Nature-based solutions such as rainwater harvesting and infrastructure designed to withstand floods and other climate impacts were among the practical ideas raised at  a recent two-day symposium on water management and climate change in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District of the North West Province.

Held at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus on 4 and 5 December, the event brought together community leaders, researchers, policymakers and industry experts to discuss local challenges and identify innovative strategies.

By Gofaone Motsamai

The Water Research Commission (WRC) hosted a stakeholder engagement session on 3 December at the North-West University's (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus to tackle South Africa’s water and sanitation challenges.

The event brought together representatives from municipalities, water boards, academia and other stakeholder groupings to refine and implement the WRC’s new strategy.

Virginia Molose, head of stakeholder engagement at the WRC, explained the shift in the commission’s approach.

From 11 to 15 November 2024, the North-West University’s (NWU) Research and Postgraduate Support Directorate hosted a successful writing camp aimed at tackling the challenges faced by postgraduate students. Held in collaboration with the Writing Centre and the Chemical Resources Beneficiation (CRB) group, the camp provided a transformative experience for selected Master’s and Doctoral (M&D) students across NWU’s three campuses.

The 2024 final-year Nursing students at the North-West University (NWU) recently took the spotlight as they displayed their research projects during the undergraduate research day, which took place on the Potchefstroom and Mahikeng campuses on separate days.

Finding practical solutions to the critical challenges of water management and climate change in the Ngaka Moridi Molema District of the North West Province is the main purpose of a three-day symposium being hosted at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus from 3 to 5 December.

“This symposium is about bringing people together to find practical, community-driven solutions,” says Dr Naledi Seheri from the Chemistry subject group and one of the event organisers.

Medical experts agree smoking is a health hazard, but many smokers choose to justify this habit by highlighting the calming and socialising effects they believe it may have. Some smokers of plants such as dagga also point to the medical benefits some studies have shown.

A new NWU study is challenging smokers’ perceptions and justifications by looking at the possible detrimental effect the habit may have on the effectiveness of chronic medication.

The consumption of pork meat products is increasing due to its affordability, versatility and high protein content.

A North-West University (NWU) research project from the Consumer Sciences subject group in the School of Applied Health Sciences, is focusing on food product cues (sensory and non-sensory attributes) that influence consumers’ food choices. Prof Annchen Mielmann is now looking into the cues of pork meat because of its increased popularity among consumers.

Research from the North-West University (NWU) and partner institutions has highlighted the role of African plants and indigenous knowledge in managing diabetes mellitus, a chronic and potentially fatal metabolic disorder affecting millions globally. 

The study, published in the journal Diabetology, explains how traditional practices provide an alternative to conventional medications used to treat diabetes.

A researcher from the North-West University (NWU) has dedicated her research to advancing perinatal mental health in Africa.

Dr Patience Kovane, senior lecturer and research coordinator at the Quality in Nursing and Midwifery (NuMIQ) research focus area in the Faculty of Health Sciences, says her mission is to promote the mental health of women, especially in low- and middle-income settings.

Prof Leepile Alfred Sehularo’s research on mental health and substance abuse has resulted in the development of a programme that is designed to support both adults and learners and focuses especially on the abuse of illegal substances in North West.

He is the director of the Lifestyle Disease research niche area in Nursing in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University (NWU). “I started with this research during my master’s-degree studies. My research explores the perceptions of psychiatric patients regarding marijuana use.”