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
Three new extraordinary professors join NWU’s Self-Directed Learning research unit
The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Education recently announced the appointment of three extraordinary professors who will be collaborating and doing research within the Self-Directed Learning research unit.
They are Prof Ann Haley MacKenzie (Miami University, USA), Prof…
Informal reclaimers make a huge contribution to recycling in South Africa
Informal waste reclaimers in South Africa play a key but often unrecognised role in the recycling value chain. Ways should be found to enable them to participate in decisions around waste management practices and community recycling programmes, says Prof Derick Blaauw from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Economics.
For the…
Sexism and sexual harassment are major challenges for women entrepreneurs
Although entrepreneurship has its own challenges, women face additional obstacles that are unique to them. On paper South Africa has some great opportunities for female entrepreneurs, but in reality numerous economic, social and cultural obstacles affect women and their businesses.
According to a study conducted by Refiloe Moetsi, a…
NWU graduate makes waves globally
Shaun Frazao, a North-West University (NWU) graduate and chief strategy officer of Wavemaker South Africa is heading to London as strategy partner at Wavemaker Worldwide.
Wavemaker is one of the five largest media agency networks in the world, with clients such as L'Oréal, Paramount Pictures, Xerox, Colgate-Palmolive, Netflix and…
Liezl is back and stronger than ever
She is back. But different. She is no longer the same Liezl Gouws. Japan has changed her. It happened about 100 km away from the shadow of Mount Fuji and its snow-capped crown. Every drop of sweat was exchanged for wisdom and experience.
Liezl (23) recently ended fifth in the T37…
Study into large-scale potential to store renewable hydrogen
Power fluctuations sometimes associated with renewable energy resources could become a thing of the past through research under way at the North-West University (NWU) on new and better ways to store hydrogen. The HySA Centre of Competence (Coc) at the NWU explains the storage problem as follows: Electrical energy produced from renewable…
Theology for the world
Diversity is the bedrock of the North-West University (NWU) and faith is a pillar of strength for many within the NWU and to billions of people around the globe. The Faculty of Theology has again shown that diversity and faith go well together by producing exceptional PhDs at the first PhD graduation ceremony of 2021. Hailing from the small…
Wasps zoom in on metal contamination
Wasps are often viewed as pests but they can play a huge role in the ecosystem, from pollination to being a link in the food chain. North-West University (NWU) master’s student Yasfir Tarif Nadat is now undertaking a study to show how wasps can be indicators of pollution. His study is inspired by a paper he and a team of researchers from the…
Mines are contaminating useful plants in Limpopo
Chromium from mining activities has been found in high concentrations in plant species commonly grown in household gardens in Sekhukhuneland, Limpopo, representing a potential health hazard. These are some of the findings of Sutapa Adhikari, a doctoral student from the North-West University (NWU), who has been studying the contamination of…
It’s time to put environmental regulations to work
With calls for safer, cleaner environments, a North-West University (NWU) researcher suggests that local governments use and enforce existing environmental regulations to ensure a better quality of life for all. Maricélle Botes, part of the research team at the Faculty of Law's South African Research Chair in Cities, Law and Environmental…