The FABI Social Club is a hugely important component of the Institute structure and were members serve for a year-long term. FABI’s Social Club for 2020 has recently  been announced. The members include are: Vinolia Danki, Alicia Fick, Casey Gill, Christoff Joubert, Daniella Kramer, Frances Lane, Kira Lynn, Mabodiba Maake, Idea Makowe, Privilege Makunde, Uyabongeka Memela, Tsakane Miyambo, Trystan Nadasen, Jenna-Lee Price, Boitshoko Rammuki, Claire Randolph, Francinah Ratsoma, Kevin Scheepers, Precious Sedibane, Cassandra Schoeman, Medha Sood, Rachel Swanepoel, Shae Swanepoel, Cheyenne Theron, Dee Twiddy, Nicole van Vuuren, Lente van Zyl and Anien Viljoen. 

FABI requires its MSc and PhD students to serve on the Social Club once during their degree period. The group  is currently supervised by Dr Gerda Fourie and social club manager is Leandri Klynsmith. The Social Club has many responsibilities including organizing the monthly FABI tea events, the annual meeting of the Society for the Presentation of Outrageous Findings (SPOOF), the FABI Year-end Function, Spring Tea and the annual opening breakfast event.  The team also assist the Institute in  providing refreshments after special and prestige seminars. Their hard work throughout the year ensures that FABIans feel part of the larger FABI community and members, which come from across the FABI research groups representing more than 200 post graduate students, also have the opportunity to get to know each other in way that would otherwise not be possible. .

In announcing the new team, Gerda took the opportunity to thank the outgoing Social Club members for their hard work and dedication over the past year. Once the lockdown ends and movement restrictions are lifted, the Social Club will again ensure that FABIans have the opportunity  to mingle socially while also conducting world-class research.

Note: the photo illustrating this news items shows the outgoing 2019 FABI Social Club members.