Dr Hester du Plessis

Dr Hester du Plessis is the Senior Faculty Fellow at Future Africa and the Associate Researcher at the Faculty of Humanities: School of Arts, University of Pretoria. She holds a PhD in Philosophy from UNISA. Previously, she held the position of Chief Research Specialist and Head of Science Engagement and Gender at the Research Use and Impact Assessment (RIA) unit of the Human and Social Science Council (HSRC) in South Africa.  Furthermore, Hester was previously the Head of the Faculty: Humanity at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA). She also worked as a Senior Research Specialist and Head of Science Communication in the Research Use and Impact Assessment (RIA) unit at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). Her extensive academic and journalistic background in the field of Art and Design includes a previous role as a Senior Researcher at the Faculty of Art, Design, and Architecture (FADA) at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). Hester also held a Research Chair in Design Education and Innovation at the National Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, situated within the Design Vision Centre (DVC). Her research spans a transdisciplinary approach, covering various subjects, including science communication, public understanding of science, civilizational studies, the arts, gender, and philosophy.