In an era where food insecurity is a pressing concern, community gardens offer a practical solution by increasing access to fresh, nutritious food. These gardens empower individuals and communities to take control of their food production, reducing dependence on expensive and often unhealthy store-bought alternatives.

All this is captured in the 2023 Nelson Mandela Day theme, which centres on food and nutrition and urges everyone to “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”.

LEGO® bricks in the classroom are proving irresistible to learners and pre-service teachers alike, who discover that play and learning are not so different.

Researchers in the Faculty of Education at the North-West University (NWU) are using the brightly coloured plastic bricks for the practical component of pre-service teacher training programmes. They hope to inspire change and progress in teaching methods within the university student body and the broader community.

Lize-Mari Loots, a first-year BSc dietetics student at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Potchefstroom Campus, recently earned recognition as one of the top students in the prestigious National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) Brilliants Programme.

She is one of the tallest netball players in the country, but there seem to be no end to the heights Elmeré van den Berg can achieve on the netball court.

The 1,91m beanpole who hails from Bloemfontein, matriculated from Jim Fouché High School before joining the North-West University (NWU) where she is currently enrolled in a sports coaching and human movement sciences course.

She quickly made waves on the netball court – catching the eyes of national selectors – and greater accolades soon followed.

Imagine for a moment that you are standing in a long hallway. On either side of you there are numerous open doors. As you make your way to the exit, each one of these doors close once you walk past them. These doors signify development opportunities, and the hallway represents your journey from early childhood through the various stages of adolescence. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to look back and know that you stepped through each of those doors?

Dr Henriette Hammill, a senior lecturer in biokinetics at the North-West University (NWU) was recently awarded second prize for her outstanding work at the International Federation of Physical and Sports Education (FIEPS) New Leader Congress held in Galati, Romania.

Kgomotso Mache, a second-year human resource management student was recently elected as chairperson of the North-West University (NWU) South African Board for People Practices (SABPP) student chapter at a prestigious ceremony at the NWU Potchefstroom Campus.

Besides electing the new SABPP student chapter committee, students who successfully registered as student members of the SABPP board were also celebrated during the event.

Sisikelelwe Mngenela, a second-year student pursuing a BA degree in music and society at the North-West University (NWU), has recently been granted a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the prestigious BelCantoBootCamp (BCBC).

The quest for more sustainable and greener coal energy is receiving a boost through the National Research Foundation’s (NRF) renewal of the Chair for Coal Research at the North-West University (NWU).

The chair has secured funding of R4,15 million per year for the next five years as part of the NRF’s South African Research Chairs initiative (SARChI). This adds up to more than R20 million over the full period.

Parasites. Just uttering the word may send shivers down the spine, conjuring up images of rapidly proliferating organisms devouring or destroying other species. A celebrated researcher from the North-West University (NWU) hopes to change those perceptions.

Credited with playing a crucial role in global conservation efforts to protect parasites, Prof Nico Smit is from the NWU’s Water Research Group in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. He aims to ensure that some of the parasites found on endangered species do not end up like their hosts – facing extinction.