RE.SEARCH 11: Digital Worlds

The latest issue of the University of Pretoria's award-winning RE.SEARCH magazine is available now and reflects a shift towards both a fresher design and outlook. This edition is curated under the theme 'Digital', and offers a glimpse into some of the fascinating research we're doing at UP to drive digital leadership and innovation.

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 a glimpse of the University's latest research and innovation efforts.

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.

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 ofRE.SEARCH and learning about the fascinating work being done across UP.

People, society and humanity are at the heart of what we do. We are inspired by making a difference to lives, and as much as digital advances allow us to automate, replicate and compute, it is people who drive the technology. In this regard, we place people at the helm to ensure that technology serves us as an equaliser to achieve equity and justice, and does not replicate inequality. We seek to advocate for greater creativity and critical thinking from humans in order to make AI technologies more transparent.

As you leaf through these pages, you will see how the research we do today will have an impact on our future. We make today matter by ensuring that we pre-empt tomorrow's challenges with the research we do today.

Click on the cover below to read more.