Decade of surgical training excellence for university, expands into robotic-assisted surgery
Stellenbosch University August 21, 2026
The Sunskill Surgical Skills Training Centre at Stellenbosch University (SU) recently celebrated 10 years of excellence in surgical education while marking a significant new chapter in its development with the launch of robotic-assisted surgery training. Established through a long-standing partnership between SU and global healthcare technology leader Medtronic, the... Read more
Study explores emotional content and depressive symptoms on social media
ResearchStellenbosch University August 12, 2026
Although social media is known to affect people’s mental health, we lack a clear framework to determine whether symptoms related to depression spread through online networks or how to measure and track this process. Dr Kurt Marais, a lecturer in the Department of Logistics at Stellenbosch University (SU) who... 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
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
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
Achieving global recognition: CERI director among Clarivate’s highly cited researchers
ResearchStellenbosch University December 18, 2025
For the second year in a row, the Director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University (SU), Prof Tulio de Oliveira, has secured a spot on the prestigious Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers list for 2025, specifically in the Cross-Field category. This remarkable accomplishment places... Read more
Sub-Saharan Africa has lost nearly a quarter of its biodiversity
ResearchStellenbosch University December 15, 2025
A new African-led study finds that sub-Saharan Africa has already lost 24% of its biodiversity since pre-industrial times. This means that, on average, the populations of diverse plants and animals across the region have declined by nearly a quarter. Some species, particularly large mammals, have declined much more severely, and... Read more
Under Southern Skies: How stargazing is shaping mental health research in South Africa
ResearchStellenbosch University December 13, 2025
As South Africa’s mental health challenges rise, a pioneering research project is turning to an unexpected ally: the night sky. Researchers from Stellenbosch University’s (SU) CoCREATE Health Hub (a niche in the Division of Health Systems and Public Health) and the International Astronomical Union Office of Astronomy for Development... Read more
Karin-Therese Howell appointed as AIMS SA executive director
AppointmentsStellenbosch University December 1, 2025
Prof Karin-Therese Howell, Associate Professor in Mathematics at Stellenbosch University (SU) and Academic Director of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences South Africa (AIMS SA), has been appointed its Executive Director from 1 December 2025. SU is a founder-member of AIMS that was established in 2003. AIMS is a... Read more
Nobel Laureate, entrepreneur and scientist among those to receive honorary doctorates from SU
Stellenbosch University November 12, 2025
Stellenbosch University (SU) has proudly confirmed the names of the exceptional individuals who will receive honorary doctorates at the upcoming graduation ceremonies. The recipients are Nobel Laureate and internationally acclaimed author Prof Abdulrazak Gurnah; disaster management expert Colin Deiner; entrepreneur Chris Otto; pioneering social scientist and epidemiologist Dr Olive Shisana; and innovator Dr... Read more
