Prof. Grobler honoured as longest-serving Economics academic

Few academics can claim a lifelong bond with a single institution; even fewer can say they helped build that institution from the ground up. Prof. Wynand Grobler stands among that rare company. As the longest-serving Economics academic at the North-West University (NWU), he has devoted an extraordinary 35 years to the lecture hall, to visionary…

Hundzula retreat seeks practical digital solutions for low-resource African language

If African languages are to thrive in a digital world, it is essential that these languages be part of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution sweeping society.

Natural language processing, which enables computers to understand, interpret and generate human language, could play a significant role in enabling African language…

A cleaner way to turn plant waste into fuel

Plant waste is everywhere, in harvested fields, forestry sites and processing plants. A new study argues it could play a bigger role in the energy economy if it can be processed in a cleaner way.

Prof Indra Bahadur, a chemist at the Mahikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU), has published a review article in Chemical Reviews (…

NWU to livestream partial solar eclipse from campus observatory

Researchers and students at the North-West University (NWU) will livestream a partial solar eclipse from the NWU Solar Observatory* on the Potchefstroom Campus. This gives the public a safe way to experience the breathtaking celestial event on 17 February 2026.

Dr Ruhann Steyn, senior lecturer and researcher at the Centre for Space…

Phase two of the SA Circular Minerals and Metals Initiative puts NWU at the forefront of mining innovation

The North-West University (NWU) is taking a big step forward! The university has been awarded Phase Two of the South African Circular Minerals and Metals Initiative, co-hosted by the CSIR through Circular Innovation South Africa, and the official launch took place on Friday, 6 February at the Department of…

Why wildfires leave some land scarred for years, and how satellites are helping with damage control

When wildfires tear through landscapes, the flames disappear quickly but the damage they leave behind can last for years. A new study by North-West University (NWU) academics shows how satellite technology is helping scientists and decision-makers better understand the true impact of wildfires and plan smarter responses for the future.

…

Early action is crucial as researchers warn of rising high blood pressure in children

A significant global health concern is that growing numbers of children and adolescents worldwide are developing high blood pressure. Newly published research highlights childhood hypertension, once considered rare in young people, as a rapidly growing health problem and a powerful predictor of cardiovascular and kidney disease later in life.…

Duty-free access to China opens door for South African exports but risks remain

South Africa’s exporters may soon find a wider door opening in Beijing, but whether they can fully walk through it will depend on preparation at home. China’s move to allow duty-free imports on selected South African products signals stronger economic ties, yet it is no silver bullet for broader trade challenges.

According to North-West…

NWU academic publishes book on mathematical modelling

North-West University (NWU) academic Prof Patrick Tchepmo Djomegni, Associate Professor in Applied Mathematics has added an important scholarly contribution to the field of applied mathematics with the completion of his new book on mathematical modelling techniques, a project that reflects both academic excellence and deep personal meaning.…

Why are we going back to the Moon?

Roughly 384 400 km from the pale blue dot we call Earth hangs an orb that has fascinated humanity for millennia. The Moon is our planet’s only natural satellite and is about a quarter of Earth’s size. Only 12 people set foot on it between 1969 and 1972, but more than 50 years later the Artemis programme aims to add to that number.

In…