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
René believes that miracles still happen
Giving up has never been an option for 23-year-old René Engelbrecht, who recently graduated with her BEd Foundation Phase degree at the North-West University (NWU). She obtained her degree with cum laude.
She was born without a corpus callosum, which is a band of nerve fibres…
Academics look at science and faith
Two North-West University (NWU) academics, Prof Frikkie van Niekerk and Prof Nico Vorster, are the proud editors of the transdisciplinary book titled Science and Faith in Dialogue. It is published in open access format by AOSIS Scholarly Books.
Prof van Niekerk was the main editor and also contributed a book chapter, and…
Snail Day raises awareness of schistosomiasis and river health
The North-West University (NWU) Water Research Group (WRG) and the University of Limpopo (UL) recently hosted a Snail Day community workshop, sponsored by the Water Research Commission (WRC).
According to Dr Lizaan de Necker, principal investigator from the NWU, this formed part of their project that focuses on the distribution of…
Young Guns emulate champion big brothers
There is no such thing as too much of a good thing, especially not when rugby at the North-West University (NWU) is concerned. Not in the slightest. On Monday, 24 April 2023 the NWU Eagles (Young Guns) were crowned the Varsity Cup Young Guns champions after beating Maties 27-26 in Stellenbosch.
By doing so, the fledglings emulated their…
NWU is South Africa’s premier tennis hub
The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Potchefstroom Campus can now rightly be called South Africa’s go-to tennis destination with the official opening of its clay court precinct on Friday, 28 April 2023.
These five new courts are supplemented by 10 hard courts and two grass courts to make the NWU Africa’s undisputed leader in…
Study looks at the health benefits of plant-based nutrition
North-West University (NWU) researchers are investigating the role of whole-food plant-based nutrition in South Africa.
Prof Andrew Robinson and Dr Nanine Wyma, currently a master’s-degree student at the NWU, are co-founders of the Physicians Association for Nutrition (PAN) South Africa. They are conducting research with the help of the…
MASARA focuses on music and the conservation of indigenous music
Aristotle said that music has the power to form the character and should therefore be introduced into the education of the young. This quote is befitting of the Musical Arts in South Africa: Resources and Applications (MASARA) research niche area at the North-West University (NWU).
MASARA is part of the NWU’s School of Music and…
Raising awareness about the importance of snakes
As human beings, we are taught that we should respect all living things, but this can be a sensitive matter where snakes are concerned.
These reptiles are often portrayed as dangerous and evil creatures and this influences people’s attitude towards them, making them more feared because people do not have a lot of knowledge about snakes…
NWU goes green
The environment encompasses all living and non-living things, and we see how negative impacts harm the environment. Human beings need to understand the environment and the impact of human behaviour that causes climate change, resulting in soil erosion, poor air quality and undrinkable water.
With the aim of creating greater…
Innovators inspired to commercialise this research too
After a week-long residential programme in the United Kingdom, two innovators from the North-West University (NWU) recently returned with renewed vigour to promote commercialisation in the fields of the humanities, arts and social sciences (HASS).
Prof Henk Louw, an associate professor of Academic Literacy in the Faculty of Humanities,…