knowledge. Five enigmas will be discussed.

The term Baroque came to designate the period in the arts from roughly 1600 to 1750 and encompasses the careers of some of the greatest painters, sculptors, architects and composers the Western world has ever produced. Originally carrying negative connotations, Baroque art is now regarded as robust and decorative, massive and grandiose, complex and full of motion. This course explores the way in which the Baroque masters followed on from the great artists of the High Renaissance but infused their work with a vigorous new spirit.

The Anglo-Boer War left South Africa bitterly divided. Though the 1902 Treaty of Vereeniging ended hostilities, resentment endured. Alfred Milner’s anglicisation policies (1902–1905) deepened tensions. The 1910 Union of South Africa was a fragile political compromise. The first lecture explores the rebellion’s roots.
Britain’s entry into World War I in August 1914 compelled South Africa to follow. Afrikaner nationalists saw an opportunity to restore their lost republics. With South African boots on GSWA soil, rebellion ignited. The second lecture examines how the South African government defeated the Afrikaner Rebellion.

This course explores the intersection of music and health. Beginning with the common ground of rhythms in the body and in music, the conceptual basis of the healing power of music will be explored. It delves into the lives of health professionals who were artists. Alongside the artistic fulfilment, musicians face a range of health issues, including pain and injuries, hearing and vocal health problems, and mental health challenges. The possibility of consilience between artistic and scientific modalities, two different languages for understanding the world, will be presented and discussed.

This course will discuss Chinese and Japanese gardens, their traditions and divergence in construction, location, plants and philosophy. The nobility created Kaiyushiki or ‘strolling’ gardens to impress, explore, to entertain guests and to provide diversions. The scholar gardens of Suzhou created intimate spaces with complex walkways and stone constructions, with rocks and pools emulating mountainous scenery to inspire painting and poetry among the literati. The tea garden was the journey towards the tea house, in preparation for the shared ritual to come.

A paradox is a statement that leads to a circular and self-contradictory argument or describes a situation that logically is impossible. A true logical paradox is a paradox constructed in such a way that there really is no way out of the loop. This course will discuss perceived scientific paradoxes which can be resolved with a bit of fundamental scientific knowledge. Five enigmas will be discussed.

The term Baroque came to designate the period in the arts from roughly 1600 to 1750 and encompasses the careers of some of the greatest painters, sculptors, architects and composers the Western world has ever produced. Originally carrying negative connotations, Baroque art is now regarded as robust and decorative, massive and grandiose, complex and full of motion. This course explores the way in which the Baroque masters followed on from the great artists of the High Renaissance but infused their work with a vigorous new spirit.

The Anglo-Boer War left South Africa bitterly divided. Though the 1902 Treaty of Vereeniging ended hostilities, resentment endured. Alfred Milner’s anglicisation policies (1902–1905) deepened tensions. The 1910 Union of South Africa was a fragile political compromise. The first lecture explores the rebellion’s roots.
Britain’s entry into World War I in August 1914 compelled South Africa to follow. Afrikaner nationalists saw an opportunity to restore their lost republics. With South African boots on GSWA soil, rebellion ignited. The second lecture examines how the South African government defeated the Afrikaner Rebellion.

This course explores the intersection of music and health. Beginning with the common ground of rhythms in the body and in music, the conceptual basis of the healing power of music will be explored. It delves into the lives of health professionals who were artists. Alongside the artistic fulfilment, musicians face a range of health issues, including pain and injuries, hearing and vocal health problems, and mental health challenges. The possibility of consilience between artistic and scientific modalities, two different languages for understanding the world, will be presented and discussed.

This course will discuss Chinese and Japanese gardens, their traditions and divergence in construction, location, plants and philosophy. The nobility created Kaiyushiki or ‘strolling’ gardens to impress, explore, to entertain guests and to provide diversions. The scholar gardens of Suzhou created intimate spaces with complex walkways and stone constructions, with rocks and pools emulating mountainous scenery to inspire painting and poetry among the literati. The tea garden was the journey towards the tea house, in preparation for the shared ritual to come.