Environmental Sciences & Management NWU

09/02/2026

🌍 Advancing clean air research and leadership

The North West Branch of the National Association for Clean Air (NACA) held its branch meeting, featuring a presentation by Prof. Volker Wulfmeyer.

Prof. Wulfmeyer has devoted his career to understanding the fundamental processes connecting the Earth’s surface and atmosphere. His research focuses particularly on the exchange of water, energy, and momentum between soil, vegetation, and the atmospheric boundary layer; and how these processes influence clouds, precipitation, and extreme weather.

The UESM is also proud to congratulate Dr. Niké Wesch on her appointment as the new Chair of the North West NACA Branch. We wish her every success in this important leadership role! 👏


NWU FNAS Student Chapter NWU Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences NWU Climatology Research Group_CRG NWU Forb Ecology Research Group - FERG NWU Forb Ecology Research Group - FERG NWU - North-West University NWU Microbiology

09/02/2026

🌍 The UESM is proud to share this insightful discussion featuring Prof. Christo Coetzee from the African Centre for Disaster Studies. Listen as he explores the risks associated with melting glaciers and the lessons Nepal offers for disaster preparedness in a warming world.

🌍 ACDS in the Media

Prof. Christo Coetzee from the African Centre for Disaster Studies recently joined John Maytham on CapeTalk to discuss the deadly flooding in Nepal and Tibet.

The conversation explored the causes of these events, the role of climate change, and how inadequate monitoring and early-warning systems can increase the risks faced by vulnerable communities. Prof. Coetzee also highlighted the need for more proactive measures to help prevent and reduce the impact of similar disasters in the future.

🎧 Listen to the full interview here:
https://omny.fm/shows/the-john-maytham-show/melting-glaciers-rising-risks-what-nepal-can-teach-us-about-a-warming-world


NWU - North-West University Environmental Sciences & Management NWU NWU Climatology Research Group_CRG NWU Water Research Group NWU Forb Ecology Research Group - FERG NWU FNAS Student Chapter

09/01/2026

🌱🌸 Hello, Spring! 🌸🌱

A new season has officially arrived!

This Spring Day, 1 September, we celebrate new beginnings, fresh ideas, and the incredible environment around us; from the smallest signs of new life to the bigger systems that keep our planet thriving. 🌍

From all of us at the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management (UESM), we wish you a Happy Spring Day and a blooming great season ahead! 🌼🐝

08/27/2026

🌱 POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY

The NWU's Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management (UESM) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position in Plant Photosynthesis and Crop Ecophysiology, under the supervision of Prof. Jacques Berner.

The three-year fellowship is based in Potchefstroom and will focus on research into the photosynthetic responses of crops to drought, heat, and related environmental stresses.

📅 Application deadline: 2 October 2026
📆 Appointment: ASAP
💰 Stipend: R320 000 per annum (tax-free)
🔬 Research funding: R40 000 per annum

See the attached advertisement for the full requirements, responsibilities, and application information.

📧 Applications and inquiries: [email protected]
Subject line: PDRF application

Please share this opportunity with suitable candidates and within your research networks.



NWU FNAS Student Chapter NWU Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences NWU - North-West University NWU Green Team NWU Microbiology NWU: Green Campus Initiatives

08/19/2026

🥂🎓 Conference Gala Dinner | Celebrating Our Students! ✨

After two inspiring days of research, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, the 3rd UESM Postgraduate Conference 2026 came to a memorable close with our Conference Gala Dinner.

The evening was an opportunity to celebrate the success of the conference and, most importantly, the hard work, dedication, and achievements of our postgraduate students. 🌿🎓

🏆 Congratulations to our 2026 prize winners!

MSc Poster Presentation
🥇 Kayla Kritzinger
🥈 Tarren Harrison
🥉 Bonolo Mofokeng
🏅 Liam Webster
🏅 Abraham Ryke

MSc Short Oral Presentation
🥇 Karin Kooij
🥈 Jonathan Mark Birch
🥉 Yolanda Makgale
🏅 Zander Arthur Coetzee
🏅 Carla Fourie

PhD Poster Presentation
🥇 Jody Howard
🥈 Marcel Kruger
🥉 Aimée Dumont

PhD Short Oral Presentation
🥇 Chandra le Roux
🥈 Lungile Mlangeni
🥉 Karabo Makgaretse

PhD Full Oral Presentation
🥇 Tiaan Botha
🥈 Nolwandle Nolen Khumalo
🥉 Frans Labuschagne

✨ Special Recognition

The evening also included two special recognition prizes for students who stood out through their enthusiasm, engaging presence, and memorable personalities throughout the conference. Selected by the organising committee and Separations, congratulations to:

🌟 Duan van der Vyver
🌟 Njabulo Luyanda Mahlobo

A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors and suppliers for supporting the conference and helping us recognise and reward our students. Your contribution to the success of the event is greatly appreciated.

And, most importantly, thank you to every postgraduate student who participated. Whether you presented a full talk, short talk or poster, you helped make this conference a true celebration of the incredible research taking place across UESM and all three NWU campuses.

To all our winners and participants- congratulations! 👏🎉

✨ Here’s to our students, their achievements, and the exciting research shaping our future! 🥂🌍🎓



NWU - North-West University NWU FNAS Student Chapter NWU Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences NWU Water Research Group African Amphibian Conservation Research Group NWU Forb Ecology Research Group - FERG NWU Climatology Research Group_CRG African Centre for Disaster Studies (ACDS), NWU NWU Microbiology NWU Green Team Marelize Marsay Willie Cloete Marliese Truter

08/19/2026

🌱 POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY | NWU

Are you passionate about soil ecology, plant ecology and sustainable agricultural systems? 🌾🔬

The Agrobiology Lab at the North-West University (NWU) invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Fellowship focusing on Soil Ecology in Agricultural Landscapes.

📍 Based in: Potchefstroom
📅 Contract: 3 years, subject to annual performance reviews
💰 Stipend: R320 000 per annum (tax-free)
🚚 Relocation: R20 000 once-off relocation fee
🗓️ Application deadline: 28 August 2026
🎓 Appointment: September 2026

We are looking for a researcher with a strong background in soil and plant ecology, advanced R skills, and a passion for producing impactful research that contributes to soil health and agroecosystem sustainability.

See the attached advertisement for the full requirements and application details.

📩 Applications and inquiries:
Prof. Gerhard Du Preez
[email protected]

Please share this opportunity with researchers in your network who may be interested! 🌍🌱



NWU - North-West University NWU FNAS Student Chapter NWU Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences NWU Green Team

08/18/2026

🎓🌿 UESM Postgraduate Conference 2026 | Day 2

On 5 August 2026, we wrapped up the academic programme of the 3rd UESM Postgraduate Conference with another inspiring day of research, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.

Day 2 began with an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Ché Weldon, followed by a presentation from the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation. Later in the morning, we welcomed Inqaba Biotec for a sponsor talk, bringing valuable industry perspectives and opportunities to our postgraduate researchers.

Our students once again showcased the incredible diversity of research taking place within UESM, with presentations spanning:

🌍 Earth System Sciences, Soils & Resources
🌦️ Climate Change, Air Quality & Impacts
🌱 Environmental Management
🐝 Ecological Interactions & Ecosystem Resilience
💧 Aquatic Ecosystem Health
🦋 Biodiversity & Conservation Ecology
🐛 Integrated Pest Management
🌪️ Disaster Risk Science

The presentations explored a fascinating range of topics – from climate variability, agricultural resilience and biodiversity conservation to groundwater systems, nanomaterial toxicity, air quality, environmental management, geological processes and disaster risk. The academic programme concluded with a final poster session, providing another opportunity for students to share their work and engage with fellow researchers.

✨ Across both days, the conference highlighted the breadth, depth, and interdisciplinary nature of postgraduate research within UESM, while creating valuable opportunities for students, academics, and industry partners to connect, exchange ideas, and build new relationships.

And with that, the academic programme of the 3rd UESM Postgraduate Conference came to a close! 🎉🎓

But the celebrations weren’t over just yet… 🥂 Stay tuned for highlights from our Conference Gala Dinner!

A special thank you to our sponsors for helping make this conference possible and even more memorable: Separations, Lasec, Inqaba Biotec, Marang a Kitso, and SymbioLab.



African Centre for Disaster Studies (ACDS), NWU African Amphibian Conservation Research Group NWU Water Research Group NWU Forb Ecology Research Group - FERGNWU Climatology Research Group_CRG NWU - North-West University NWU Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences NWU FNAS Student Chapter NWU Microbiology NWU Green Team NWU: Green Campus Initiatives NWU - North-West University

08/17/2026

🎓🌿 UESM Postgraduate Conference 2026 | Day 1

The UESM Postgraduate Conference 2026, held on 4–5 August 2026, brought together postgraduate students, academics, postdoctoral research fellows, researchers, and suppliers from across all three North-West University campuses for two inspiring days of research, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.

With approximately 120 attendees and 75 postgraduate presentations across the two days, including 8 full talks, 32 short talks, and 35 posters, the conference showcased the breadth and interdisciplinary nature of research within UESM, with presentations representing nine of our ten sub-programmes.

✨ Day 1 | 4 August 2026

The conference officially kicked off with a warm welcome from our newly appointed UESM Director, Prof. Mark Maboeta, followed by an inspiring keynote address from Prof. Stuart Piketh.

We were also pleased to welcome Kerri-Anne van Gaalen from Separations, who presented an insightful sponsor talk on MultiOmics, highlighting exciting opportunities and advances in this field.

Throughout the day, our postgraduate students shared research spanning a remarkable range of topics:

💧 Aquatic Ecosystem Health
🌱 Environmental Management
🦋 Biodiversity & Conservation Ecology
🌍 Disaster Risk Science
🐛 Integrated Pest Management
🌾 Crop Production & Soil Management
🌦️ Climate Change, Air Quality & Impacts
🌿 Ecological Interactions & Ecosystem Resilience

From environmental antimicrobial resistance and water quality to climate change, biodiversity, agriculture and ecosystem resilience, the presentations highlighted the incredible diversity of research taking place across UESM.

📌 Day 1 concluded with an engaging poster session featuring 35 posters: 8 PhD and 27 MSc. The session provided a great opportunity for students to showcase their work, discuss their research with fellow researchers and academics, exchange ideas, and make new connections.

Day 1 certainly set the tone for two days of inspiring research and meaningful conversations, and this was only the beginning! 🎓🌍

📸 Stay tuned as we share the highlights from Day 2 of the UESM Postgraduate Conference 2026.

A special thank you to our sponsors for their support and for helping make this conference even more memorable: Separations, Lasec, Inqaba Biotec, Marang a Kitso and SymbioLab. 🤝




NWU Water Research Group@followers NWU - North-West University NWU Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences NWU FNAS Student Chapter NWU Microbiology NWU Green Team NWU: Green Campus Initiatives NWU Forb Ecology Research Group - FERG NWU Climatology Research Group_CRG African Amphibian Conservation Research Group

08/14/2026

🐸 Frog research making headlines!

We’re incredibly proud to see Tiaan Botha’s important amphibian research featured in the August/September 2026 issue of Getaway Magazine as part of Lisa Abdellah’s “Frog Story”. 🌿🔬

As part of a new generation of frog researchers, Tiaan is investigating the Critically Endangered Bilbo’s rain frog, working to better understand its distribution, breeding, habitat preferences, diet, and sensitivity to environmental conditions.

His work builds on research into the Knysna leaf-folding frog, where he combined passive acoustic monitoring, citizen-science records, historical information, and hands-on field observations to better understand these remarkable amphibians and the ecosystems they depend on.

The bigger picture is important: 39% of South Africa’s endemic amphibians are threatened with extinction, many of which occur outside protected areas. Research like this helps provide the knowledge needed to guide conservation decisions and can even help farmers, forestry companies, and landowners better manage habitats where threatened frogs occur.

👏 A huge congratulations to Tiaan Botha, and recognition to the researchers and conservationists whose work and mentorship feature throughout the story: Prof. Louis du Preez, Prof. Les Minter, and Dr. Jeanne Tarrant, as well as citizen scientists Nick Evans, Dylan Leonard, and Cormac Price, whose curiosity helped lead to the identification of the Boston rain frog.

Thank you also to Getaway Magazine for shining a light on South Africa’s extraordinary amphibians and the people working to understand and protect them. 💚

Sometimes the smallest voices in our ecosystems have very important stories to tell. 🐸



NWU Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences African Amphibian Conservation Research Group NWU FNAS Student Chapter NWU Water Research Group NWU - North-West University NWU - North-West University NWU Forb Ecology Research Group - FERG NWU Climatology Research Group_CRG

08/09/2026

🇿🇦 National Women’s Day | 9 August 2026

Today, the NWU-UESM joins South Africa in celebrating the remarkable women who lead, inspire, teach, research, innovate and create positive change in our communities and our environment. 💜🌿

We especially recognise the women in environmental science and management whose knowledge, dedication and leadership contribute towards a more sustainable, resilient and equitable future.

National Women’s Day also reminds us that progress is strongest when equality, opportunity and inclusion are part of the environments we create - in science, in the workplace and in society.

To the women of the UESM, NWU and across South Africa: we celebrate your voices, your achievements and the difference you make.

Happy National Women’s Day! 🇿🇦💜

Stand together for equality & inclusion.