Master’s research on oyster mushrooms makes student cream of the crop

North-West University (NWU) PhD student, Sidwell Sihlangu, has been awarded a prize worth R20 000 for the best-researched journal in scientific innovation at the Provincial Youth in Agriculture Awards for his master’s research on cultivating oyster mushrooms in the arid climate of Mahikeng.

The awards ceremony was hosted by the North…

Food and feed for thought at 6th ExtruAfrica event

Extrusion, a high-pressure cooking process, has revolutionised the food, feed, plastic and powder paint industries, among many others. Small wonder, then, that the annual ExtruAfrica conference, training seminar and exhibition is such an eagerly anticipated event for manufacturers from South Africa and other African countries.

The…

Canoeists take to the water in memory of former team member

Canoeists from across the region and members of the Watuni Canoe Club – situated at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark – took to the water on Saturday, 24 June 2017, in remembrance of the late Gerhard Nel.

The annual Gerhard Nel Memorial Race was instituted after the untimely passing of Nel, an engineer at…

Four NWU researchers in running for Science Oscars

Four scientists of the North-West University (NWU) are finalists in the National Science and Technology’s (NSTF) prestigious science awards, also known as the “Science Oscars” of South Africa.

Prof Louis du Preez (zoology), Prof Alta Schutte (cardiovascular physiology), Prof Melville Saayman (tourism) and Prof Linda Godfrey (waste…

NWU hosts its second Autism symposium

Autism affects one in 68 children, and the earlier it is diagnosed, the more effectively it can be managed. The Institute for Psychology and Wellbeing at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Potchefstroom is helping to raise awareness by hosting its second Autism Symposium. It will be held at the Dawie du Plessis Lecture Hall on 29…

New study shows effects of visual therapy on children with DCD

There is hope for children suffering from Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). This is the bottom line of a new study by Prof Dané Coetzee and Prof Anita Pienaar at the North-West University's (NWU’s) Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation (PhASRec) research focus area.

Their study of 32 children between the ages of seven and…

Dothraki and other sub-cultural languages – the focus of a unique PhD study

“Me zisosh disse”. It is just a flesh wound. This would certainly be good news if you were wounded and one of the native speakers of the language used in this sentence. It is Dothraki and it is the fantasy language that was created for the television series Game of Thrones. Today, the language is spoken by a significant number of people who…

NWU researchers receive R9m to study heart disease in Africa

Non-communicable or lifestyle diseases will be the most common cause of death in Africa by 2030, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Researchers from the North-West University (NWU) are at the heart of a novel, R80 million public-private collaboration to boost South Africa’s medical research capabilities.

The NWU's…

Where is the South African economy heading?

Without a proper understanding of economic concepts one is flying blind in the intricate landscape that is the South African economy. This is according to Prof Danie Meyer, senior lecturer within the School of Economic Sciences at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark.

According to Prof Meyer there seems to be…

TELIT-SA: the future of technology-enhanced learning

A dedicated focus on the practice of technology-enhanced learning: this is what the newly established TELIT-SA research focus area is all about. TELIT-SA stands for Technology Enhanced Learning and Innovative Education and Training in South Africa, and looks at the theory and practice of learning technologies across and array of disciplines in…