UKZN research findings receive international acclaim
ResearchUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal December 20, 2017
A co-authored paper, based on the masters thesis of UKZN Psychology graduate Ms Jenifer Koen, has been cited in a recent editorial in the prestigious scientific journal Nature (see https://www.nature.com/news/too-many-academics-study-the-same-people-1.22967). The paper, co-authored by Koen, her supervisor Professor Doug Wassenaar and collaborator Dr Nicole Mamotte, is titled: The “Over... Read more
Tackling the missing miner problem with wireless sensor networks
Research December 19, 2017
A matchbox-sized circuit board with a short aerial could save lives by transmitting the vital statistics and location of miners missing underground. This fledgeling wireless sensor network technology is the result of collaboration between the Wits Mining Institute, the School of Electrical and Information Engineering at Wits, and the Communication Networks... Read more
Astronomer awarded DST-NRF fellowship for early-career researchers
Research December 15, 2017
Dr Mathilde Jauzac, a former UKZN Astronomy postdoctoral researcher from France; and current honorary lecturer at UKZN’s Astrophysics and Cosmology Research Unit, has been awarded the 2017 Department of Science and Technology-National Research Foundation’s Fellowship for Early Career Researchers from the United Kingdom. This prestigious fellowship was awarded on... Read more
Atmospheric chemist Dr Katye Altieri will use her Claude Leon Merit Award, one of five awarded to UCT researchers in 2017, to teach oceanography and atmospheric science undergraduates the rudiments of conducting air quality analyses. The Claude Leon Merit Awards recognise meritorious scholarly work by early-career academics in natural... Read more
Dr Joyce Chitja appointed as ARC deputy chairperson
Research December 13, 2017
Dr Joyce Chitja of the African Centre for Food Security (ACFS) in the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences (SAEES) has been appointed deputy chairperson of the board of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) for a three-year term. Chitja has been an ARC board member for two terms. ... Read more
Little Foot takes a bow
Research December 12, 2017
After 20 years of painstaking excavation and preparation, Professor Ron Clarke introduces the most complete Australopithecus fossil ever found to the world. South Africa’s status as a major cradle in the African nursery of humankind has been reinforced with the unveiling of “Little Foot”, the country’s oldest, virtually complete... Read more
Researcher shows dairy farmers can make money without harming the environment
ResearchStellenbosch University December 11, 2017
Reducing their impact on the environment does not mean that South African dairy farmers will suffer financially. They will still be able to maximise their profits. This is one of the findings of a new study at Stellenbosch University (SU). “It is possible to achieve both the goals of... Read more
Rhodes research output for 2016 impresses
ResearchRhodes University December 8, 2017
Rhodes University’s 2016 Research Report captures impressive research outputs and activities by every department. There is a yearlong time lag with official research reports as data on publications must first be collated and submitted to the Department of Higher Education & Training. 2016 was a good year for Rhodes... Read more
A group of researchers from the Department of Decision Sciences is working on a one-million-euro project to improve the basis for software applications, especially in engineering and the applied sciences. Funded by the European Union, the huge project involves universities in eight European countries, as well as Japan, Korea,... Read more
Dr Kenda Knowles, a postdoctoral researcher from UKZN’s Astrophysics and Cosmology Research Unit(ACRU,) was recently awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship by the L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science sub-Saharan Africa programme. Knowles received this fellowship based on her current project: Statistical study of diffuse radio emission in ACT galaxy clusters with MeerKAT.... Read more
