Page 7 - DUT CONDUIT August 2024

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PROFESSOR MEGANDHREN GOVENDER
THINKING BEYOND THE COSMOS
Waheeda Peters
Professor Megandhren Govender from the Durban University
of Technology’s (DUT’s) Department of Mathematics recently attended the 16th edition of the Philosophy of Management Annual Conference at the EM Normandie Oxford Campus, UK.
His interest was in the special track related to ‘AI Awakening’ which brought together over sixty philosophers from far afield as Argentina, Italy, Germany, India, France, USA and South Africa, amongst others. Many of the participants had wide-ranging
interests which extended to AI, classical physics, general relativity, quantum physics and higher mathematics. Prof Govender was excited to engage with conference attendees on a wide range of philosophical topics related to Bohm’s interpretation of quantum physics, Bohr’s complementarity principle and matters of gravity.“The AI sessions focused on the philosophical inquiry into the understanding the limitations and possibilities of AI as well for us as human beings to reflect on the nature of our own humanity in a universe which is evolving with this technology,” he said.
Prof Govender visited the Mathematical Institute at the University of Oxford. It was an amazing experience to visit such prestigious academic departments where academics have contributed to the fundamental understanding of our Universe through cutting-edge mathematics and physics research. “Two of the most notable living scientists have hailed from the university of Oxford: Sir Roger Penrose who won the Nobel for Physics for is work on black holes is the Emeritus Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics at the Mathematical Institute of the University of Oxford and Jocelyn Bell Burnell DBE, FRS is an astrophysicist who discovered pulsars as a graduate student. She currently holds a Professorial Fellowship in Mansfield College, University of Oxford, and is a Visiting Academic in the University’s Department of Physics. It was pure inspiration to be at the same campus where these great minds, together with other scientists, have changed our understanding of reality through their life’s work,” said Prof Govender.
Prof Govender was a visiting researcher at the University College London and was the guest of Prof Christian Boehmer, the head of mathematics. Prof Boehmer is a world-class mathematician who works on modified gravity theories. Prof Govender and Prof Boehmer are currently collaborating on a project involving gravitational collapse in modified gravity. “The Mathematics Department at UCL consists of around one hundred academics who teach and carry out research at the highest level in various fields of mathematics. Professor Boehmer will be visiting the department of mathematics at DUT in 2025,” explained Prof Govender..
Prof Govender also visited Queen Mary University, London to establish links with the physics and Chemistry Departments. “Dr Eliza Hunt and Dr Giorgio Chianello have expressed an interest in establishing collaborative links with regards to outreach projects and promoting STEMsubjectsamongstschoollearners.Wearehopingtosetupanexchangeprogrammefor academics between DUT and Queen Mary University,” he indicated.
Prof Govender was thrilled to have visited these amazing universities and to encounter people who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of truth through their research in mathematics and physics. “I must express my gratitude to everyone who assisted me in making this visit possible. They include Professor Suren Singh, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Professor Darren Lortan, Head of Mathematics, Professor Fulufhelo Nemavhola, Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Mrs Diana Day, Mathematics, Finance Office and the Research Office. A very big thank you to Miss Ntombentle Tshabalala from the Faculty of Applied Sciences for her assistance with the overall logistics and planning,” he said.
Pictured: Professor Megandhren Govender