The Director of Technology Transfer and Innovation: Professor Keolebogile Shirley Motaung is the driving, entrepreneur force and facilitator of the progression of FameLab at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), a first-time being hosted by the institution.
FameLab is one of the biggest science communication competitions in the world where young scientists present and explain a scientific concept to a general audience in three minutes. It is made possible by a partnership between Jive Media Africa (research communication specialists) and the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA).
Prof Motaung is currently piloting innovative teaching with Mrs Dorinda Raphine Borg within the Complementary Therapy 1 Module for third year students (64) registered for the Diploma in Somatology. She is presently facilitating a series of workshops promoting design thinking, sharing the ‘Lean Canvas Model and right through to converting their assignment into possible start-up businesses, with the students. A regional round of the competition was held on the 5th of July 2022 where a group of young scientists from the Department of Somatology and Food Technology presented their three-minutes pitch.
Winning the regional heat competition and now going through to the national competition was Sumisha Jankeepersad from the Somatology Department. She commented that she never expected to win the regional Fame Lab Research Competition.
“I feel delighted knowing that I took this win for my entire Somatology Department and I thank each and every wonderful lecturer who has contributed to this success from the bottom of my heart,” she said jubilantly.
She and her team mates developed products for their aromatherapy assignment and whoever wished to further their interest in regards to their product was allowed to participate in Fame Lab 2022. She and the group decided that they would like to place their idea in front of others and went on to register for the Fame Lab competition.
Jankeepersad further said that team decided to present on the development of their Shingles Treatment Package, with only three minutes to present, time was against me so I decided to use props.
“This will captivate the attention of the judges and my audience as this was an online presentation which makes it much more difficult to grasp the attention of others, in this way I provided information along with a visual of the Shingles Treatment Package, Serene Passions. This package consisted of three products a shower gel, moisturiser and an atomiser (room spray) composed of 100% organic ingredients making it safe for usage and providing relief to the blistered, inflamed rash body which is shingles,” she said.
She conveyed that for shingles there is no cure, but the group has decided to take it upon themselves to create a package to treat the symptoms of shingles providing relief from the physical and mental conditions of shingles.
“Similarly, research work of students could lead to a breakthrough of dreadful illnesses/diseases that are still undiscovered. I believe that we as students are the future generation and we pave the path to successful, healthy and productive lives,” she said.
She hopes that the Fame Lab Research Competition becomes an ongoing tradition at DUT as this platform presents students like herself opportunities that they never knew existed.
Going forward, Jankeepersad would love for their Serene Passions Shingles Treatment Package to get the recognition it deserves, become available on the market and hopefully become a renowned brand. She would also like to start developing an organic treatment for the symptoms of psoriasis which is a skin condition that currently has no cure and finally intend on developing her own brand at a later stage.
Sharing her thoughts on the competition was Prof Motaung.
“As a driving force and facilitator of the process of FameLab at DUT, a first-time being hosted by DUT. It is very important for the entrepreneurs to solve real problems that affect the society. In order for the entrepreneur to know they are solving real problems affecting their society using Design Thinking is the best tool to use. Hence I have offered to work with Mrs Borg with her Somatology students that has the potential to become entrepreneurs,” she said.
Pictured: Sumisha Jankeepersad
Waheeda Peters
