UP professor launches novel research into little-understood, vital branch of mycology
AchieversResearchResearch awardsUncategorizedUniversity of Pretoria June 2, 2026
Life as we know it would not exist without fungi: no decomposition of organic materials and creation of essential plant nutrients, a lot less mitigation of man-made carbon, no leavened bread (or beer), even lifesaving medicines, among many other things. Yet we know so little about them. Although the... Read more
SU scientist receives R14 million grant to tackle West Nile virus
ResearchStellenbosch University May 26, 2026
As climate and environmental change continue to reshape ecosystems across the world, scientists are warning that mosquito-borne diseases may spread into new regions, become more frequent, and intensify in areas already under pressure. A major new international research grant awarded to Dr Monika Moir at the Centre for Epidemic... Read more
Internationally acclaimed artists join UFS’ International Institute of the Arts
University of the Free State April 16, 2026
The International Institute of the Arts (IIA) at the University of the Free State (UFS) is proud to announce that two internationally acclaimed artists will join the Institute as its distinguished Artists-in-Residence from the end of March 2026. Ghanaian artist and a leading voice in contemporary art, Ibrahim Mahama... Read more
Mandela University tackles English dominance with new language policy
Nelson Mandela University April 13, 2026
Nelson Mandela University has adopted a revised Language Policy that directly confronts the dominance of English in higher education, committing to multilingual learning, teaching and support to improve access, inclusion and student success. Launched on 27 March in Gqeberha, the policy positions isiXhosa, Afrikaans and English as languages of... Read more
Rhodes University graduate peeks behind the AI curtain for the unexplainable
Rhodes University April 8, 2026
When artificial intelligence (AI) recognises a face, reads a medical scan or makes decisions, it often does so in ways that even its creators say they cannot fully explain. But for Rhodes University MSc Applied Mathematics graduate Georgina Fiorentinos, that wasn’t good enough – so she set out to... Read more
How birdsong reveals the secrets of wetland health
ResearchUniversity of the Free State April 8, 2026
When most people are still tucked in bed, the wetlands are already alive with music. Just before sunrise, a symphony of birdsong fills the air, a natural orchestra that holds more meaning than most realise. For Toka Mosikidi, a PhD candidate in the Department of Zoology and Entomology on... Read more
Wastewater harbours high-risk antimicrobial resistance genes
ResearchStellenbosch University April 6, 2026
In South Africa, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and connected river systems could serve as reservoirs of antibiotic resistance, raising fresh concerns about how antimicrobial resistance moves through ecosystems and into human populations. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) refers to the ability of disease-causing microbes to withstand treatments. Antibiotic resistance—a type of... Read more
UFS researchers secures prestigious United States patent
ResearchUniversity of the Free State April 6, 2026
In a landmark achievement for South African academia, the University of the Free State (UFS) has announced that a United States patent has been officially granted for a groundbreaking sensing technology developed by a collaborative research team, including experts from the Qwaqwa Campus. The patent, United States Patent No. 12,490,571,... Read more
At 67, Dr Retha Smit is living proof that you’re never too old to learn. A lifelong learner, Smit received her PhD in psychiatry from Stellenbosch University (SU) last week Thursday (26 March 2026) at SU’s March graduation. This achievement is the culmination of decades of dedication to research... Read more
Research on hormone-disrupting chemicals in sanitary pads
ResearchUniversity of the Free State March 3, 2026
The University of the Free State (UFS) recently published research on endocrine-disrupting chemicals in sanitary pads and pantyliners, which has attracted significant media coverage. The research, which was conducted by a multidisciplinary team at the UFS and published in the peer-reviewed journal Science of the Total Environment, comprised an... Read more
