By Gofaone Motsamai

When Perpetual Umeaku realised that many communities lacked access to health information in a language they could understand, she set out to challenge the status quo and started exploring indigenous languages in health communication.

This focus led her to win the Doctoral Poster Competition at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) 2025 Research and Innovation Week for her study, titled “Examining indigenous language health media potentials for a sustainable future: a multi-stakeholder perspective”.

As Starlink’s vast constellation of satellites traverse the sky in low-Earth orbit, they evoke wonder and awe in those gazing up at the night heavens. Science fiction has become technological reality. Yet, for South Africans, the benefits remain as distant as the stars beyond our solar system.

Research is at a crossroads, but the choice facing researchers is clear: make a difference to the world’s most pressing problems or be relegated to irrelevance.

“We are reminded that the decisions we make regarding the type of research we prioritise will either be the turning point towards a more sustainable and equitable world, or a missed opportunity by which history will judge us harshly,” said Prof. Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU) at the opening of NWU Research and Innovation (R&I) Week.

Postgraduate students at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus were given a timely reminder to prioritise their mental health during a mental health awareness workshop.

The in-person session, which Student Counselling and Development hosted on 5 August 2025, was for postgraduate students from different faculties, creating a safe space to discuss the realities of academic life, the pressures of balancing multiple responsibilities and the importance of taking time to focus on well-being.

In a world where innovation meets wellbeing, Chantel Muller is proving that the two can powerfully coexist. A published author and senior lecturer in marketing research and sports marketing at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus, Chantel is redefining how technology can transform health — and she’s doing it from right here at the NWU.

Languages clash, blend and connect users across the North-West University (NWU) Mahikeng Campus Updates Facebook Group, revealing how multilingualism drives communication in a digital student space.

Ontiretse Motingwa, an NWU graduate, led a study that examined how language choice, ethnicity and power relationships influence communication patterns on the NWU Mahikeng Campus Updates Facebook Group. The group, moderated by NWU students, functions as a platform where members post, comment and engage in various languages, including indigenous ones.

Feed costs are exceptionally high in the broiler chicken industry, prompting farmers and researchers alike to find ways to reduce the cost of feed without compromising bird health. Dr Makiwa Simeon Mthana, a North-West University (NWU) animal science graduate, has come up with a potential solution that uses mushroom biotechnology to enhance the nutritional utility of soyabean replacements.

Higher education, that sprawling landscape of lecture halls, research labs and late-night study sessions, is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. The Covid-19 pandemic shattered the status quo, pushing universities to rethink the way they engage with students and each other.

Tissue bioprinting and regenerative medicine are critical new frontiers in advancing human health. In partnership with a top Spanish researcher, the NWU has dramatically expanded its bioprinting research and innovation capabilities in its quest to find alternatives to animal testing and enhance personalised medicine.

Prof Amare Abebe, research director at the Centre for Space Research, was recently appointed as the new president of the African Astronomical Society (AfAS). AfAS is the continent's primary professional body promoting astronomy research, education and outreach. It also plays a key role in positioning Africa as a global hub for astronomical excellence, driving innovation and inspiring future generations across the continent.