Clementine Moreku, who is currently studying for her PhD in Chemistry, recently graduated with her third consecutive qualification Cum Laude at Nelson Mandela University.
“People would ask me why I was studying baboons,” Locadia Dzingwena recalls. “They would say I should choose something more exciting, like lions or elephants. It was discouraging.”
Marrying technology and traditional geoscience, a Nelson Mandela University team has added another critical layer to public safety with a device detecting land subsidence and building foundation issues.
From the mystery of falling apples to the weird behaviour of sub-atomic particles, quantum theory and pure mathematics were brought to life at Nelson Mandela University last week.
Nigerian veterinary researcher Dr Oluwashola Olaolu has found new treatments for brain infections with devastating effects on human lives, fulfilling his quest to contribute to human health solutions in his doctoral research.
Nelson Mandela University's George Campus was abuzz with ululation and pride on Friday as hundreds of graduates crossed the stage at the Furntech Building as the University kicked off its autumn graduation ceremonies.
The ocean is vast, unpredictable, and constantly changing—how do marine predators manage to find food in such an immense environment? They rely on more than just sharp eyesight and instinct, a Nelson Mandela University-led study shows.
Nelson Mandela University’s Centre for Broadband Communication (CBC) is making waves in global astronomy with its cutting-edge optical fibre technology, deployed in the Hydrogen Epoch of Reionisation Array (HERA) Radio Telescope Project at the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) site in Klerefontein.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Dr Linda Harris, research associate at Nelson Mandela University, was selected by The Pew Charitable Trusts as a recipient of the 2025
Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation.
Marine scientist Hannah Truter, a former researcher at Nelson Mandela University, is diving headfirst into a three-year PhD placement at Nord University in Norway.
"Resilience and Sustainability for Smart Cities and Education” was the topic of a three-day workshop hosted by Mandela University in collaboration with the University of Oldenburg, Germany.
Dinosaurs have captured people’s imagination ever since their bones and teeth were first scientifically
described in 1822 by geologist and palaeontologist Gideon Mantell in England.
Two young academics at Nelson Mandela University’s Centre for Broadband Communication (CBC) helped a talented Gqeberha high school innovator to scoop a top bursary and award for an innovative project that impacts the rapidly growing field of 5G technology.
Aspiring entrepreneurs are tapping into innovative and affordable workshops offered in Summerstrand – and learning that beauty means business.
Mandela University George Campus alumnus Shane Jordaan, an experienced forest technician and consultant, recently shared his journey in becoming a fully qualified forest technician, working in Canada, with local students.
A groundbreaking study in the Garden Route has identified highly flammable plant species that significantly increase wildfire risks – an urgent concern as climate change fuels more frequent and intense fires.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Agricultural Management senior lecturer at Mandela University’s George Campus Johan Jordaan was recently awarded with the overall Conference Best Paper Award at the 11th International Conference on Agriculture (Agrico 2024) in Thailand, where 105 research papers were presented.
From success stories among matriculants to enhancing teaching skills and technology-assisted learning and acknowledging student excellence, Mandela University’s Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre (GMMDC) has reason to celebrate the past year.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: PhD student in Mathematics Fundile Nyaweni is the first prize laureate in the Global Challenges University Alliance (GCUA) award for PhD students.
From plants and animals thriving together to earthworm compost and fly larvae and students exposed to aquaculture farming, the School of Natural Resource Management on Mandela University’s George Campus is making a difference in nature conservation and sustainability.
Mandela University’s Forestry Department on George Campus is incorporating entrepreneurship into its curriculum to better prepare students for future opportunities in the forestry industry.
We are now in crisis again because of Donald Trump’s executive order freezing aid. Surely local drug manufacture now needs to be implemented without any further delay?
Despite the urgent national call for improved mathematics proficiency among matriculants, South African public schools continue to grapple with alarming dropout rates and declining STEM subject engagement.
An article entitled "Groundwater Sources: Microbiolite seeps harnessed to monitor aquifer health" on Nelson Mandela University research on the coast linked to Nelson Mandela Bay’s water resources, has been published in the Water Research Commission's Water Wheel newsletter as the cover story.
The Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa was established 94 years ago to protect the last 11 elephants in the Eastern Cape region. Since then, the reserve has expanded to 155,000 hectares and today it’s home to lions, leopards, rhino, buffalo and more than 600 elephants. It also has 16 rivers and 437 wetlands.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Professor Stefan Veldsman, Emeritus Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, was recently awarded the South African Mathematical Award for Research Distinction.
Nelson Mandela University heartily congratulates the matric class of 2024 on their outstanding pass rate of 87.3%. Not only is the pass rate an exceptional achievement, but a historic feat as the country recorded its highest number of matric passes at more than 615 000 learners.
Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: Asithandile Ntsondwa’s academic journey, which began in Mthatha, followed by undergraduate and postgraduate science qualifications at Mandela University, will culminate with a PhD study in Anthropology at New York University (NYU).
Reasons to be Proud: #R2bP - Doctoral student in Chemistry Olwethu Poswayo has won the 2023 Global Challenges University Alliance (GCUA) 2030 award.
A significant meteorite fall in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province on Sunday, 25 August 2024, sparked a collaborative scientific investigation involving several leading universities.
People still have the edge over iPhones and iPads when monitoring and predicting natural disasters, a Nelson Mandela University geologist and his team have discovered.
The doctoral research of Jenske Didloff demonstrates that mushrooms - often overlooked in modern medicine - could provide valuable leads for new tuberculosis (TB) treatments. TB is a serious disease that remains a global health problem.
Dumani Kunjuzwa grew up in a rural village in the Eastern Cape where the first time he used a computer was at university. He recently graduated with his PhD in Computer Science at Nelson Mandela University.
A combination of cannabinoids from the cannabis plant that destroyed breast cancer cells, while leaving healthy cells intact, was the focus of groundbreaking research by Mandela University biochemistry PhD graduate Amy de la Harpe.
“What I produced is the result of my active imagination and my drive to use my education and research skills to respond to real life problems,” says materials science chemist at Nelson Mandela University, Dr Victor Chike Agbakoba.
“Knowing the extent of the mathematics crisis in South Africa, I wanted to evaluate the impact of the Techno-Blended Model (TBM) for self-directed learning at school level, developed by the Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre (GMMDC) at Nelson Mandela University.”
Lecturer in Mathematics, Dr Makhuvha Mulalo, originally from the township called Tshilamba in Mutale, Limpopo, has distinguished herself as the first Black female staff member that holds a doctorate in Mathematics in her department, as well as the first in her family to achieve this milestone.
Toothpaste infused with garlic, horse stable mats made from recycled rubber, a new kind of tablet for tuberculosis, and a water filter that uses hydrogel beads made from seaweed and shells were among the ingenious inventions of Formulation Science Honours students on show this week.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Doctoral students from Nelson Mandela University’s DSI-Mandela Nanomedicine Platform, Zenande Pali (Pharmacy) and Itumeleng Zosela (Physiology) shined at the recent International Conference on Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology in Rome, Italy.
The numbers of forest and savannah elephants have declined by 90% and 70% over the last five decades. This does not bode well for the world’s largest herbivore; however, there is some positive news, as researchers have shown that some populations have reversed this trend – and so we need to learn what works in how to save elephants.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Nelson Mandela University’s Biochemistry and Microbiology postgraduate student team won the “Best Beer label Design” category and R 10 000 at the recent annual national Intervarsity Brewing and Tasting Challenge.
Eighty pupils from Port St Johns and Caguba senior secondary schools received certificates last week after participating in a digital maths programme that began in March.
As South Africa faces a growing challenge in managing the impact of wildfires, Dr Ronald Heath, a leader in environmental and fire management, addressed the 14th Fire Management Symposium in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, emphasizing the critical role of sound fire management practices.
Mandela University’s George Campus, in partnership with key industry stakeholders, is hosting the 14th International Fire Management Symposium focusing on “Educating and Training for Effective Wildfire Management” at the Halliwell Country Inn, Karkloof region in KwaZulu Natal from 6 to 8 November.
A ground-breaking South African forestry symposium brought the latest smart technology from nursery to the field this month in KwaZulu-Natal.
Artificial nests can increase breeding rates of endangered African penguins, a Nelson Mandela University-led study has found.
Nelson Mandela University’s Faculty of Science partnered with leading institutions to bring science to life on 3 to 4 October 2024, during the annual National Science Week (NSW) hosted at Healdtown High School in Fort Beaufort, Eastern Cape.
Senior lecturer and Chemistry Department Head Dr Adeniyi Ogunlaja has been selected for the Future Professors Programme (FPP), an initiative by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
Build on positive initiatives, maintain what we have and harness the power of community.
A holistic, transdisciplinary approach to sustainable wellbeing is needed in order to fast-track the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This was the consensus of speakers at the inaugural Faculty of Science Institutional Public Lecture hosted at Nelson Mandela University’s George Campus last night (25 September 2024).
Nelson Mandela University’s Faculty of Science will host an institutional public lecture under the theme “Social-Ecological Systems” at its George Campus on Wednesday (25 September 2024).
There are currently seven PhD and six masters students, mostly from South Africa, but also from France and Zimbabwe.
We urgently need to know more about the movement of the white shark — not least because of its effect on the survival of the endangered African penguin.
Reasons to be Proud - R2bP: Distinguished Professor in Botany Professor Richard Cowling was recently awarded the 2024 National Research Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. Prof Cowling is also an Honorary Professor in Botany at UCT.
Ndzondelelo High School maths teacher Vuyolwethu Qweqwe has done it again, claiming the coveted title of the province’s best mathematics teacher.
A significant meteorite fall in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province on Sunday, 25 August 2024, sparked a collaborative scientific investigation involving several leading universities. The event, witnessed by residents across a vast area, has led to the recovery of a rare meteorite fragment, provisionally named the "Nqweba Meteorite" after the nearby town of its discovery.
“The world is your oyster; take up as much space as you need. Science is as cool as it gets! It is not reserved for a certain group of people. Pursue all your dreams and break the glass ceiling,” is Sandiso Ngwenya’s message to women and girls.
Samukelisiwe Msweli, a New Generation of Academics Programme (NGAP) lecturer at Mandela University’s George Campus, is making her mark in the Natural Resource Science and Management Cluster, engaging both forestry and nature conservation students in the dynamic fields of forest ecology and fire ecology.
Rhoda Malgas is more than just an academic; she was born and raised as an only child in Mitchell’s Plain on the Cape Flats. Rhoda’s upbringing was profoundly shaped by her parents’ enduring ties to rural areas in the Cederberg (Clanwilliam), the Overberg (Genadendal), and the southern Cape (Mossel Bay and Herbertsdale).
For many women, the rugby journey begins with a love for the game that transcends the boundaries of gender. This was certainly the case for Nokwanda Motha, a postgraduate Forestry student at George Campus.
Mandela University honours student in agricultural sciences Bongeka Gebuza, has turned a gift of four rabbits from her father into a promising farming venture, Khanyisa Agro-Organics Enterprise.
On 29 August PVinsight (Pty) Ltd is hosting its ten-year celebration, attended by leading industry professionals in the solar sector who will experience PVinsight’s mobile labs and testing capabilities, at the new Science Centre on the Ocean Sciences Campus, Nelson Mandela University.
Mandela University doctoral student in Chemistry, Olwethu Poswayo, is not only passionate about her research in biofuels but also strives to mentor and encourage other young women to achieve their dreams.
Born and raised in Alice, Eastern Cape, Itumeleng Zosela exemplifies the spirit of Women's Month. Through her groundbreaking work, Itumeleng aspires to contribute to advancements in cancer treatment and inspire young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields.
Reasons to be Proud- R2bP: Master’s student in Forestry on George Campus, Avelile Cishe is Nelson Mandela University’s Abe Bailey travel bursary winner and representative for 2024. Avelile hails from the small village of Mhlohlozi, Willowvale, in the Eastern Cape, where he was raised by his grandmother, Ndlangi.
From a handful of learners in 2018 in Gqeberha to a massive 32 000 young people from across Africa and Southeast Asia in 2024; this is the incredible growth that the #Coding4Mandela movement has shown in the last few years.
Mandela University Sociology doctoral student Osabuohien Clifford Uwuoruya is the winner of the recent institutional SANORD 3MT competition, with the runner-up and People’s Choice winner Zizipho Mbokazi Ngayeka (Chemistry) and the other People’s Choice winner Ezekiel Majola (Education).
Historically, scientists have used tracking devices (GPS and satellite-linked transmitters) to follow marine life.
Nelson Mandela University’s Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre supports learners and educators in their various sessions to improve STEM subjects at school. These activities included the following in June and July.
Reasons to be Proud -#R2bP: Research Fellow in Nelson Mandela University’s Botany Department and Institute for Coastal and Marine Research (CMR), Dr Daniel Lemley, was recently honoured as one of 11 emerging researchers in the TW Kambule-NSTF Awards category.
Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: Senior Lecturer in Applied Technologies Mark Brand and Senior Lecturer in Computing Sciences Dr Lynette Barnard received top awards at the annual SA Computer Lecturers Association Conference hosted by the University at the Boardwalk.
South Africa has a huge shortage of postgraduate statisticians, mathematicians and physicists. As a result, our universities do not have enough academics and researchers in these fields because many of the postgraduates are snapped up by industry.
A new early-warning sensor that detects the possible structural collapse of buildings and land can potentially save lives and also reduce the heavy cost of repairs and job losses.
Following Tangible Africa’s successful #Coding4Mandela event hosted last year, this year even more young people are being encouraged to code simultaneously – across the globe.
Nelson Mandela University’s Computing Sciences together with the Leva Foundation and Tangible Africa showcased their new coding app Speed Stars, at the Silverstone Family Zone at the recent British Grand Prix.
Amid the push for cannabis legalisation globally and the escalating drug use crisis in Africa, second year PhD student in the Department of Human Physiology at Nelson Mandela University, Musa Aminu, is pursuing critical research and awareness-raising about cannabis use disorders (CUD).
The Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre (GMMDC) at Nelson Mandela University recently hosted a successful inaugural two-day provincial Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education seminar at Kingswood College in Makhanda.
More than 140 enthusiastic in-service Mathematics and Science educators from across the Eastern Cape attended the recent inaugural two-day provincial Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education seminar hosted by Mandela University’s Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre (GMMDC) at Kingswood College in Makhanda.
A Nelson Mandela University (NMU) scientist’s long-term research into water treatment— and the benefit of pineapple leaves — could bag her a prestigious award or three.
Lecturer in the Department of Computing Sciences Dr Ife Fashoro was recently elected Chair of the Institute of IT Professionals (IITPSA) in the Eastern Cape and will be serving on the national Members Council as EC Chapter Chair.
Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: Agricultural Sciences lecturer at Nelson Mandela University, Dr Qinisani Qwabe, has been appointed Chairperson of the Australian-Africa Universities Early Career Researchers Network (AAUECRsN) Forum.
Dr Werner Conradie is a research associate at Nelson Mandela University and Curator of Herpetology at Gqeberha’s Bayworld complex.
Published in the Daily Maverick on 4 May
Lions, elephants, cheetah, leopards, zebra, black wildebeest and blesbuck, all form part of the diverse and challenging projects of four Zoology students, who all graduated with their MSc cum laude at Mandela University’s recent autumn graduation.
A group of local and international guests is visiting George Campus for a two-week long Forest21 student project. This project brings together students from various disciplines across four universities: Nelson Mandela University, as the host, the University of Venda, Stellenbosch University, and Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences.
Predicting solar energy accurately is the focus of Aphiwe Magaya’s Master’s research in the Department of Statistics at Nelson Mandela University. He received his Master’s during the 2024 autumn graduation.
From a young age the first three Master’s graduates in the Department of Human Physiology at Nelson Mandela University have been fascinated about the human body, how it functions and how to heal it.
Receiving her doctoral degree in geology at Nelson Mandela University’s autumn graduation is Carla Dodd. She has been getting to grips with the little understood origin, chemistry and complexity of groundwater from source to sea in the Nelson Mandela Bay region of the Eastern Cape.
Eastern Cape conservationist Werner Conradie’s ground-breaking research in the Okavango Delta has not only yielded eight new species but given us a deeper understanding of the world-renowned area’s critical importance to both human and animal life.
The South African forestry sector’s use of pesticides poses only a low risk to human and environmental health, according to a ground-breaking Nelson Mandela University doctoral study.
Hanna Loubser, the daughter of George Campus couple Sport Manager Hugo and Corita from Maintenance and Support Services, started her journey at Mandela University at Open Day 2008. Nature Conservation student Willem Matthee formed part of her experience.
A highlight in its annual calendar, Nelson Mandela University kicked off its autumn graduation season with two sessions at its George Campus, in the Western Cape, on Friday (05 April 2024).
A total of 24 first graduates from the new BSc Honours Natural Resource Management are graduating today 5 April at the University’s George Campus.
The latest method of Electroluminescence (EL) testing of solar modules/panels for large PV plants is a huge game-changer for business and industry in South Africa.
Mandela University and Tangible Africa’s landmark international educational research project was recently launched in Ireland for all primary schools in the Republic of Ireland to receive a free offline digital technology kit.
Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: Asithandile Ntsondwa’s academic journey, which began in Mthatha, followed by undergraduate and postgraduate science qualifications at Mandela University, will culminate with a PhD study in Anthropology at New York University (NYU).
The Tangible Africa team at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa is a small group of passionate people working to change the narrative for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
With most of the students enrolled at Nelson Mandela University coming from outside of Gqeberha, and close to 20 000 students living in on-campus and off-campus residences, settling into university life can be a major adjustment.
Few plants conjure up the Australian bush better than banksias, whose beautiful flowers are irresistible to honeyeater birds, small marsupials and nature lovers.
Since an article on Jean Greyling’s mission to provide bursaries for bright young minds was published in DM168’s holiday edition, he has already managed to link some readers with students who need help.
Reasons to be Proud: #R2bP - Doctoral student in Chemistry Olwethu Poswayo has won the 2023 Global Challenges University Alliance (GCUA) 2030 award.
The Department of Chemistry is part of an international project aimed at greening LPG fossil fuel gas in southern Africa.
A prototype of a mobile greenhouse that can grow anything all year round has earned an award for Nelson Mandela University geoscience lecturer Dr Gaathier Mahed, who is passionate about food security and sustainability.
Human-elephant conflict (HEC) is a prevailing issue in protected areas across Africa, threatening the livelihood of the human communities, vulnerable to this conflict and the persistence of elephant populations.
“As a career (and also a lifestyle) we aspire to actively protect nature, whether through rescuing and stabilising wildlife in need, conducting research or raising environmental awareness through education”.
Reasons to be Proud #R2bP - Distinguished Professor in Botany Richard Cowling has received a Gold Medal from the ASSAf Academy of Science, the apex awards of the Academy and the South African science system in recognition of outstanding achievements by individuals.
Reasons to be Proud #R2bP - Nelson Mandela University and its tangible coding partner took top honours at a recent prestigious national ICT Awards ceremony.
Theoreticians and experimentalists from the Joint Institute of Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, Russia, and researchers based at South African universities and iThemba LABS, will join one another at the second SA-JINR workshop on theory and computation in Gqebera.
Professor Werner Olivier, Director of the Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre (GMMDC), together with Dr Kristof Fenyvesi, senior researcher at the Finnish Institute for Educational Research (FIER) recently presented two papers at conferences in Finland and Norway.
Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: Nelson Mandela University’s Centre for High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (CHRTEM) received a prize for the best poster presentation by Professor Mike Lee at the 20th International Microscopy Conference (IMC) held in Busan, Korea.
Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: PhD student in Physiology Itumeleng Zosela won first place in the in the Audio Category of the Young Science Communicator's Competition 2022 edition, with her study focusing on using plant materials for colon cancer treatment.
Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: Mandela University doctoral researcher Mia Strand claimed the second runner-up position in the national Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, hosted in South Africa by the University of the Free State. She also took the runner-up position at the institutional level at Mandela University, where eight students were selected to compete.
Nelson Mandela University was extensively featured on WoodBiz, WoodBiz Africa is the only digital B2B trade journal for the forestry, sawmilling, timber construction, wood products, engineered board products, furniture and woody biomass industries in Southern and East Africa, particularly page 3 to 5, 10, and 43 to 47 where our HoD her colleagues were featured.
Nelson Mandela University is at the forefront of inclusive education and coding through its pioneering initiative, the Tangible Africa programme, which began as a mobile app developed by Byron Batteson for his honours project in Computer Science at Nelson Mandela University.
Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: Mandela University’s Lodewikus Vorster, a master’s student in chemistry and researcher at the engineering innovation hub eNtsa, recently won the IOM3 (Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining) Young Persons' Lecture Competition South Africa. He will now represent the country at the worldwide competition final next month.
Climate change, its effects and responses, careers in physics, science diplomacy and medical physics were some of the deliberations at the recent biennial African Conference on Fundamental and Applied Physics (ACP2023).
Selected MathArt works from Nelson Mandela University’s GMMDC South African project with links to global sustainability themes are currently exhibited in a public art museum in Jyväskylä, Finland, until April 2024.
Reasons to be Proud R2bP: Five Mandela University academics took the top awards at the recent 16th International Business Conference (IBC 2023) in Swakopmund, Namibia. In addition, the top awarded paper showed that ChatGPT could pass an MBA in South Africa.
Reasons to be Proud #R2bP - Senior researcher at Mandela University’s Photovoltaics Research Group Dr Jacqui Crozier McCleland has been awarded the Best Poster Award at the recent 40th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference (EUPVSEC) in Lisbon, Portugal.
Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: Mandela University master’s student in Geosciences Bamanye Takashe won first prize for his poster at the Worldwide Congress of International Association of Hydrogeologists in Cape Town.
A predictive scoring system aimed at improving care of intensive care unit (ICU) patients at Livingstone Hospital in Gqeberha may become a national gold standard, assisting medical professionals with making informed choices in critical situations – particularly in public health care settings.
Scores of physics scholars from around Africa and the world have descended on Nelson Mandela University’s George Campus for the third biennial African Conference on Fundamental and Applied Physics (ACP2023) from 25-30 September 2023.
Mandela University is offering a new BSc Honours programme focused on Sustainable natural resource management.
South Africa's white shark population is not in decline but migrating to survive.
While the ocean remains one of the most mysterious entities on earth, a group of KwaNobuhle high school pupils are doing more than simply scratching the surface to understand some of its secrets.
Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: Mandela University’s distinguished professor Janine Adams and doctoral student Carla Dodd both received awards in recognition for their groundbreaking water research at the recent South African Women in Science Awards ceremony.
Given the resource scramble for our oceans and the use of increasingly sophisticated technology for exploration, mining and fishing on an industrial scale, we urgently need transformative ocean governance because business-as-usual is destroying our oceans. The first step is to establish a set of principles towards achieving this transformation.
Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: Mandela University master’s student in Zoology Ryan Forbes was awarded the prize for the Best MSc Student presentation at the recent Southern African Wildlife Management Association Conference.
Professor Amanda Lombard holds the SARChI Chair in Marine Spatial Planning at Nelson Mandela University and is lead author of a seminal article title 'Principles for transformative ocean governance', published on 7 September in the leading international journal, Nature Sustainability.
Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: PhD student in Geosciences Carla Dodd from Nelson Mandela University has recently received an NRF (National Research Foundation) Research Excellence Award for her pioneering research on groundwater resources.
All countries have a variety of water resources – some are on the surface, like rivers, and some are beneath the ground. This groundwater provides almost 50% of all global domestic use and 43% of all the water used for agriculture.
Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: Nelson Mandela University partnered with more than 20 countries in the planet’s most comprehensive assessment of how marine plastic exposure is impacting oceanic birds and biodiversity.
Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: Nelson Mandela University postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Chemistry, Dr Mapokolo Phiri, has been selected to represent South Africa and participate at the 52nd IUPAC General Assembly, as an IUPAC Young Observer at The Hague, Netherlands.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: PhD students Alice Bernard and Laura Lacomme, based on Mandela University’s George Campus, respectively, received the first and third young researcher prizes, from the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) in France, for their work aligning with renowned primatologist Dr Jane Goodall’s philosophy.
Had Nelson Mandela University opted to use its own resources to set up the solar energy plant on its main campus, it would have cost about R16m. Instead, it opted for a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and did not pay a cent upfront.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Making South Africa and Nelson Mandela University proud, Professor Janet Wesson from the Department of Computing Sciences at Nelson Mandela University recently received a prestigious international award.
Nelson Mandela University and its engagement partners, Tangible Africa and the Leva Foundation are gearing up to host 10 000 youth in a coding tournament, titled #Coding4Mandela on Mandela Day.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Three master’s students and a post-doctorate candidate from Mandela University’s Palaeoecology Lab will present their research at conferences in Rome and Berlin later this month.
Mandela University’s Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre (GMMDC) is well-known for their research, development, and engagement work in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) and STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics).
The City of Cape Town says 26 of its libraries will participate in the Mandela Day Coding Tournament, as part of this year’s Mandela Day celebrations.
Some 3002 learners, mainly in matric, from 57 schools across the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, and their educators, collaborated in a science outreach programme hosted in the Vhembe District by Nelson Mandela University and the University of Venda (UNIVEN) from 2 to 5 May 2023.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: PhD Physiology student at Mandela University Itumeleng Zosela is one of four South African students that have been accepted to join the Novartis and University of Basel Next Generation Scientist Internship Program in Switzerland over three months from June to August 2023.
Pollen is one of the most powerful tools for reconstructing environmental change because it is perfectly preserved in sediments for as long as plants have been on Earth.
Top achievers in Forestry, Wood Technology and Veldfire Management were recognised for their excellence in the Diploma and Higher Certificate studies at a special awards ceremony recently held on George Campus in conjunction with the George graduation ceremony.
South Africa and seemingly the rest of the world is experiencing a shortage of software developers.
With a powerful biorefinery to process microalgae as a renewable, health-giving resource, Nelson Mandela University's InnoVenton/DCTS innovates and develops products for the energy, pharmaceutical, agriculture and food sectors.
A call for a community of practice.
Empowerment through Participation: Take Part in The Africanisation-Decolonisation Project at Nelson Mandela University (AFDEP-NMU) Survey.We would like to welcome you to participate in our AFDEP-NMU survey, which will assist us in exploring and developing a set of conceptual and programmatic criteria for the project.
South Africa is known for its rich biodiversity, attracting tourists from all over the world. However, protecting this precious asset is a complex task, says Lize von Staden, who received her PhD in Botany at Nelson Mandela University’s Autumn Graduation.
Working in collaboration with medical practitioners at Livingstone Hospital, statistics lecturer at Mandela University Dr Sisa Pazi, has contributed to quality and benchmarking at the hospital with his statistical model for his PhD in Statistics.
When Dr Hlanganani Siphelele Nyembe was a child in Mahujini, a village in Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal in the 1990s, he saw Eskom employees installing power lines in his village. It was his dream to work for them.
End-of-life rubber tyres from motor vehicles are a huge waste problem in South Africa. The recycling challenge is to devulcanise (soften) the rubber in these tyres in an eco-friendly manner so that it can be recovered and re-used in new tyres and other products.
Diabetes and obesity can be successfully treated with cannabis but only if the correct dosage for the individual patient is used. This is one of the crucial findings of a doctoral degree study at Nelson Mandela University.
Nelson Mandela University recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) renewing their commitment to a mutually beneficial and equitable partnership, which will advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Discoveries of aquifers – underground earth formations that hold water – often create excitement around their ability to ease water scarcity in a region.
Building a giant geodesic dome or a soccer ball takes just as much maths as art – as hundreds of Grade 10 to 12 learners are discovering for themselves at three interactive workshops in the Eastern Cape this month, introducing them to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) education.
A Nelson Mandela University professor has been selected as one of two African mentors for an elite global mentorship programme.
A Nelson Mandela University professor has been selected as one of two African mentors for an elite global mentorship programme.
Some people are annoyed when they encounter a fresh pile of dung while out on a walk in nature. Others are excited because it points to the recent visit of a particular kind of animal. But some scientists, myself included, may just be disappointed that the dung isn’t fossilised.
Marine ecosystems have a valuable role to play in mitigating the effects of climate change.
Journalists and scientists often speak at cross purposes – even a “different language”. Are there ways for them to understand each other better in the interests of the public good?
A Nelson Mandela University professor has been selected as one of two African mentors for an elite global mentorship programme.
Did you know that Africa is home to some of the world’s earliest mathematical systems? Apart from the sophisticated maths that went into building Egypt’s pyramids, artefacts found across the continent indicate that ancient African civilizations were using maths in their daily lives.
As the drought in Nelson Mandela Bay worsens, we are plagued by water-related questions. Carla Dodd is a PhD candidate in the Geosciences Department at the Nelson Mandela University and is currently working on answering some of these questions.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Francois Swanepoel, a Geosciences honours student at Mandela University, recently won the “best research poster” at the 17th biannual South African Geophysical Association conference.
Through science we are looking at the future and contributing positively to the protection of our complex natural environment and physical systems for the benefit of all life, including humankind.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Geosciences postgraduate student, Bamanye Takashe, was instrumental in guiding two high school learners to winning medals at the prestigious Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF) held recently.
World Wetlands Day is commemorated on 2 February and the theme for this year is restoration and the urgent need to prioritise degraded wetlands that need revival.
Vuyani Chipunza never expected to become a maths and science celebrity, but these days he is stopped in the streets by learners asking if he is “that Vuyani from Yebo Tutor”.
Nelson Mandela University’s Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre recently participated in an international conference and co-hosted a national congress on Maths and Science Education.
Marine ecosystems have a valuable role to play in mitigating the effects of climate change.
The class of 2022 BSc Honours in Formulation Students showed their mettle at their recent year-end showcase, presenting the products that they have formulated during their year in the programme.
Despite his father’s wish for him to be become a mine worker, Khulekani Yakobi (30) has managed to become an academic, and will be graduating with a PhD in Computing Science and Information Systems at Nelson Mandela University on 12 December.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Master’s student in Mathematics, Ruan Olivier (26) has won the prestigious S2A3 (Southern Africa Association for the Advancement of Science) Medal for the best masters in 2021 in science.
Although we think COVID-19 has gone, our wastewater tells a different story.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Finding ways to treat diabetes using indigenous knowledge about natural remedies has won Dr Nehemiah Latolla of Nelson Mandela University the top place in the FameLab International science communication competition.
Three speakers from Brazil as well as participants from Chile, Finland, France, Latvia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sierra Leone, Pakistan, China and Austria formed part of a webinar at Mandela University’s Forestry Department.
Nelson Mandela University is gearing up to host one of the most globally recognised scientific schools – the 7th Biennial African School of Fundamental Physics and Application (ASP2022) – in Gqeberha from 28 November until 09 December 2022.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Tangible Africa, a local organisation that spreads offline coding skills to primary and high school learners across the continent, has received a prestigious accolade from the African Union.
Matthew 25 is a well-known scripture referring to Jesus challenging us as his followers to reach out to those who are hungry and thirsty, without clothes and in jail.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Mandela University master’s in Physics student, Luchian Pullen recently won a poster presentation prize for his research at the 21st Student Symposium in the Natural Sciences at North-West University.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: The Federation of Commonwealth Chemical Sciences Societies recently announced the 25 prize winners in its third, annual online poster event, with Mandela Uni’s Dr Nehemiah Latolla being selected as a winner.
Mandela University will host some of the Nobel in Africa Symposia Series outreach activities as part of The Nobel in Africa, a special Initiative of the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS).
Diabetes is the second leading cause of death due to disease in SA, after tuberculosis. Finding ways to treat diabetes using indigenous knowledge about natural remedies has won Dr NehemiahLatolla of Nelson Mandela University a place on the world stage of science communicators.
“Mathematics the language of the sciences” was the theme for the fifth annual National MathArt Competition organised by Nelson Mandela University’s Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre (GMMDC).
There are nearly 240,000 protected areas globally, yet we have a growing number of endangered species. This conundrum troubles leading conservation ecologist Prof Graham Kerley.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Mandela University postdoctoral fellow, Dr Nehemiah Latolla, has been selected as a finalist in the South African leg of the international science competition, FameLab.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: The Southern African Wildlife Management Association recently awarded its prestigious “Wildlife Excellence Award” to Nelson Mandela University’s Prof Graham Kerley of the Zoology Department and Director of the Centre for African Conservation Ecology.
Professor Nadine Strydom stumbled upon a novel way to tackle the problem of collapsing coastal fishes populations, thanks to a radio show and a red traffic light.
This year is the centenary of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics of which South Africa is one of the 13 founding members, and which has 60 member countries.
All of our lives are increasingly impacted by global sustainability challenges. We are living in a historical time in which the world labours under multiple pandemics, including leadership crises, poverty, inequality, hunger, environmental degradation, racism and other forms of discrimination. Not least of these is the widespread pathologizing of all that is Africa and African.
All of our lives are increasingly impacted by global sustainability challenges. We are living in a historical time in which the world labours under multiple pandemics, including leadership crises, poverty, inequality, hunger, environmental degradation, racism and other forms of discrimination
As higher education institutions we have to partner with schools to encourage more girl and boy learners to study maths and science. South African universities are not seeing sufficient enrolments in these subjects which are critical for research, innovation and the future of work.
During a water shortage, water-saving strategies are widely communicated by municipalities to encourage minimal domestic use.
What is the role of Physics in society?” This question was tabled at this year’s annual conference of the South African Institute of Physics (SAIP 2022), which Nelson Mandela University's Physics department hosted earlier this month.
The addition of herbal teas to a healthy lifestyle could well add a few more good years to your life says Nelson Mandela University cellular biochemist, Professor Maryna van de Venter.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Lecturer in Chemistry at Mandela University, Dr Zikhona Tywabi-Ngeva, has won the best, in-person speaker award at the 14th Green Chemistry Postgraduate Summer School (GCPSS) in Venice, Italy.
In a first of its kind for the African region, over 5 000 learners from all nine provinces in South Africa as well as African countries, including Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Zambia, will be #Coding4Mandela on July 18.
A group of postgraduate students from the Botany Department are currently in Spain participating in a Palaeoecology Workshop at the University of León.
Any organism out of place from its natural environment will always intrigue an ecologist. In the Tabasco region of Mexico at least 131 species of plants that normally occur at the coast were recently discovered in an inland lake 170 km from the sea.
Nelson Mandela University’s School of Engineering recently supported ocean research with airborne drones and a kite borne surveillance system to study marine mammals up close - not possible from the research ship.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Mandela University Chemistry lecturer, Dr Gletwyn Rubidge, once again took top honours at the SA Pool Freediving Nationals held in Gqeberha last month.
Marine Spatial Planning research at Nelson Mandela University is continuing to make waves with new research including the impacts of the pandemic on coastal tourism.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: BSc Honours in Botany student Marishka Govender, has been selected as one of 20 young scientists to attend a Science Communication conference in Germany this July.
The first-ever Unplugged Coding Competition for primary school coding clubs in Nelson Mandela Bay was hosted on Friday (June 10) at Summerwood Primary School.
It’s been said that the next world war may well be fought over water. Countries are already pulling political pranks to secure inflow from upstream across their borders, while entrepreneurs scramble for first place in the race to offer solutions to a thirsty, embattled Eastern Cape.
Where have all the African penguins at St Croix Island gone?
Nelson Mandela University’s Physics Department recently expanded its already comprehensive range of world-class facilities for semiconductor research and development. From synthesis to characterisation and limited device processing and testing, these facilities are unique in the country and Africa.
Smart cities could have great impact, but involving every citizen, at every level, is key to ensuring that ‘smart’ means nobody is left behind, according to research by a Nelson Mandela University academic.
Isuzu Motors South Africa has teamed up with Mandela University’s MobiTutorZA Academy programme to help Grade 12s ace maths.
The beautiful Garden Route natural landscape is undoubtedly one of the biggest assets of the George Campus of the Nelson Mandela University.
South African universities need to be globally competitive to attract partnerships, investment and top academic staff and students.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: two Mandela University professors have been recognised by the Institute of Information Technology Professionals of South Africa (IITPSA).
Most of the Eastern Cape’s Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Metro and the adjacent Kouga Municipality will soon run out of water.
We have to work out how to share our oceans between a mounting number of stakeholders in a manner that values and conserves our rich marine resources. Professor Mandy Lombard is finding a way, Heather Dugmore reports.
Kahl Kritzinger is the first Mechatronics graduate to also obtain an MSc in Computer Science at Nelson Mandela University, and cum laude to boot!
Using the principles of international law and the regulatory systems in Germany and the UK, the PhD study of Roelof van Huyssteen proposed a new renewable energy statute for South Africa to promote environmental, economic and social development and to assist South Africa towards a just transition.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Jean Greyling, Associate Professor in the Department of Computing Sciences at Mandela University, has been awarded the 2021 Distinguished Service in ICT Award.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: The work of the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in collaboration with Mandela University’s Photovoltaic Research Group, presented at the 16th Photovoltaic Science, Applications and Technology Conference (PVSAT-16) was awarded Best Poster for its poster and conference paper.
New Business Development Manager at the Transnet National Ports Authority, Nozipho Booi, is the first MPhil in Maritime Studies graduate at this year’s Autumn Graduation at Nelson Mandela University.
Phozisa Dlokweni (aka Phozy) an Eastern Cape born student from Ngceleni village, and the last-born daughter amongst her four siblings, will graduate with her MSc in Forestry (cum laude) at the George Campus graduation ceremony this week.
Emily and Samantha McCulloch-Jones, will both graduate with a PhD in Nature Conservation at Nelson Mandela University’s George Campus Ceremony on 8 April.
At the end of 2021, more than 23,000 matriculants in the Eastern Cape failed maths, along with thousands more across SA.
The largest research project ever undertaken by multiple nations, using tracking data of seabirds and mammals over the entire Southern Ocean, is calling for conservation areas to be urgently established.
Computational and data science is a new essential language, and all students and graduates today need to be versed in computational thinking and data-handling skills.
Piloted for the first time last year, Nelson Mandela University’s Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre has extended its incubator school programme to assist past matriculants, giving them a second chance to pass their exams or improve their marks.
The state-of-the-art Albertina Nontsikelelo Sisulu Science Centre was launched in Cofimvaba in the Eastern Cape on October 6, and from its conceptualisation the faculty of science at Nelson Mandela University was deeply involved.
The research of Nelson Mandela University student Itumeleng Zosela introduces an innovative treatment, namely nanoparticles, which are only toxic to cancer cells and not normal cells. The treatments currently available have severe side effects, damaging normal cells and not only the colon cancer cells.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Mandela Uni Geosciences PhD student, Carla Dodd, was selected for the specialised African/German field training programme (Train-ME2) as part of a group of only eight postgraduate students from across Africa.
Under the umbrella of celebrating excellence, Nelson Mandela University recognised its top academic, professional, administrative and service staff in the categories of research, teaching, engagement, creative outputs and institutional support on 23 November.
Reasons to be Proud – R2bP#: Computing Sciences honours student, Marco Venter, has developed a smart phone security app that is already creating waves in Germany and the United States.
Mathematics and science are often considered the two most difficult school subjects that are so often avoided by students, yet they can have a significant impact on what a learner can do when they leave school.
What is being offered as schooling in rural South Africa is not nearly good enough and we need to stand together as communities to create something better; create community schools that produce top-achieving learners based on a culture of learning and teaching.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Two Mandela Uni Geosciences students won awards at the recent three-day annual Groundwater Conference in South Africa, attended in person and online by professionals and students involved in groundwater-related issues.
Reasons to be proud - #R2bP: Computing Sciences student, Amica de Jager, walked away with an arm full of medals at the recent DHL Lifesaving South Africa National Championships which took place in Gqeberha.
The 2021 Nobel prize in physics, shared by three laureates, means the conversation about climate change should no longer be about debating the science itself or whether climate change is real, but rather on what we should be doing about it.
Four student academic award recipients at the recent virtual annual academic student awards ceremony are top achievers in the world of computers and numbers.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Dr Lorien Pichegru, a marine biologist at Mandela University and Acting Director of the Coastal and Marine Research Institute, has received the Chevalier de l’Ordre du Merite (Knight of the Order of Merit) award from the ambassador of France in SA.
The aquaponics project on Nelson Mandela University’s Missionvale Campus is an example of how the university is working with private enterprise, a non-profit organisation and schools in the area to grow food sustainably all year round.
The symmetry of a face, the angles of a city skyline, the way fireflies start flickering in unison: Mathematical shapes and patterns are all around us – and they can take our breath away.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Metro and adjacent Kouga Municipality will soon run out of water.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Professor in Computing Sciences at Mandela University, Jean Greyling, has been selected as one of ten winners in the Future Learning category of the international, Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs of the Year 2021.
Dr Zikhona Tywabi-Ngeva is a finalist in The Herald Citizens of the Year Awards in partnership with Nelson Mandela University.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Mandela University Chemistry lecturer, Dr Gletwyn Rubidge, once again broke a national record at the AIDA Freediving World Cup held in Egypt last month.
With the University having to come up with all kinds of innovative ways to save water in this water crisis, the Botany Department has implemented a closed water distilling system for their research needs, saving an enormous amount of water.
It took a village to get her over the finish line, but for Arcadia resident Anthea van der Hoogen, finally obtaining her doctorate was well worth the battle.
Florian Orgeret (Marine Apex Predator Research Unit), Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa) and colleagues have published in the Journal of Animal Ecology on tracking globally Vulnerable Wandering Albatrosses at sea from Marion and Possession Islands’
The Nelson Mandela University computing sciences department is one of the main role players in a new global family tech programme created by Amazon Web Services.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Mandela University Chemistry lecturer, Dr Gletwyn Rubidge, broke two national records and matched a third at the Freediving World Cup held in Egypt last month.
In recognition of his own past, Azwinndini Muronga has brought STEM enrichment opportunities to youth in remote, underserved towns and villages.
Humans delight in creating patterns in the sand, and more than 100,000 years ago it would appear we were no different.
As SA heralds Gqeberha’s Aspen Pharmacare for producing 30 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, a chemistry professor in the same city is quietly hoping to take the drug story much further.
“My granny is my inspiration and motivation”, says 21 year old Avelile Lutho Cishe, a cum laude Forestry graduate from Idutywa in the Eastern Cape.
“Guys I did it, who would have thought a girl from the farm could achieve such immaculate grades”, posted Tematfombeni on her social media page as she bagged 22 distinctions out of 30 modules in her four-year academic journey.
Zoology Master’s graduate Hendrik du Toit overcame the challenging trials of doing a field and laboratory-based research project during the lockdown of 2020, to graduate cum laude at Nelson Mandela University’s April Graduation.
The Zoology honours class of 2020 who will obtain their degrees at this year’s Autumn Graduation, achieved a new record for Zoology honours with a 100% pass rate and 67% of the class passing cum laude.
A coding app has exposed thousands of pupils from disadvantaged areas to computer programming without the need of a computer or a teacher.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Mandela University Computing Sciences Distinguished Professor, Andre Calitz, has been honoured with a Distinguished Service in ICT Award at the 2020 Institute of IT Professionals South Africa (IITPSA) President's Awards.
The Eastern Cape Department of Health has identified eight cities and towns as the origin of 44 coronavirus cases that were imported into the province over the past two weeks, as active cases rose by 18.2%.
The third COVID-19 wave is due to hit the two big Eastern Cape metros of Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City by the end of March/beginning of April. This is sooner than expected and we are confident of the prediction as it is based on a range of local and regional data and on a year of national modelling, from the time that COVID-19 hit South Africa in March 2020.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Mandela University scientists from the Centre for High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy, have been awarded the annual prize for the 2020 best paper in the field of Applied Physics Research from the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Russia.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Mandela University’s Department of Computing Sciences has received funding from The British Council Creative Commission as part of Project-ArC – an international consortium of 12 universities that will collaborate to deploy local initiatives for Climate Change accountability and responsibility.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Dr Chris Oosthuizen, a Nelson Mandela University postdoctoral fellow hosted by Prof Pierre Pistorius, was recently awarded a prestigious CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) Scientific Scholarship.
Following the celebration of woman in science, we caught up with George Campus, PhD Forestry student, Noxolo Ndlovu, to hear from her what bearing this day has to her as a female in the industry.
When Klaus Schwab, the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, coined the phrase ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ (4IR), he argued that this new industrial revolution would happen at an exponential pace, and that new technologies would change society in unpredictable ways.
Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Mandela University Geosciences lecturer Navashni Naidoo, has been awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study towards her PhD at the University of Illinois in the Unites States.
The two subjects that most matric learners fear and dread are mathematics and science – and often these are the two subjects that cause learners either to fail their year, or miss out on a university pass.
Five professors at Nelson Mandela University have received the prestigious title of Distinguished Professor, which entails an elevated status in recognition of their dedication and commitment to their field of expertise.
Emeritus and distinguished Botany Professor, Richard Cowling, published a position essay on biodiversity conservation in response to an invitation from the world’s most prestigious science institution, The Royal Society (London).
MAPRU postdoc Chris Oosthuizen was awarded a prestigious CCAMLR Scientific Scholarship (2021–2022) to develop monitoring indices that can quantify functional responses of penguins to changes in their prey field. This work is a precursor to developing new monitoring parameters using marine predators such as penguins to improve ecosystem-based feedback management of fisheries.
Nearly two-thirds of schools in SA lack computer labs. One professor has found a way to fill the gap.
AN unwavering commitment to water conservation culminated in a doctorate for a Southern Cape academic, whose lifelong dream to change her world through education began under an avocado tree two decades ago.
An unwavering commitment to water conservation culminated in a doctorate for a Southern Cape academic, whose lifelong dream to change her world through education began under an avocado tree two decades ago.