When you think of engineering, German engineering in particular comes to mind, while it is extremely uncommon to think of Africa. This is the opinion of Mia Mangaroo-Pillay, an industrial engineer and lecturer at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Industrial Engineering.

What is the impact of genetic modification on the elemental composition of plants?

Karin Schutte, a third-year mechanical engineering student at the North-West University (NWU), recently walked away with R35 000 worth of prizes at the Mahlale Innovation Consortium (MIC).

The North-West University (NWU) and the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) hosted the National Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Expo on 17 August 2021. 

Dr Roksana Majewska, a postdoctoral fellow at the North-West University (NWU), has been recognised as a trailblazer and groundbreaker in the marine biology and diatomology fields.

At the recent Africa Genome Challenge 2021, Dr Majewska walked away with first prize in the Invertebrates and Microbes category.

South African youth is currently confronted with a myriad of issues, including the high unemployment rate, poor educational results, poverty, and less-than-ideal mental and physical health. According to Stats SA, 20,4 million young people aged 15 to 34 accounted for 63,3% of the total number of unemployed persons in the first quarter of 2020. 

Multidisciplinary research done by Prof Albie van Dijk from the North-West University (NWU), in collaboration with researchers from other national and international institutions, is reminiscent of detectives solving a mystery – a 16-year-old one, to be specific.

Statistics show that 61% of the population living in South Africa is either overweight or obese. Excess sugar consumption leads to several health problems that include non-communicable diseases such as heart attacks, diabetes and cancers, to name a few. The easy answer would be for an overweight population to consume less sugar, right? 

Thabang Vincent Tlale, North-West University (NWU) Student Representative Council secretary-general and NWU Mahikeng Student Campus Council chairperson, was recently elected to serve as a member of the national executive committee (NEC) of the South African Union of Students (SAUS) for the term 2021/23.

Thabang will serve as the chair of the research and community engagement committee during his term.
 “I am planning to make a mark in the transformation of the higher education landscape in South Africa,” says Thabang.

North-West University (NWU) academic Dr Hazel Tumelo Mufhandu presented a public lecture on Covid-19 virus variants and their impact on vaccines as part of a National Science Week