The University of Pretoria recently hosted Africa’s first Nobel Prize Dialogue, the theme of which was ‘The Future of Work’.
The University of Pretoria recently hosted Africa’s first Nobel Prize Dialogue, the theme of which was ‘The Future of Work’.
Broadcast online from the university’s Future Africa campus, the event featured five Nobel Prize laureates. It aimed to bring science and
society closer, and stimulate creative thinking by gathering a unique group of laureates, opinion leaders, policymakers, students, researchers
and the general public. Three Economic Sciences laureates – Christopher Pissarides, Joseph Stiglitz and Abhijit Banerjee – were joined by
Physics laureate Brian Schmidt and Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus.
In his opening remarks, UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Tawana Kupe said the discussion was an important one, especially in the
face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘’Discussing the future of work is one of the most important dialogues of our time,’’ he said. ‘’To be able to host this Nobel Prize Dialogue for
the first time in Africa is enormously important. It means Africa has joined critical conversations on current major issues that are both local and global. It also means Africa’s voices will be part of the discourses shaping the choices that will influence the future of work.’’
