Natural and Agricultural Sciences News
NWU to lead agricultural intervention to empower local communities
To promote mental health and wellbeing and prevent substance abuse among young people in Lokaleng village in Mahikeng, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences will be leading the agricultural intervention section of the multi-sectoral collaborative care community intervention…
NWU IKS celebrate September as African New Year and the month of new beginnings
African indigenous astronomy (bolepa dinaledi in Setswana) is one discipline of competencies of the broader African indigenous knowledge systems negated by the modern education system, including modern astronomers, researchers and policy makers. This is according to Dr Motheo Koitsiwe, indigenous astronomer researcher and director of the North-…
Oyster mushrooms could make brown seaweed rich pickings for indigenous chickens
Brown seaweed is known to be a rich source of minerals such as calcium, manganese, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, sulphur and iron. Add oyster mushrooms to the mix and the result could be a highly nutritious source of feed for indigenous chickens. This is the thinking of Godfrey Mhlongo, North-West University (NWU) PhD student in animal health…
Wasps zoom in on metal contamination
Wasps are often viewed as pests but they can play a huge role in the ecosystem, from pollination to being a link in the food chain. North-West University (NWU) master’s student Yasfir Tarif Nadat is now undertaking a study to show how wasps can be indicators of pollution. His study is inspired by a paper he and a team of researchers from the…
Mines are contaminating useful plants in Limpopo
Chromium from mining activities has been found in high concentrations in plant species commonly grown in household gardens in Sekhukhuneland, Limpopo, representing a potential health hazard. These are some of the findings of Sutapa Adhikari, a doctoral student from the North-West University (NWU), who has been studying the contamination of food…
Plants offer home-grown solutions to healthcare
Approximately 80% of South Africa’s population depend on medicinal plants for their healthcare needs, leading to an increased interest in the commercialisation of plant-based remedies.
Research by Tshepiso Ndhlovu, a PhD candidate at the North-West University (NWU), is shedding light on the potential of medicinal plants in the skincare…
NWU trailblazer heads International Society for the Systems Sciences
The world is a mesmerising place filled with interesting events and occurrences. These do not happen in isolation, and to fully understand the intricacies of any given event or interaction, it is necessary to investigate the “bigger picture” surrounding it.
This, in a nutshell, is what systems science is all about. It provides the…
Science is a ball(oon) of a time!
Science is wickedly addictive. It is a window to wonders the imagination never knew existed. Godfrey Mosotho knows this more than most and he is not keeping the secret to himself.
Mosotho runs an experiment in which he launches meteorological balloons to measure ionising radiation…
NWU hosts prestigious physics conference
The South African Institute of Physics (SAIP) conference has, for many years, played a central role in bringing together the South African physics community, providing a venue for the dissemination of new findings, the fostering of research collaborations and the inspiration of students.
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Including indigenous plants in diets can boost food security
Indigenous grains, fruits and vegetables could go a long way towards boosting food security in South Africa. What is needed is greater awareness among households and other stakeholders about the value of these plants.
This is according to two researchers from the North-West University (NWU). Dr Abiodun Olusola Omotayo and Prof Adeyemi…