Human Interest

NWU PhD and master’s students shine in Three Minute Thesis competition

Can you present your thesis within three minutes? These master’s and PhD students from the North-West University (NWU) proved that it is possible at the university’s second Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.

This competition is held annually at more than 200 universities worldwide, and challenges participants to present their research in 180 seconds in an engaging format that can be understood by an intelligent audience with no background in the research area.

Submitted on Wed, 10/26/2022 - 10:12

Increased fuel costs are not merely increased fuel costs

Like load-shedding, fuel price hikes in South Africa are so frequent that we have become desensitised to them. When a hike is announced, we hear of it and go about our daily lives. However, increases in fuel prices have an impact on more than just the ultimate delivery costs of products. Transport plays a crucial role in the supply chain. The concept of supply chain management refers to the comprehensive process of sourcing and transforming raw materials into a usable final product for retail sale.

Submitted on Wed, 10/26/2022 - 10:07

NWU makes a clean sweep at international parasitology congress

Parasites may be viewed by many as pesky organisms,but understanding them and their impact on ecological systems is crucial in nature studies. The researchers and students at the North-West University (NWU) excel as experts in this field.

The NWU made history during the recent International Congress of Parasites of Wildlife by not only winning all the medals for postgraduates but also receiving the most coveted award for a researcher.

Submitted on Wed, 10/26/2022 - 09:46

Gandhi, Fleischack and their North-West University connection

He is revered as one of the greatest human rights champions and spiritual leaders of all time. Mahatma Gandhi, who advocated non-violent resistance and influenced civil disobedience protests for generations after him, is an international icon with a special connection to Potchefstroom and indirectly to the North-West University (NWU).

This connection is a special collection of hand-written legal documents by Gandhi himself and owned by the NWU. These are on display at an exhibition by the NWU Library Services and shed light on Gandhi’s time as an attorney in Johannesburg.

Submitted on Wed, 10/26/2022 - 08:57

NWU alumnus is one of 100 South African Shining Stars

North-West University (NWU) alumnus Keorapetse Mashimo has been selected as one of the 100 South African Shining Stars  by Inside Education for his contribution to sport in his community.

This was announced during a function hosted by Inside Education and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) on 20 October in Johannesburg. 

This annual event recognises young individuals – nominated by their peers and organisations – for giving their time and talent to make their communities, and also country, a better place to life.

Submitted on Tue, 10/25/2022 - 09:56

NWU PhD candidate research focuses on treating obesity and type 2 diabetes

By Ontiretse Motingwa

“As a complicated and ever-evolving field, science requires scientists and researchers who are resilient, determined, and knowledgeable. They must also have a great willingness to learn and use new skills and scientific concepts without bias or conformity to what society deems acceptable.” This is according to Khanyisani Ziqubu, a PhD biochemistry candidate at the North-West University (NWU).

Submitted on Mon, 10/24/2022 - 16:03

NWU hosts a data science workshop for teachers

The North-West University (NWU), in partnership with SAS DataFly, a free resource that offers a fun and engaging way to explore data with students in real time, recently hosted a Teachers4DataAnalytics workshop for mathematics and science teachers.

The event was held at the NWU’s Vanderbijlpark Campus and was organised by statistics lecturers from the NWU and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).

Submitted on Fri, 10/21/2022 - 12:38

Industry leaders address issues impacting the South African transportation sector post-Covid-19

“Covid post-mortem – Can we fix or train our way out of the chaos”, was the theme of this year’s Transport Symposium that was hosted by the North-West University (NWU) and the Transport Education Training Authority (TETA) from 12 to 13 October 2022.

The symposium focused on major post-Covid pandemic issues facing the sector, from industry’s as well as an academic (research) perspective.

Submitted on Fri, 10/21/2022 - 11:05

NWU experts share their journeys with breast cancer

It is the diagnosis dreaded by most: cancer. Two professors at the North-West University (NWU) who were both affected in different ways by this life-threatening disease, say the emotional toll it takes can be just as detrimental as the physical havoc it causes. They offer expert advice on how to deal with it when cancer becomes a personal reality.

Prof Welma Lubbe, director of the Quality in Nursing and Midwifery (NuMIQ) research focus area in the Faculty of Health Sciences, says her journey started almost seven years ago when she discovered a lump in her breast.

Submitted on Wed, 10/19/2022 - 09:14

NWU and Stadt Primary School host International Health Day

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Lifestyle Diseases research niche area and Stadt Primary School hosted an International Child Health Day at Barolong Ratshidi Hall on 14 October 2022.

According to Prof Sonia Swanepoel, deputy vice-chancellor for community engagement and Mahikeng Campus operations, the purpose of the event was to raise awareness about lifestyle diseases and the prevalence thereof in primary schools of the North-West province.

Submitted on Tue, 10/18/2022 - 12:07