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

Stanford invites bright PhD student for master’s class

A PhD student of the North-West University (NWU) and a master’s degree alumnus of the Centre for Business Mathematics and Information (BMI), has been accepted into the PhD Master’s Class on money management at Stanford University in America.

Simon du Plooy will attend a three-day workshop that will start on 12 November.

NWU astronomers play a role in bid to host first General Assembly of IAU in Africa

The 32nd General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) will be hosted on African soil for the first time in 2024 with the help from two astronomers of the North-West University (NWU).

Prof Christo Venter and Prof Markus Boettcher of the Centre for Space Research were both involved in the process to compile the bid…

Multimodal learning and multilingualism is his passion

Prof Jako Olivier’s passion and research focus are multimodal learning and multilingualism, and this was also the topic of his recent inaugural address.

Prof Olivier is currently a professor in multimodal learning in the School of Professional Studies in Education at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Education.

NWU research: The effect of veld fires on air quality, climate and human health

The South African Weather Service issues on an annual basis numerous warnings on veld/bush fires that have the potential to cause significant damage to the environment and infrastructure. These fires are not only a South African problem, they are also an international hazard.

Prof Paul Beukes, Prof Pieter van Zyl and Dr Micky…

SA needs more strenuous efforts to break out of ‘low growth trap’

According to renowned economist Prof Raymond Parsons from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Business School, South Africa will need to make much more strenuous efforts to break out of the ‘low growth trap’ into which a recession has now pushed it.

He says that the extent to which the latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures for…

Research explores preferences of game meat eaters

Earlier this year, Statistics SA stated that over six million South Africans are currently unemployed. With the country’s current economic climate resulting in shrinking opportunities for formal employment, more and more South Africans are turning to entrepreneurship.

North-West University (NWU) Tourism Research in Economic Environs…

Superlative NWU unbeaten in Varsity Netball 2018

Forget the recent cold front; the North-West University (NWU) is white-hot in the opening rounds of the Varsity Netball tournament.

The NWU squared off against the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in their opening bout of the competition on 26 August in Bloemfontein, where they comfortably won 77-27. Player of the Match Monique…

South Africa’s most economic significant leisure activity is under severe threat

The extreme pollution in a number of South Africa’s rivers, dams and marine systems is posing a threat to the country’s R52 billion recreational fishing industry.

Prof Melville Saayman, director of the research focus area Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society (TREES) at the North-West University (NWU), in conjunction with…

Jurumani talks trends with engineering students

Jurumani Solutions visited the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Engineering on 8 August to talk to students about the latest trends in the world of information and communication technology.

The reason for the visit was to share ideas on how students can plan their future careers within the technology industry, emphasising…

NWU researcher is finalist for 2018 Women in Science Awards

Prof Ilani Loubser, an associate professor at the Centre for Space Research and also the subject chair of physics at North-West University's (NWU's) campus in Potchefstroom, has been announced as a finalist in the Department of Science and Technology’s (DST’s) South African Women in Science Awards (WISA).

These annual awards recognise…