While the world focuses on Covid-19, the United Nations (UN) has not lost sight of the ravages of HIV and Aids, which have claimed more than 33 million lives over the past 40 years.

One man who knows not to count his chickens before they hatch is North-West University (NWU) alumnus Dr Abongile Balarane, the newly appointed chief executive and general manager of the South African Poultry Association’s Egg Organisation.

It has long been believed that faith rejects the rational, but North-West University (NWU) alumnus and former employee, Dr Tsietsi John Maloma, dispels this notion.

While the informal economy is lifting hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty, several municipal by-laws hinder the growth of their businesses, and – to some extent – allow for the violation of their rights. A researcher from the North-West University (NWU) believes a possible solution for the protection and development of this sector lies in the Constitution.

Replacing native forests with tree plantations is harming the soil at a microbial level by having an impact on soil fertility and the health of the planet.

This is one of the conclusions of North-West University (NWU) academic Prof Olubukola Oluranti Babalola – who along with Dr Adenike Eunice Amoo – recently conducted ground-breaking research to investigate the impact of land-use change on soil bacterial communities and characteristics.

On 26 May 2021, the Student Law Council of Potchefstroom (SLCP) hosted an event with Adv Gerrie Nel, who spoke about his journey as an advocate.

Positive organisational psychology (POP) is a fast-growing field, and the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Optentia research focus area is among the top 10 in the world for publications and citations in this field.

What’s more, the top three POP researchers have had ties with Optentia, which stands for Enabling Optimal Expression of Individual, Social and Institutional Potential since 2002.

Intelligent water management technologies could be the answer to some of South Africa’s water challenges. This is the view of Nicolene Steyn, one of the youngest PhD students at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Law, who believes smart technologies could help ensure the right to water.

Her study, a desktop-based investigation of current sources, is the first to explore intelligent water management technologies and their potential to address legally relevant South African city-level water service delivery challenges.

In the past decade, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind have made some inroads in supplying “green” energy to the country’s power grid. To be self-sustainable with the use of renewable electricity, methods of energy storage are required, as solar and wind are naturally fluctuating and not constant sources of energy.

After years of the proverbial blood, sweat and tears that go into studying, most graduates cannot wait to start their careers. With unemployment in South Africa as high as it is currently, getting your dream job is not always guaranteed. While many qualified graduates are able to find employment, some end up underemployed.

Dr Precious Mncayi, a lecturer from the School of Economic Sciences at the North-West University (NWU), conducted a PhD study titled “An analysis of underemployment among young people in South Africa: The case of university graduates”.