Study unravels social constructs of fatherhood in SA
ResearchUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal June 29, 2023
In contrast to a perceived prevailing opinion in South Africa that fathers are generally unwilling to take responsibility for their children, a Master’s degree study found that most showed a desire and willingness to be involved in their offspring’s lives. This was the finding of research done by Mr... Read more
South African scientists in the ocean, terrestrial and atmospheric carbon observation fields have concluded their seminal workshop themed Integrated Regional Observation Carbon-Climate Constraints and have plotted a way towards building capacity to strengthen the country’s ability to observe accurately the changing greenhouse gas emissions as well as carbon sources and sinks.... Read more
Mandela University participates in the world-first digital twin of the Ocean project
Nelson Mandela UniversityResearch June 26, 2023
Nelson Mandela University scientist, Professor Mike Roberts and his team have deployed oceanographic instruments to collect data on the ocean dynamics of the Mozambique Channel. This includes collecting information on currents, temperature, ocean productivity, habitats, fish and human populations. This is part of a major research effort to predict... Read more
PhD focuses on cardiovascular disease among women living with HIV
ResearchUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal June 24, 2023
‘Women of child-bearing age who are living with HIV face an added burden of obesity and hypertension, which heightens their risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), particularly in resource-limited settings.’ This concern led Dr Sherika Hanley, a specialist family physician and lecturer in Family Medicine at UKZN to pursue a... Read more
Doctoral study can help prevent the spreading of bovine TB in African buffaloes
ResearchStellenbosch University June 22, 2023
A researcher at Stellenbosch University (SU) has found an innovative way to diagnose bovine Tuberculosis (TB) in African buffaloes and identify infected animals more accurately and rapidly. This can help to prevent the spread of the disease in one of the continent’s most iconic and high-valued species. “It is... Read more
This Youth Month, we once again confront the fact that, as a country, we remain motivated to push back our frightening youth unemployment figures. In the first quarter of 2023, we learned that 62.1% of job-seekers in the 15-24-year age cohort are unemployed, pretty much double the overall unemployment rate. The... Read more
Watersport enthusiast and proud father of two Dr Brent Chiazzari knows how to mix business with pleasure – enlisting his underwater diving skills to help pursue his passion for aquatic biology. The result is a PhD under his diving belt! Chiazzari investigated Scleractinia, a marine invertebrate that forms coral reefs... Read more
Spineless cactus, a promising source of sustainable energy
ResearchUniversity of the Free State June 21, 2023
The spineless cactus is a unique perennial plant that is able to yield close to 40 tons of dry matter per hectare per year with a rainfall of 500 mm per annum. “This equates to eight tons of biomethane or 11 000 litres of diesel-equivalent energy per hectare,” says Axel... Read more
Study reveals poor postpartum contraceptive use by young mothers
ResearchUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal June 20, 2023
Does having a child change the contraceptive use behaviour of young mothers? That’s the question Dr Lungisile Shange sought to answer from research she did which earned her a PhD in Population Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). Shange’s study focussed on postpartum contraceptive use by mothers aged... Read more
SA’s ‘silent mass disaster’ of missing, unidentified people
ResearchStellenbosch University May 28, 2023
An estimated 7 000 – but likely closer to 10 000 – unidentified bodies in South Africa’s medico-legal laboratories are waiting to be identified each year, says Dr Kathryn Smith, an interdisciplinary visual and forensic artist and Chair of the Department of Visual Arts at Stellenbosch University (SU). “Statistics are kept... Read more
