On 14 July 2022, North-West University (NWU) professor in the subject group Physics, Prof Amare Abebe Gidelew, presented his inaugural lecture titled “Matters of Gravity: The how and why of cosmic evolution”. 

Prof Gidelew presented a brief account of one of humanity’s greatest adventures: trying to understand the origin, evolution, and ultimate fate of the universe we live in.

He showed that our understanding of the universe and the physical processes involved in its evolution has in itself evolved over time.

You may be wondering what exactly digital humanities is.  In simple terms, it is the application of computing tools and methods to traditional humanities fields such as linguistics, literature, music, history and philosophy.

With the Varsity Football tournament starting on 21 July 2022, North-West University (NWU) coach Karabo Masehela says the NWU Eagles are ready to take flight in this year’s tournament.

Back in 2019, the NWU Eagles made history by lifting the cup for the first time, and while they were performing well in 2021, they never quite reached the heights expected of them as defending champions.

“The boys are really excited about the upcoming Varsity Football tournament and are physically and mentally ready to take the lead,” he says.

For women who cannot take commercial contraceptives for health or other reasons or cannot access them, North-West University (NWU) researchers and traditional health practitioners from the North West province are exploring alternatives: the use of medicinal plants.

The project is a multistakeholder collaboration led by Dr Arthur Moroole, a postdoctoral research fellow at the NWU, under the mentorship of Prof Simeone Materechera and Prof Oladapo Aremu of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Centre.

A Fulbright scholar from the United States is joining the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management for 10 months to do research in a field where many stones are still unturned.

There are gaps in knowledge that scientists have about plant and insect species living on serpentinite rocks and filling in some of these could prove useful in understanding the effects of climate change and consequently contribute to conservation.

An inaugural lecture is considered an important rite of passage in the life and career of an academic.

Professor Marietjie Havenga delivered her inaugural lecture, titled Cooperative problem-based learning in Information Technology: Active learning for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

In this lecture, Prof Havenga argued that the implementation of cooperative problem-based learning as a teaching and learning strategy can contribute to students’ active and responsible learning skills for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

Better technology tools are on the way for South Africa’s four Nguni languages. Research being done at the Centre for Text Technology (CTexT®) at the North-West University (NWU) is helping to fill in the missing links about how these languages are being used, which will in turn lead to the development of language tools based on the latest technologies, notably artificial intelligence (AI).

Just as vastness induces awe, so there is wonder to be found in the miniscule. For Dr Roksana Majewska from the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the North-West University (NWU), this is an absolute truth.

By Angeline Marokoane

North-West University (NWU) students recently participated in the Universum Career Test survey, which resulted in the planting of 2 353 trees. As part of a global reforestation initiative called "One Tree Planted", an amount (in dollars) was donated. The initiative aims to plant trees around the world.

North-West University (NWU) alumnus Keatlegile Mabena has recently been selected as one of the Sunday World Unsung Heroes for 2022. He received an award under the category Youth in Education and Academia.