Human Interest News

NWU student in the national top 20 of FameLab® 2021

North-West University (NWU) master’s student Letago Kgomoeswana has made it to the national top 20 of FameLab®, one of the biggest science communication competitions in the world.

FameLab® is an international science communication competition that promotes science and technology by…

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…

Unemployment is now the “cruellest tax” on a vulnerable population

A new record high (34,4%) in the South African unemployment rate in the second quarter of 2021 confirms the destructive impact that the Delta variant of the coronavirus and the accompanying lockdown restrictions have had on the economy and the labour market.

Prof Raymond Parsons…

Liezl Gouws is ready to make her Paralympic mark

She has proven her resolve more than anyone of her age should have, and Liezl Gouws is ready to prove it again. This fourth-year pharmacy student from the North-West University (NWU), who has cerebral palsy after suffering a stroke as a five-year-old, will represent South Africa at the 2021 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Liezl will compete…

Prof Lubbe’s pioneering work is being recognised internationally

In the light of Women’s Month, we are proud of one of our own frontierswomen who is being recognised internationally for her groundbreaking work in the rainbow nation. Prof Welma Lubbe, professor in the School of Nursing Science at the North-West University (NWU), was recently approached by the Developmental Observer, the official newsletter of…

The price of bullying

Some children can easily process the impact of bullying behaviour, while others struggle with the aftereffects of these traumatic events for years. Tebello Mabusela, a counselling psychologist and psychology lecturer at the North-West University (NWU), discusses some of the consequences and the real price of bullying for some victims. She says…

When you think of engineering, think of Africa

When you think of engineering, German engineering in particular comes to mind, while it is extremely uncommon to think of Africa. This is the opinion of Mia Mangaroo-Pillay, an industrial engineer and lecturer at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Industrial Engineering. Through her PhD thesis titled “A Lean implementation framework…

Lasering in on the elements of organic and genetically modified plants

What is the impact of genetic modification on the elemental composition of plants? This is what North-West University (NWU) PhD student Elvis Moyo investigated through the application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for his study on the elemental composition of organic and genetically modified (GM)…

NWU engineering student scoops awards for Covid-19 innovations

Karin Schutte, a third-year mechanical engineering student at the North-West University (NWU), recently walked away with R35 000 worth of prizes at the Mahlale Innovation Consortium (MIC).

The MIC is an alliance of five higher education institutions, formed in response to a request…

NWU IKS Centre and DSI host 2021 National IKS Expo

The North-West University (NWU) and the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) hosted the National Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Expo on 17 August 2021. 

According to Shumi Pango, deputy director for advocacy and policy development at…