The Centre for Social Sciences Research (CSSR) and the  Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa  (IDCPPA) at the University of Cape Town invite you to join us for a lunchtime seminar on 3 February 2026 at 12:45pm. The seminar will be presented by Jeremy Seekings and Nicoli Nattrass.

About the Seminar:

Research ethics, surveillance and the weaponization of "harm"

The core of the university's policies on research ethics was approved c2012 following extensive deliberation in Senate and Faculty Boards.

Since then, the scope of these policies has been expanded, primarily through administrative mechanisms (including the eRA system).

In this seminar, we shall discuss the expansion of surveillance of research, the relocation of liability and the dangers of the weaponisation of research ethics.

Speakers

Jeremy Seekings is Professor of Political Studies and Sociology at UCT, formerly director of the CSSR and currently Acting Director of the Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa. He is a founding member of both the Zambia and Botswana Election Research Networks.
Nicoli Nattrass is a Professor of the School of Economics and CO- Director of the Institute for Communities and wildlife in Africa (iCWild) at UCT.

  03 February 2026
  12:45 - 14:00 SAST
   CSSR Seminar Room, 4.29 Robert Leslie Social Science Building, UCT

Hosted by the Centre for Social Science Research and the Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa