It’s time to recognise waste pickers

They are a sight common in South Africa as they scavenge landfills and go through bins in suburbs, business and industrial districts. Yet little is known about the role waste pickers play in the economy.

Sights set on shedding light on the factors that enable waste pickers to make a living, Professor Derick Blaauw of the Faculty of…

A South African web-based platform for speech transcription

With 11 official languages in South Africa, finding an effective yet affordable way to transcribe speech to text was never going to be easy, but that is set to change with some innovative thinking from researchers who are creating an open source web-based platform for speech transcription.

Researchers from North-West University’s…

Metals in bird eggs a source of concern in Orange River catchment area

The heron that laid the golden egg? Scientists from the North-West University (NWU) have found several metals and metalloids in bird eggs in the catchment area of the Orange River which could pose a potential health risk to humans.

Prof Henk Bouwman from the Faculty of Natural Sciences says this study was part of a larger project to…

Survivor to thriver: creating a brighter future for victims of sexual abuse

The heart-wrenching reality of childhood sexual abuse is a global scourge which two researchers from North-West University (NWU) are tackling by assisting survivors to deal with their trauma and thrive.  

The worldwide prevalence as measured in 22 countries indicates that 18% to 20% of girls and 8% to 9% of boys have to cope with this trauma…

‘Meal-a-Day’ helps to keep tummies full

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) ‘Meal-a-Day’ project has made a significant contribution to the physical well-being of students over the past eight years.

“I am sure we all agree that one meal a day is not enough, but it is a good place to start if one wants to help a needy student to develop to their full potential,” says Maria…

Social sciences the Rubik’s Cube of humanity – Prof Herman van der Merwe

Did you know that it took the Hungarian inventor and professor of architecture Erno Rubik one month to master his own mechanical puzzle, the Rubik’s Cube? With 42 Quintillion possibilities but only a few correct solutions, the Rubik’s Cube is the epitome of human society: with each block representing a social science topic.

This is…

NWU Colloquium on Internationalisation and Social Cohesion

The Mahikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU) recently hosted a colloquium with the theme “Internationalisation and Social Cohesion”, with a specific focus on the social and institutional experiences of international students and minority students.

Facilitated by Prof Lumkile Lalendle, vice-rector, the colloquium took its…

Prof Ermie Steenkamp’s dream comes true

This month the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU) proudly opened the doors of its Centre for Economic Literacy.

This centre, dedicated to Professor Susan Visser, former dean of the faculty and currently vice-rector for research and planning, is the brainchild of…

NWU builds a first-in-the-world reactor for better sustainability, cleaner air

Chemical engineers at the North-West University (NWU), together with experts in the industry, just released a first-in-the-world reactor that will hold great benefits for industries and the man on the street.

Prof Sanette Marx, who heads the research chair in biofuel for the National Research Foundation (NRF), says that the NRF…

Alumna scoops Denel’s Top Young Achiever Award

“The answer is in front of you, you just need to look for it and see it!”

This is Chanelle Vermaak’s mantra. Not only did it help to keep her motivated during her undergraduate and later postgraduate studies in Information and Computer Science (BSc), but it is also what carries her trough every challenge that life may pose.

For…