Doctoral Journey

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One of the criticisms raised against using technologies powered with artificial intelligence (AI) is that some of their uses would undermine human dignity. This argument is prevalent in healthcare and military robotics, where it is argued that the use of these AI technologies in various domains undermines or violates the dignity of those human beings who are in contact with them. In this thesis, I look to investigate Under which conditions various AI technologies would undermine human dignity.

There is a great demand for data interoperability in the healthcare industry as a result of broader and longer-standing changes, but long-standing obstacles have also been hindering this trend. It is undeniable that healthcare providers are struggling to embracing interoperability because they are trapped in silos within a plethora of disparate systems of health information.

Achieving food security in the face of accelerating food demand, competition for depleting resources, and the failing ability of the environment to buffer increasing anthropogenic impacts is globally accepted as the foremost challenge of the present time. Without doubt, climate change is one among a set of interconnected trends and risks facing agriculture and food systems, especially in the rural settings of developing countries.

Documenting and cataloguing Southern African clarinet music for performing, teaching, and learning is one of the best ways to preserve the region’s heritage and rich musical identity. Globally, several publications contain annotated bibliographies for the clarinet repertoire, but only a limited number include works by Southern African composers. Continued research and cataloguing of clarinet-related literature is crucial for future developments of the clarinet within a Southern African context and ensuring that the music is not “lost” or that the composers remain unknown.

Background: Childhood malnutrition is a major public health challenge of global importance. It may result from either excessive or deficient nutrients. Despite investments and several efforts made by the South African government and civil society organizations to improve child health, the prevalence of childhood malnutrition remains high in South Africa. South Africa is still lagging in in achieving the sustainable development goals 1-3 (i.e., 1- no poverty, 2 – zero hunger and 3 –good health and wellbeing).

To respond to the global crisis caused by climate change, South Africa is embarking on a Just Transition towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. The transition is premised on a decarbonisation process undertaken through a Just Energy Transition (JET). At the core of this study lies the following question: what are the opportunities and challenges for coal communities in a Just Transition?

Educators world-wide find themselves in the challenging position of educating young adolescents for a future in which exponential knowledge doubling will become a reality. Together with the medical prognosis of a much longer life span for this age group and a radical restructuring of the global economy, the implication is that today’s youth will need the skills to negotiate a much longer career of self-employment through a succession of jobs, often collaborative in nature and mostly Internet-driven.

NIHSS PhD Graduates