Prof Jaco Gericke does not take an orthodox approach to research in his field, ancient culture, and in a sense that has sometimes counted against him. However, the tide has turned, and the fact that his work is not in the mainstream of scholarship may have proved to be an advantage. It led to the National Research Foundation (NRF) awarding a coveted B rating to Prof Gericke, an associate professor at the Faculty of Theology on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus.

According to Sir David Attenborough, who has at least 17 species named in his honour, having a species named after you is the “biggest of compliments that you could ask from any scientific community.” 

Internationally acclaimed North-West University (NWU) researcher, Prof Nico Smit was recently complimented in such a way.

Researchers from the Queensland Museum in Australia and the Prince of Songkhla University in Thailand named a new species of cirolanid isopod in his honour.

It is no secret that the Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART) at the North-West University (NWU) is at the forefront of in-depth research. Over the past year they have demonstrated yet again that their mission is to conduct research that could solve many health-related problems that affect young and old.  

Recently, HART researchers took part in a programme, #theArtofResearch, as an initiative to activate African knowledge. The researchers showcased their research by means of posters to make African science more accessible to our communities.

The South African penal system has failed and as a result crime remains out of control. This is the harsh and uncomfortable reality that is plaguing society, and the country’s haunting crime statistics attest to that.

One reason for this is the lack of rehabilitation opportunities available to offenders. The allure of falling back in old ways can be too appealing, but there is also a fundamental misunderstanding of the systematised obstacles criminal offenders face when reintroduced into society.

The fuse has been lit and the countdown has begun. On 14 February rugby will explode onto our screens and on our tertiary-education fields again when the 2022 Varsity Cup kicks off.  

Numbers are a part of life. And although we might be getting numb, disconnected and desensitised to all the numbers with which we are bombarded daily, we should not get used to them. We should not lose sight of what they mean, explains Professor Alida Herbst, Director of the School of Psychosocial Health at the North-West University.

A writer will often say that they find writing more difficult than the average person, but for North-West University (NWU) student Erica Harris writing is seemingly effortless.

On 3 December 2021, authors and members of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Musical Arts in South Africa: Resources and Applications (MASARA) research niche area hosted a hybrid launch of the book titled Ritualised belonging: Musicing and spirituality in the South African context.

Extraordinary professor June Boyce-Tillman, Prof Liesl van der Merwe and Dr Janelize Morelli are the editors of this book – the culmination of a three-year National Research Foundation-funded research project titled “Social Cohesion through Community Music Engagement”.

The extension and renovation of the Education Library (C6c) on the Potchefstroom campus will start in January 2022. Site handover will take place on 11 January and the estimated time of completion is July 2022.

The spaces of the current Education library will be renovated and a double storey extension will be added to the front of the library. The ground floor will host a copy shop and the new EduLab, with connected working space for 104 students.