Potchefstroom Campus News
Researchers demonstrate that conservation and development can go hand in hand
While cities in Africa expand rapidly and the pressure for economic growth is increasing, the protected areas on the continent face a complex challenge: how to conserve nature and empower people.
At the North-West University (NWU) the Protected Areas Research Group, led by Prof. Reece Alberts, Prof. François Retief, Prof. Claudine Roos and Prof. Dirk Cilliers, is working to find exactly that balance.
“Conservation areas are the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation,” says Prof. Alberts. “They are essential to prevent the loss in biodiversity. Yet, we have to admit that… Read more
SWiP project to champion SA's indigenous languages online
“The dislocation of our languages is perpetuated by not having pride to speak one’s own mother tongue. We can only say a language is developed when it has doctors, professors, writers and artists who write down their work, poems and songs in isiNdebele. I am grateful for the support and efforts to develop our language to be an equal to others…
Groundbreaking initiative empowering Southern African universities in tech transfer
In a great step towards advancing technology transfer capabilities across Southern Africa, a pioneering initiative has been launched to provide experiential learning for technology transfer practitioners from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
The World Intellectual Property Organization, in partnership with the…
Prof Klaus Kellner to serve on committee for sustainable land management
Prof Klaus Kellner from the North-West University (NWU) was recently appointed by the Director General of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to serve on the Project Steering Committee (PSC) of the 7th Global Environmental Facility (GEF) funded project.
The GEF-funded project falls within the Land…
Momentum Investments Aardklop 2023 celebrates its success
“The productions and fun of the past week in Potchefstroom are proof that Aardklop is back with a vengeance.”
These words of Prof Daryl Balia, chairperson of the Aardklop board and the deputy vice-chancellor for information technology and Potchefstroom Campus operations at the North-West University (NWU), are echoed by Alexa Strachan,…
Bridging the gap: Fostering collaborations between academia and public service
The School of Government Studies in the Faculty of Humanities at the North-West University (NWU) hosted a public seminar on Tuesday, 3 October.
The seminar's primary objective was to address bridging the gap between academia and practice, with a particular emphasis on the role of the School of Government Studies.
Events of this…
Nepotism is stealing Africa’s future
Nepotism is not limited to isolated cases in Africa, but a trend throughout the continent. Allowing nepotism practices through family, friends and those least qualified to occupy leadership positions is tantamount to stealing Africa’s future from its young generation. The liberation movement of the 1960s has not succeeded in addressing…
Hamas attack on Isael: What does this mean for South Africa?
Crude oil prices are set to skyrocket after the attack on Israel. Israel is going to retaliate with full force. The attack has massive global implications.
On Saturday, 7 October, southern parts of Israel suffered a surprise attack on an unprecedented scale by Palestinian military group Hamas, leaving a wake of destruction, with more than…
Fortunate’s passion for herpetology takes him to Brazil
Postdoctoral researcher Fortunate Mafeta Phaka recently represented the North-West University (NWU) at the 10th Brazilian Herpetology Congress that took place in Porto Seguro.
This is the largest herpetology event in Brazil, bringing together researchers, students and professionals in the field to discuss the latest discoveries and…
Academic to lead preclinical GLP toxicity hub for pharmaceuticals development
South Africa and the North-West University (NWU) are stepping up to develop the African continent’s capabilities to develop its own human vaccines.
The glaring disparities in vaccine access during the Covid-19 pandemic has led to South Africa taking significant strides to bridge the gap between the global north and the African continent…
Forum explores originality and copyright challenges of AI-generated knowledge
The Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Humanities at the North-West University (NWU) jointly hosted the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Forum on the evening of Wednesday, 27 September.
The event centred around AI-generated knowledge and its implications for copyright, originality, and embodiment.
Among the speakers were Prof Dumi…