North-West University at the forefront of agricultural innovation

Crop production in South Africa is overshadowed by storm clouds, and not the type that farmers crave. A multitude of uncertainties combine to darken prospects for the country’s crop farmers, which include climate change, water shortages, soil degradation, disease, economic instability and infrastructure and energy restrictions. That is why…

Society of Atmospheric Sciences awards highest honour in the field to NWU researcher

In a world of extreme climate change where air pollution is rife and people’s health is at stake, it has become paramount to predict the impact of chemical processes within the Earth’s atmosphere to plan measures for the future. A researcher at the North-West University (NWU) has made it his life’s labour to study atmospheric sciences.

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Botany professor and leading scholar on forbs publishes in respected journal series

Prof Frances Siebert from the subject group Botany at the North-West University (NWU) was recently invited to publish in the Annual Reviews journal series.

This paper is the first from the NWU’s Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management (UESM) in this highly regarded publication series on ecology, evolution and systematics.

Academy of Science of South Africa honours professor of Radio Chemistry as a top scholar

Nuclear technology is a powerful instrument, and research has shown that it can have a significant impact on disease prevention and treatment. An extraordinary professor at the North-West University (NWU) and specialist in nuclear technology – in radiochemistry in particular – is one of 44 leading scholars and scientists to be inaugurated as…

NWU researchers publish South Africa's first space biology article

The first space biology article has been published in South Africa, marking an important advancement for African space science – and potentially for the world.

The article, based on a study of young earthworms exposed to various hypergravity conditions for eight days, was authored by researchers at the North-West University (NWU). For…

Newly launched book set to revolutionise the aquatic world

The Water Research Group in the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management (UESM) at the North-West University (NWU) launched Prof Paul Skelton’s new edition of the book titled Freshwater Fishes of Southern Africa – A Complete Guide on Monday, 4 November.

The book launch marked the anniversary of the NWU’s longstanding partnership…

Use of African plants and indigenous knowledge in managing diabetes

Research from the North-West University (NWU) and partner institutions has highlighted the role of African plants and indigenous knowledge in managing diabetes mellitus, a chronic and potentially fatal metabolic disorder affecting millions globally. 

The study, published in the journal Diabetology, explains how traditional practices…

Climatology conference highlights severity of climate change

It has happened. The world is 1,5 degrees Celsius warmer than it was in preindustrial times. A threshold has been breached, and the times they are a-changin’.

When Prof Francois Engelbrecht, president of the South African Society for Atmospheric Sciences (SASAS), opened the 38th Annual Conference of the South African Society for…

Celebrating 10 years of excellence in applied risk management

The Centre for Applied Risk Management (UARM) at the North-West University (NWU) recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of its master’s-degree programme in behavioural risk work.

The theme, "Celebrating 10 years of excellence in applied risk management", was inspired by the programme’s pioneering role in offering an applied risk…

Supporting pregnant women living with HIV/Aids and gestational diabetes

The School of Nursing at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus has launched a potentially life-saving community engagement project aimed at supporting pregnant women living with HIV/Aids and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

 “Gestational diabetes and HIV/Aids pose significant health risks to pregnant women and their…