Civilisations rising and crumbling over eons and across galaxies. Interplanetary conflicts, alien races and worlds as vivid in description as they are difficult to conceive.
For a young Prof. Henk Bouwman, now professor in Zoology at the North-West University (NWU) in South Africa, specialising in ecotoxicology across multiple biological systems, these were the realms in which his imagination roamed during his formative years. And still does.
Our researchers continue to receive national recognition for their impactful work across a wide range of disciplines. The North-West University (NWU) has five nominees for the 2025/2026 NSTF‑South32 Awards. This further affirms our standing as a contributor to excellence in science, engineering, technology and innovation in South Africa.
By Mzwandile Ndlovu
A renewed push to translate indigenous knowledge (IK) into practical rural development took centre stage as stakeholders gathered for the Second Smart Village conference in Nyandeni in the Eastern Cape.
Held under the theme “Towards an indigenous knowledge-based smart village model: A multi-stakeholder planning dialogue for sustainable rural development,” the three-day engagement from 24 to 26 March 2026 moved beyond conceptual discussions towards implementation and community participation.
A new funding commitment of more than $1,1 billion by the European Investment Bank is set to accelerate renewable energy projects across Africa, but experts say it will only begin to address a deeper, systemic electricity deficit affecting millions across the continent.
The North-West University (NWU) Water Research Group (WRG) hosted its annual Life Below Water outreach event on Saturday, 11 April 2026, drawing 120 children to the Lekwena Wildlife Estate for a morning of hands-on learning focused on aquatic ecosystems and environmental awareness.
The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Agricultural Sciences has been recognised for its skills development at the South Africa Leadership Awards 2026.
The award, presented on 13 April in Johannesburg, places the school among institutions acknowledged for advancing capacity building and training across sectors.
Director of the School of Agricultural Sciences, Prof. Simon Letsoalo, said the award reflects the collective effort of staff and students in advancing agricultural education and skills development.
A recent study, co-authored by Dr Mandla Dlamini, researcher from the Unit of Environmental Management and Sciences (UESM) at the North-West University (NWU), emphasises that floodplain wetland management and disaster risk reduction efforts are unlikely to succeed without the active participation of affected communities.
The research found that while conservation and flood-control frameworks exist in many regions, people living near wetlands often experience these policies differently from how they were intended.
A team of North-West University (NWU) students will represent South Africa at the 5th International Soil Judging Competition, scheduled for June 2026 in Nanjing, China. This will place the institution on a global platform for soil science training and research.
The team, led by NWU lecturer and research scientist Angelique Daniell from the School of Geo- and Spatial Sciences, includes Wehan Voges, Heike Steinberg, Botha du Plessis and Sebastian Burger, who will compete against teams from 23 countries.
The North-West University (NWU), through its Nano-Environment Incubation Programme (NanoEnv) in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences on the Mahikeng Campus, successfully hosted a Water Week awareness campaign at Mogakolodi Masibi Comprehensive High School in Disaneng Village on 19 March 2026.
The Food Security and Safety (FSS) research niche area at North-West University (NWU) has secured a state-of-the-art automated greenhouse that will strengthen research capacity, support student training and expand crop production studies under controlled conditions.
The initiative is meant to equip students with both skillsets to operate both traditional and highly conventional automated greenhouse systems.