Using genomics to understand and protect the African continent’s biodiversity could improve the resilience of plants, animals and other life forms to climate change, with a knock-on effect on food security, says North-West University (NWU) researcher Dr Roksana Majewska.

She and fellow researchers at the African BioGenome Project (AfricaBP) have undertaken to safeguard and preserve African genomic biodiversity through an Africa-led effort to sequence the genomes of plants, animals, fungi and protists that are endemic to the continent.

The Earth is in trouble. It is suffocating under clouds of carbon dioxide emissions from the use of coal and other environmentally damaging resources to generate energy. These emissions are the primary cause of global warming, and if humanity wants to avoid the worst consequences of global warming*, we have to find alternatives for our energy needs.

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has sent shockwaves across the globe, causing significant uncertainty in global markets.

Although geographically far removed from these warring countries, the modern era of globalisation and fierce integration of markets through trade and financial flows means that South Africans will possibly feel the effect on their pockets.

The earlier kidney disease is detected, the more effectively it can be treated. Anja Degenaar, a master’s student in physiology at the North-West University (NWU), has set out to identify the biomarkers which will indicate deteriorating kidney function in young South Africans, ensuring early detection and treatment.

“The global prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is becoming an increasing concern, especially since CKD is expected to be the fifth leading cause of mortality by the year 2040,” she says.

“Given the overall balance of economic risks currently facing South Africa, the judgement of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) that a 25 basis-point rise should suffice for now is right, although the tone and language of the MPC statement was distinctly hawkish.”

Phenyo Mokgothu

Phenyo Mokgothu

North-West University (NWU) student and Setswana writer Lesego Motlhankana has taken the world by storm.

Zeno John

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Alumni Relations office, in partnership with the bhive Business Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), will host the annual NWU Alumni & Friends Business Breakfast on 25 March 2022.

The event brings together various stakeholders, including alumni, staff, students, community members, local businesses, and various government departments, offering them the opportunity to join in robust discussions and to network with business members across the Vaal Triangle region.

Phenyo Mokgothu

Prof Thebe Rodney Medupe, North-West University (NWU) academic and deputy dean for community engagement and stakeholder relations in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, has been elected as the president of the African Astronomical Society (AfAS).

Prof Medupe was elected during the society’s General Assembly on 18 March 2022, which formed part of AfAS's hybrid conference that took place from 14 to 18 March.

Phenyo Mokgothu

It was a convergence of media practitioners, communication scholars, staff and students on the Mahikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU) as the legengary broadcaster and famous isiXhosa language news anchor, Dr Noxolo Grootboom, delivered a public lecture on indigenous language broadcasting.

This public lecture was hosted in hybrid format by the NWU’s Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA) research entity.