Natural and Agricultural Sciences News
National Science Week: Deepening our democracy through science
The North-West University (NWU) will host various National Science Week (NSW) activities in Potchefstroom from 30 July to 4 August 2018.
National Science Week (NSW), an annual initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), is a countrywide celebration of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation (…
NWU to host biochemists for international conference
The North-West University (NWU) will host the 26th biennial conference of the South African Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SASBMB) in conjunction with the Federation of African Societies of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (FASBMB) from 8 to 11 July.
The four-day conference will bring together a host of renowned…
BMI: industry directed research prepares students for world of work
Each year master’s students from the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences’ Centre for Business, Mathematics and Informatics (BMI) conduct a first semester group research project. This project aims to prepare the students for their second semester individual industry directed research projects.
This year saw a group of BMI…
SA’s banking sector to utilise NWU’s operational risk model
A new methodology for determining economic capital for operational risk was recently proposed by the North-West University’s (NWU’S) Centre for Business Mathematics and Informatics (BMI). This model was subsequently successfully introduced to the South African financial services sector and is now being implemented by Absa as part of their…
International research collaboration examines microbial ecosystem of active fault zone in SA
The North-West University’s Centre for Water Science and Management (CWSM) recently joined an international research team that will focus on the microbial ecosystem of an active fault zone in South Africa.
This collaboration follows after the appointment of Prof Esta van Heerden as an extraordinary professor within the centre. Prof…
Focus area for Chemical Resource Beneficiation goes from strength to strength
The Chemical Resource Beneficiation (CRB) research focus area in the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences is going from strength to strength.
Researchers are committed towards adding value to the South African national mineral and chemical resource base foundation in the North West and Southern…
Busy year for NWU’s Centre for Water Sciences and Management
The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Centre for Water Sciences and Management is built on the pillars of research, education and social responsibility. As a multi-disciplinary approach is adopted to assist both industry and government in addressing many of the water related problems facing South Africa, the centre is at the forefront of…
NWU’s marine research has international impact
Researchers at the Unit for Environmental Science and Management (UESM) in the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, are making their impact felt within the field of marine research.
This is evident from the acclaim Dr Roksana Majewska, a postdoctoral fellow from the UESM receives as a…
Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences committed to community engagement
Staying true to its mission statement, the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) is committed to being socially relevant. This is evident from the faculty’s involvement in several community projects across the country.
Empowerment of disaster risk reduction
An innovative partnership…
NWU home to largest Zebra fish bioassay facility in Africa
The Water research group in the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management (UESM) at the North-West University (NWU) installed the National Aquatic Bioassay Facility (NABF) in September 2017. Not only is the 515m2 facility the largest Zebra fish bioassay facility in Africa, but it is also the second largest in the southern hemisphere.…