SATA South Africa

About the Program

The SATA program in South Africa is centered at the University of Cape Town, in Cape Town, (pictured above) in the southern tip of South Africa. Cape Town is a thriving first world city, with approximately 1.9 million inhabitants, which enjoys a Mediterranean-style climate. The university is scenically located at the foot of Table Mountain, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The university was founded in 1829 as a a boys' school, the South African College. The college achieved full university status in 1918, when it became the University of Cape Town. View the University of Cape Town web site.

The university enrolls about 14,500 students, is divided into ten faculties and nearly 100 departments, and about 59% of its student body is enrolled in the faculties of Commerce, Science, Engineering, and Medicine.

Marc Zimmer, Connecticut College professor of chemistry, was the director of the SATA South Africa 2002 program, from July to November, 2002. Professor Zimmer conducted the first SATA South Africa program in 1995, and also accompanied a group of students in his Environmental Chemistry class on a TRIP to the 11th Annual Global Warming Conference held at Harvard University and MIT in Spring 2000.

Students attending the SATA South Africa 2002 program had the same privileges extended to regular University of Cape Town students, and were provided with full room and board services. Students resided with South African students at the University's dormitories. In addition to Professor Zimmer, students could rely on the assistance of a local coordinator provided by the University. Public transportation to the city is easily available.

View the feature story on SATA South Africa students on safari in Africa with Professor Zimmer during mid-semester break, September 2002.