Academic lauds Transport Department's nanotechnology road rescue

North-West University (NWU) academic and professor in chemistry, Prof Lebo Seru, has praised the Department of Transport’s announcement that they will be embarking on a pioneering plan to reinforce collapsing roads in the North West province through the innovative application of nanotechnology.

The department has committed to launching…

Community engagement initiative aimed at smallholder farmers earns fourth place

The North-West University (NWU) has secured fourth place in the Sustainable Development Goals Initiative of the Year category of the 2023 Global Triple E Awards for Africa. These awards – made by the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities (ACEEU) – recognise universities worldwide that exhibit an exceptional…

Researcher brings African populations into previously Eurocentric cell research

Why did some people experience more severe coronavirus symptoms than others during the Covid-19 pandemic? International researchers believe part of the answer may lie deep within human cells, specifically in the small circular chromosome inside each cell, called the mitochondrial DNA.

Genetic variations in mitochondrial DNA are…

Study explores the use of medicinal plants to treat childhood diseases

Dr Tshepiso Ndhlovu, a PhD graduate from the North-West University (NWU), has completed promising research on the use of medicinal plants to treat children’s diseases.

Childhood illnesses make a major contribution to infant mortality rates worldwide, and the high cost of conventional treatment exacerbates the problem by putting a…

Solar telescope expands research horizons into solar physics

Located on the roof of building G5 at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Potchefstroom Campus, the solar telescope of the Centre for Space Research has garnered attention from organisations such as the BBC and the Royal Astronomical Society.

Dr Ruhann Steyn, senior lecturer and principal scientist involved in the project, recently…

Ntokozo to represent South Africa at Brazilian summer school

North-West University PhD candidate Ntokozo Happy Msiza is one of only four young people that have been selected to represent South Africa at an agricultural summer school at the University of São Paulo in Brazil.

The summer school will take place from 21 July to 4 August, and is a joint effort between the board of the National Youth…

High-school learners learn more about the consequences of climate change

Learners from the StudyXpress High School in Potchefstroom got the opportunity to see for themselves what types of pollution and climate change enforcers are found in their environment. The group of learners and a science teacher recently visited the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Welgegund atmospheric measurement station for a field lecture…

Backyard garden partnership springs up in time for Nelson Mandela Day

In an era where food insecurity is a pressing concern, community gardens offer a practical solution by increasing access to fresh, nutritious food. These gardens empower individuals and communities to take control of their food production, reducing dependence on expensive and often unhealthy store-bought alternatives.

All this is…

Researcher secures place of parasites on red list for endangered species

Parasites. Just uttering the word may send shivers down the spine, conjuring up images of rapidly proliferating organisms devouring or destroying other species. A celebrated researcher from the North-West University (NWU) hopes to change those perceptions.

Credited with playing a crucial role in global conservation efforts to protect…

NWU professor's wide focus leads to international collaborations and NRF-rating success

Prof Elias Munapo from the North-West University (NWU) is a National Research Foundation- (NRF-) rated researcher – not a simple achievement for academics with major teaching and supervisory obligations.

His research interests are the use of mathematics and statistics in business. In 2022 he obtained his first C3 rating as a researcher…