| New dataset will support global scale analysis of climate trends in river flow | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11291 | | New dataset will support global scale analysis of climate trends in river flow | School for Climate Studies (media) | <p></p><p>With one of the largest streamflow networks globally, administered by South Africa's Department of Water Affairs (DWA) and the <a href="https://www.saeon.ac.za/">South African Environmental Observation Network</a> (SAEON), South Africa is one of 30 countries worldwide to have contributed to a global dataset to detect climate-driven hydrological trends.</p><p>The newly released dataset, called the <a href="https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/projects/robin">Reference Observatory of Basins for International hydrological climate change detection</a> (ROBIN), contains daily river flow data for 2, 386 gauging stations across the globe which have natural or near-natural catchments. Data from river basins that are relatively undisturbed by human impacts are important for efforts to detect climate-driven hydrological trends and make informed decisions on climate adaptation strategies. </p><p>The ROBIN dataset is now publicly available <a href="https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/documents/3b077711-f183-42f1-bac6-c892922c81f4">here</a>. Additionally, a new open access <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-025-04907-y">Data Descriptor paper</a> explains how the network and dataset were developed.</p><p>Dr Andrew Watson, a senior researcher in Stellenbosch University's <a href="https://climate.sun.ac.za/">School for Climate Studies</a>, says they worked with SAEON to contribute streamflow data to ROBIN: “SAEON has a number of critically important observation points away from human-made distribution infrastructure such as reservoir releases, wastewater treatment plants, and irrigation. This data can be used to analyse climate change impacts and trends," he explains.</p><p>One such observation point is at Jonkershoek outside Stellenbosch – the <a href="https://fynbos.saeon.ac.za/?p=3183">Jonkershoek multiple catchment experiment</a> has been running since the 1930s and is the oldest in Africa and one of the longest running in the world. One can even view real time data from SAEON's high altitude weather station <a href="https://lognet.saeon.ac.za/Dwarsberg/index.html">here</a>. The streamflow data, shared with ROBIN, is archived and stored on the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https://catalogue.saeon.ac.za/&data=05%7c02%7c%7c9fbe1e92e5ce46991c7708dd8c8e4795%7ca6fa3b030a3c42588433a120dffcd348%7c0%7c0%7c638821264964770792%7cUnknown%7cTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7c0%7c%7c%7c&sdata=LQ5xr2b7X0t70KVLA2K0OZT5ccM9p1sgrfUcIt6128g%3D&reserved=0">SAEON Data Portal</a>. </p><p>The ROBIN initiative, established in March 2022 and led by the United Kingdom Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), has created a long-term collaboration of international experts, now including more than 60 partner organisations from 30 countries across five continents. </p><p>In a media release issued by UKCEH, Prof. Peter Thorne from Maynooth University in Ireland said the latest <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/">Assessment Report</a> of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicated “low confidence" in patterns of observed change in global streamflow trends: “Much of this lack of confidence relates to the relative absence of rivers which are unperturbed by other human factors. With ROBIN providing a set of long-term, sustained measurements which are, to the extent practical, free of human perturbations, future assessments of global streamflow can potentially discern with higher confidence any signal that may exist."</p><p>By bringing this information together and making it available for wider use, ROBIN represents a significant advance in global-scale, accessible streamflow data. The ROBIN dataset also has full metadata for 3,060 gauging stations, including those providing daily flow data. Most records span at least 40 years, though some date to the late 19th century.</p><p>According to the media release, global-scale analysis of trends in river flows using undisturbed catchments is important for many reasons. Future IPCC assessments and other policy-relevant reports need such data to better understand how climate change affects river flows but there are other potential uses beyond looking at climate impacts. Hydrologists and water managers need to know natural variations in river flow in order to detect the impacts of human disturbances (dams, abstractions) in more modified catchments. In turn, ecologists can help understand these impacts on river ecosystems. </p><p><strong>Notes on the dataset</strong></p><p>ROBIN is an 'open science' initiative where all data and code are shared, to enable partners (and the wider community) to replicate analysis. A code library for ROBIN is <a href="https://github.com/NERC-CEH/ROBIN_pipeline">available here</a>, highlighting its potential for research and educational purposes across the environmental sciences. </p><p>Data were quality controlled by the central ROBIN team before being added to the dataset, and two levels of data quality are applied to guide users towards appropriate the data usage. <br></p><p><br></p> |
| Maths undergrads make history with published research paper | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11292 | | Maths undergrads make history with published research paper | Faculty of Science (media and communication) | <p></p><p>Two mathematics students from <a href="https://math.sun.ac.za/">Stellenbosch University</a> (SU) have made mathematical history when their week-long internship with a mathematician at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) resulted in a paper accepted for publication in the <em>Journal of Algebra and its Applications</em>.</p><p><a href="https://pure.uj.ac.za/en/persons/amartya-goswami">Dr Amatya Goswami</a>, an expert in associative rings and algebras, general topology, order, lattices and ordered algebraic structures at UJ, says it is an exceedingly rare event for undergraduate students to produce publishable research in a reputable journal in mathematics.</p><p>He was visited in November 2023 by SU students Ms Kerry Porrill (then a second-year mathematics student) and Ms Danielle Kleyn (then third year mathematics) as part of an internship initiative managed by the <a href="https://nithecs.ac.za/">National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences</a> (NITheCS).</p><p>“Initially, I intended to assign them some routine exercises in Ring Theory. However, I quickly realised that they were far too advanced for such tasks. I therefore set aside my original plan and proposed that we work on a research problem.</p><p>“To my utter surprise, within just one week, a substantial number of highly non-trivial results were proved. These developments subsequently culminated in a research paper. While the process of writing and submitting the paper took some time, the essential mathematics was almost entirely completed during that one week of their visit. Yesterday, I received official confirmation of the paper's acceptance in the <em>Journal of Algebra and its Applications</em>," he wrote in an email to NITheCS recently. </p><p>The two SU students say while ring theory was very new to them at the time, they both found the challenge “quite interesting": “It was quite challenging at first, especially since a lot of it was new. We spent the whole week just thinking about the ring we were studying and bouncing ideas off each other," Kerry commented.</p><p>The exposure to this field of mathematics certainly sparked their interest in algebra in general. Kerry is currently doing a BSc Honours in Mathematics, planning on specialising in algebra, while Danielle is doing her MSc in Mathematics in lattice theory and universal algebra under the guidance of <a href="https://math.sun.ac.za/research/groups/categorical-algebra/">Dr Michael Hoefnagel</a>.</p><p>The paper, titled “<a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.10824">On Structures of the Ring of Arithmetical Functions: Prime Ideals and Beyond</a>", is available online at arXiv.</p><p>The NITheCS Internship Programme provides aspiring mathematicians with an opportunity to engage with research-level mathematics early in their academic journey. According to Dr Goswami, such an initiative is both profoundly beneficial and urgently needed, especially in the South African context.<br></p><p><br></p> |
| New review on the legacy of the “botanist from Belvidere” | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11267 | | New review on the legacy of the “botanist from Belvidere” | Wiida Fourie-Basson (Media: Faculty of Science) | <p><br><br></p><p>The living legacy of Dr Augusta Vera Duthie (1881–1963), founder of the Department of Botany at Victoria College in 1902 (renamed Stellenbosch University in 1918), has been captured in a review article published in a special edition of the <em>South African Journal of Botany </em>on the status of botanical science in South Africa<strong>.</strong></p><p>Titled “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254629925001942?ref=cra_js_challenge&fr=RR-1#cit_4">The botanist from Belvidere – the living legacy of Augusta Vera Duthie</a>", it is one of several commissioned to commemorate the <a href="https://www.wits.ac.za/events-archive/2025/50th-annual-conference-of-the-south-african-association-of-botanists.php#:~:text=The%2050th%20annual%20conference%20of%20the%20South%20African%2c3-day%20General%20Conference%20from%201%20-%203%20July.">50th Annual Conference of the South African Association of Botanists</a>. Yet it is only the second journal article to date, since 1967, which provides a more comprehensive review of Duthie's rich legacy. </p><p>Prof. Léanne Dreyer, senior author of the article and a botanist in SU's Department of Botany and Zoology, says the article is also an effort to rectify the underrepresentation in literature of women's involvement in botanical matters in southern Africa and internationally.</p><p>She teamed up with Dr Paul Hills from SU's Institute for Plant Biotechnology, and with Wiida Fourie-Basson, media officer and science writer for the Faculty of Science, to delve deeper into the treasure trove of documents and letters held in the A.V. Duthie collection in the SU Library's Special Collections. In the process they also found a collection of documents, letters and slides relating to the establishment of the Duthie Reserve, dating back to 1952, in the archive of the Department of Botany and Zoology and subsequently donated to the SU Archives.</p><p>According to SU's senior archivist, Karlien Breedt, these documents and slides are irreplaceable primary sources that gives us an understanding of the establishment and development of the Duthie reserve: “Without these information resources, the extent of the fauna and flora that used to be there would not be known. It also ensures that Ave Duthie's legacy is not lost."</p><p><strong>More about Duthie's legacy</strong></p><p>In short, when Ave Duthie (pronounced “A-Vee" after her initials) was appointed, aged 20, to establish the second Botany department in South Africa in 1902, she was the only women academic causing, in her own words, “something of a nine day's wonder". Her work at Victoria College started with a handful of students, in a single room in the old main building, with little to no equipment.<br></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="/english/PublishingImages/Lists/dualnews/My%20Items%20View/Figure_4_VC%20Senaat%201904%20(2).jpg" alt="Figure_4_VC Senaat 1904 (2).jpg" class="ms-rtePosition-4" style="margin:5px;width:405px;" /><br></p><p>What is less well-known is that Duthie was one of three prominent South African women botanists to have been trained by the American-born botanist, Dr Bertha Stoneman (1866-1943), at the newly established Huguenot College for Women in Wellington. Stoneman was tasked to establish a new botany department and college herbarium and stayed on to become principal in 1921. Duthie graduated in 1901, and Ethel Doidge in 1907. In 1914, Doidge became the first women in South Africa to obtain a doctorate in science, specialising in mycology. Duthie obtained a Master of Arts degree in 1910 from the University of the Cape of Good Hope, and her doctoral degree in 1929 from the University of South Africa, with a dissertation on the “Vegetation and Flora of the Stellenbosch Flats".</p><p>As founder and later head of the botany department for 19 years, Duthie established a comprehensive infrastructure that included a library, museum, herbarium, botanical garden and research facilities, particularly for morphological research. Many of these still exist and continue to be pivotal in botanical research activities in the current Natural Science Building (completed in 1916). In 1921, however, she received a setback when the newly created chair in Botany was offered to one of her former students, Dr Gert C. Nel. A letter of correspondence from Nel, held in a special collection at SU, reveals that the decision may have been attributed to a long-standing linguistic debate at the University, with Nel actively lobbying for Botany to be taught in Afrikaans. Duthie reverted to being an ordinary lecturer and devoted the extra time on her hands to conduct intensive field work on the plains surrounding Stellenbosch until her retirement in 1939. </p><p>Duthie's botanical surveys, and the herbarium records of the Stellenbosch Flats, remain invaluable, as the area mainly comprised of Renosterveld, a vegetation type which is today highly threatened. Many of these herbarium sheets are lodged in the Stellenbosch Herbarium in the Natural Sciences Building. Her most important living legacy, however, is the Duthie Reserve, home to the last remaining viable population of the <a href="/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=5011">critically endangered paintbrush lily</a>, <em>Haemanthus pumilio</em>. The reserve was first established in 1952 through the efforts of the then head of the Botany department, Prof. P.G. Jordaan. It was officially named the Duthie Reserve in 1960 in honour of the groundbreaking research conducted by Dr Duthie on the flora and vegetation of the Stellenbosch Flats. In 1987, the Duthie Reserve was recognised as a South African National Heritage Site, with the original framed certificate still on display in the Stellenbosch Herbarium.</p><p>From the Duthie collection, it became clear that Duthie was an avid letter writer, corresponding with prominent botanists and scientists from all over the world who were interested in South African Flora and keen to share plant material. The article also highlights Duthie's conservation efforts in ensuring that the tradition and atmosphere of her birthplace, Belvidere estate, is maintained, as laid down by her great grandfather George Rex, founder of Knysna. The house in which Duthie grew up in, Belvidere Manor, is today a proclaimed National Monument. </p><p>Many a plant lover and botany student may in future consider making a pilgrimage to the quaint Holy Trinity Church at Belvidere, erected by Duthie's grandfather in 1855. Duthie, who never married, was buried in the family cemetery at the sound end of the church. A small stained-glass window in a pew on the northern side of the church, installed in 1972, commemorates her role as benefactor of the church and her love for botany. It shows the image of an angel and a Knysna loerie, as well as a small panel depicting eight flowering plants that she studied as a young botanist.<br></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="/english/PublishingImages/Lists/dualnews/My%20Items%20View/image00002.jpeg" alt="image00002.jpeg" class="ms-rtePosition-4" style="margin:5px;width:296px;" /><br></p><p>The article “The botanist from Belvidere – the living legacy of Augusta Vera Duthie (1881-1963) was published in the <em>South African Journal of Botany</em> and is available online at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254629925001942?via%3Dihub<br></p><p><br></p> |
| Cutting off parasite’s energy supply could help fight malaria | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11259 | | Cutting off parasite’s energy supply could help fight malaria | Corporate Communication and Marketing/Korporatiewe Kommunikasie en Bemarking [Alec Basson] | <p>In 2023, malaria caused 597 000 deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, with most occurring in Africa, where the deadliest malaria parasite, <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em>, is most prevalent. Once inside the body of an infected person, the parasite relies on a process called glycolysis—breaking down glucose (a sugar)—to produce energy and stay alive.<br></p><p>A new study at Stellenbosch University (SU) found that blocking the enzymes involved in this process could cut off the parasite's primary energy source and kill it. Some of these enzymes could also be good targets for new malaria drugs.<br></p><p>“Plasmodium falciparum relies heavily on free energy produced during glycolysis for its survival, growth and replication. It consumes vast amounts of glucose from the host's red blood cells to survive. If we can block the breaking down of sugar, it will be harder for the parasite to mutate or evade suppression without suffering severe consequences," says Dr Tagwin Frantz who recently obtained her PhD in biochemistry at SU.<img src="/english/PublishingImages/Lists/dualnews/My%20Items%20View/TFrantz.png" alt="TFrantz.png" class="ms-rtePosition-2" style="margin:5px;width:348px;height:469px;" /><br></p><p>As part of her study, Frantz tested three chemicals to determine how they affect the parasite's glucose metabolism, growth and use of available energy utilising experimental and modelling approaches to identify potential drug targets. Each chemical blocked a different enzyme (hexokinase, phosphofructokinase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) involved in breaking down sugar, securing a continuous energy supply, maintaining the parasite's redox balance (how it manages chemical reactions to produce energy and protect itself from harmful molecules) and helping it to survive. <br></p><p>Frantz says that two of these chemicals are known to inhibit the parasite's ability to extract nutrients from its host, converts them into energy, and adapts its biochemical processes for survival and reproduction. The chemicals—one being Spinosad, an insecticide derived from the bacteria <em>Saccharopolyspora spinosa</em> and used against pests like mosquitoes—have shown the ability to fight the parasite though the exact mechanism of action is unknown. These chemicals were tested on the isolated parasite, red blood cells (both infected and uninfected), and a type of bacteria used in biotechnology and medicine.</p><p>“Our results show that by inhibiting these enzymes, glucose cannot enter glycolysis, cutting off the parasite's primary energy source. Additionally, glycolysis could also be halted entirely, leading to a rapid energy crisis in the parasite, starving the parasite of energy, likely disrupting its redox balance and leading to its death.<br></p><p>“It is crucial to prevent glycolysis during the blood stage, i.e. the phase where the parasite, after entering the bloodstream from the liver, replicates within red blood cells, causing the clinical symptoms of malaria. Preventing glycolysis to kill the parasite is especially effective in infected individuals, where a fever that causes the body to work harder and use up more energy also makes the parasite more vulnerable. However, it can be challenging since both human cells and parasites undergo glycolysis.<br></p><p>“Beyond the blood stage, inhibiting glycolysis could also indirectly reduce the transmission of the parasite to the mosquito."</p><p>Targeting how the organism extracts nutrients from its host and converts them into energy metabolism (rather than traditional drug targets) offers a new way to kill resistant parasites, according to Frantz.<br></p><p>She points out that Spinosad directly inhibits the parasite's metabolism without damaging red blood cells.<br></p><p>“Since two of the three enzymes (hexokinase and phosphofructokinase) are essential and structurally distinct from human enzymes, selective inhibitors can be designed to minimise side effects. Combining either one of these enzyme inhibitors with current standard treatment for <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em> malaria (artemisinin-based therapies) could further reduce risks, making them valuable targets for new malaria drugs."</p><p>Frantz mentions that testing the effectiveness of chemicals against the parasite – and finding a dose that kills the parasite without harming red blood cells or other host tissues – was challenging. Another hurdle was ensuring that the parasite wouldn't quickly develop resistance to these compounds. To tackle these issues, she tested the long-term effects of the inhibitors over multiple parasite life cycles.<br></p><p>Frantz says that although her research is still in its early stages, it could be a building block for developing new malaria drugs. <br></p><p>“This study advances malaria research by pinpointing critical points where drugs can effectively target the parasite and predicting the most vulnerable parts of its energy-producing processes. These insights could help to develop next-generation malaria medicine that combat resistance, target multiple parasite lifecycles, and are safer for humans – supporting global efforts to eradicate the disease.<br></p><p>“With rising drug resistance, finding new drug targets is crucial to prevent treatment failure and protect millions at risk. Continuous innovation is key to eliminating malaria and staying ahead of the parasite's adaptation. Additionally, contributing to the broader understanding of how metabolic interventions (adjusting how the body uses energy and nutrients) can be leveraged to combat parasitic diseases.<br></p><p>“Future success will depend on the design of precision drugs, the use of combination therapies, and targeted delivery to kill the parasite while sparing human cells," adds Frantz. <br></p><p><br></p> |
| Stellenbosch University's Botanical Garden, bucking the global trend | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11260 | | Stellenbosch University's Botanical Garden, bucking the global trend | Wiida Fourie-Basson and Jeraldene Menon | <p>As Autumn approaches, the
<em>Haemanthus pumilio</em>, a critically endangered species and one of the “paintbrush lilies", will flower in the Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden (SUBG).</p><p>It is one of several vulnerable plant species maintained at the SUBG, one of only two<strong> </strong>botanical gardens in a global survey of living plant collections that have continued to actively increase wild and conservation-grade plant collections in recent years.</p><p>Carefully documented,
<em>ex-situ </em>collections from known wild localities are crucial for conservation, species and ecosystems restoration, and nearly all scientific research, notes Dr Donovan Kirkwood, curator of SUBG. Maintaining such collections over time requires intensive labour, institutional resources, and space. The challenges of maintaining these collections are profound. Even the best institutions lose plants and collections over time, and the inevitable attrition of collections must be offset by new collections or the establishment of resilient shared collections across institutions. </p><p>The survey, published in
<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-024-02633-z">Nature Ecology and Evolution</a> recently, analysed a century of data comprising 2.2 million records from 50 institutions, representing over 500 000 separate accessions, i.e. separate sub-collections of a species from a particular place or time. The survey is thought to represent over 40 per cent of global diversity held in institutional living collections. These are also called ex-situ collections to indicate these are captive, not wild plants. All in all, 50 botanical gardens from 19 countries and 5 continents participated in the survey, including Africa (1 collection), Australasia (6 collections), Eurasia (27 collections), North America (13 collections) and South America (3 collections).</p><div><p>The findings of the survey are disconcerting. On a global scale, the meta-collection seems to have reached carrying capacity in both the number of accessions and botanical diversity. While newer collections are being established, especially in the global south, collections in the global north have mostly plateaued or are decreasing in size. Collectively, the overarching trends point towards capacity constraints, underscoring a critical need for strategic prioritisation.</p><p>
<strong>Bucking the global trend</strong></p><p>Kirkwood, who co-authored the article, says globally, at least 750 000 threatened plants should be supported by
<em>ex-situ</em> conservation. In contrast, South Africa's
<em>ex-situ</em> conservation target is equivalent to more than 3 000 plant species: “We suspect South African
<em>ex-situ</em> progress across all institutions is fewer than 500 threatened species. The species that require urgent support are even more poorly represented, and institutional capacity is already under pressure."<br></p><p></p><figure style="float:right;"><img src="/english/PublishingImages/Lists/dualnews/My%20Items%20View/Donovan%20Kirkwood.jpg" alt="Donovan-Kirkwood" style="width:300px;height:449px;" /><figcaption>Donovan Kirkwoord, Curator of the Stellenbosch <br>University Botanical Garden. </figcaption> </figure>
<br>
<p></p><p>He says one of this survey's most important take-home messages is that capacity limits are real: “We have to be as strategic as possible in curating collections that meet conservation, research and education goals," he warns.</p><p>“Here in the Western Cape, biological diversity is characterised by many species occurring only in very localised areas – many of our plants have global ranges of only tens of kilometres or less. Even a relatively small habitat loss to farming, urban expansion or invasive plants can result in a major reduction or loss of entire species populations. On our doorstep, in the Cape Peninsula, one can find 158 plant species and 3 subspecies only in special habitats between Cape Point and Green Point," he says.</p><p>Our huge biodiversity and localised distributions, with modern habitat loss and other major extinction drivers, mean that the Cape is among the world's worst hotspots of plant threat and extinction. Of the 10,744 plants in just the Western Cape Province, for example, nearly 40 per cent are in one of the Red List categories of concern. Red List status is assessed partly by recent reductions in population, and even species listed as Vulnerable or naturally Critically Rare may only have a few hundred plants in total. So, even for less threatened species, any further loss might be catastrophic.</p><p>“There is a massive need for capacity to do
<em>ex-situ</em> conservation and species recovery. The global targets provide for living collections of 60 per cent of threatened species. Even a far more focused target is challenging. In wild sampling for conservation in extremely threatened species, seeds or cuttings of nearly every remaining plant may need to be sampled and propagated over multiple years in remote or hard-to-access sites. Maintaining viable captive populations for reintroduction to the wild means that source diversity must be maintained, and ideally, each captive population of a species should consist of at least hundreds to thousands of plants," he warns.<br></p><p>Globally, one of the main challenges for botanical gardens is the limitation imposed by the
<a href="https://www.cbd.int/">Convention on Global Biodiversity</a> (the CBD), which regulates the acquisition of wild-origin specimens and the international exchange of plant material. The global survey has, for the first time, provided empirical evidence of a drastic decline in both activities after the CBD came into effect in 1993, 44 per cent in the case of wild-origin collections and 38 per cent in international exchanges.</p><p>This emphasises the need for increased collaboration and legal material sharing across the network of botanical gardens around the globe that act as custodians of biodiversity. Such an approach will fundamentally reshape the future regional composition of botanical collections and partition diversity across the global network.</p><p>This approach makes sense for Kirkwood: “Living collections in the global south are close to biodiversity hot spots, and we can continue strategic collection without contravening the CBD and the
<a href="https://www.cbd.int/abs">Nagoya Protocol</a>."</p><p>
<strong>The SUBG: a regional custodian of biodiversity</strong></p><p>Since Kirkwood was appointed curator at SUBG, the garden has contributed significantly to the
<a href="/english/entities/botanical-garden/our-work/conservation">conservation of multiple critically endangered Cape species</a> by propagating and growing living collections and seedbanking. Some stars of the collection include
<em>Haemanthus pumilio</em>,
<em>Ixia versicolor</em>,
<em>Oxalis fragilis</em>,
<em>Pelargonium </em>
<em>fergusoniae</em>,
<em>Marasmodes undulata</em>,
<em>Polhilia groenewaldii</em>,
<em>Gibbaeum esterhuyseniae</em>,
<em>Gladiolus recurvus</em>, and
<em>Ixia leipoldtii</em>.
<br>
<br>In the case of
<a href="/english/entities/botanical-garden/our-work/conservation">
<em>Marasmodes undulata</em></a>, the species was completely extinct in the wild by 2020 and SUBG managed to grow four of the only five living plants from banked seed. Since then, the SUBG has propagated nearly a hundred individuals of this species from seed and cuttings. Working with the national Threatened Species Programme of SANBI, including the
<a href="https://www.sanbi.org/biodiversity/building-knowledge/biodiversity-monitoring-assessment/custodians-of-rare-and-endangered-wildflowers-crew-programme/">Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers</a> (CREW), the long process of reintroducing plants back into their habitat has started.</p><p>SUBG is also trialling strategies to overcome the capacity plateau problem experienced by botanical gardens globally. Kirkwood notes: “While some of our ability to grow our wild and threatened collections recently is a result of starting from a low base, we aim to continue being a positive outlier. One new approach is to hold satellite conservation collections outside formal botanical gardens in non-traditional spaces. One major project was recently started in a corporate head office, providing innovative biophilic plantings and conservation partnership, with all wild material fully owned and managed as part of the permanent SUBG collection and collection database."</p></div><div><p>Since 2018, Kirkwood has supported other projects to find extra space and capacity to conserve threatened species, including lending institutional and database support to private partners undertaking valuable habitat and species recovery such as the Avondale Open Garden in Durbanville.</p><p>SUBG's strategy focuses on building a collaborative approach among botanical gardens, private sector conservation, and the scientific community to innovate, adapt and overcome capacity constraints.</p><p>And even though what they can achieve might seem like a drop in the ocean in the context of climate change and the biodiversity crisis, Kirkwood is unequivocal about one thing: the SUBG's “drop" matters a lot.</p><p>
<br>
</p><p>Caption: The Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden (SUBG) is home to the world's largest
<a href="/english/entities/botanical-garden/garden/collections">living collection of Cape Oxalis species</a>, built up by collaborator and taxon expert Prof Leanne Dreyer and representing some threatened species. In the image above, Prof Dreyer inspects the collection with assistant curator Annerie Senekal. </p><p>Photo by Stefan Els<br></p><p><br></p></div> |
| Prof Bertie Fielding’s research supports development of treatments for viral, bacterial infections | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11255 | | Prof Bertie Fielding’s research supports development of treatments for viral, bacterial infections | Corporate Communication and Marketing/Korporatiewe Kommunikasie en Bemarking | <p>Prof Bertie Fielding, Dean of the Faculty of Science at Stellenbosch University, delivered his inaugural lecture on Tuesday 22 April 2025. The title of his lecture was 'From pandemic to pandemic, and everything in between'.<br></p><p>Fielding spoke to the Corporate Communication and Marketing Division about how his research improves our understanding of the way viruses interact with the body and supports the development of treatments for viral and bacterial infections.<br></p><p><strong>Tell us more about your research and why you became interested in this specific field.</strong><br></p><p>I am a molecular biologist, mainly focused on studying human coronaviruses. My interest in this field began during my time as a research fellow in the Collaborative Antiviral Research Group at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Singapore (2003–2006), where I studied the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome)-CoV virus that caused the outbreak of SARS. My lab also investigates the molecular basis of the medicinal properties of a South African plant called geelbos. Interestingly, these fields have now moved to a nexus where we are looking at medicinal plants to treat the coronavirus infections using nanoparticles. <br></p><p><strong>How would you describe the relevance of your work?</strong><br></p><p>My research focuses on the molecular biology of human coronaviruses, which is important for public health — especially with the rise of new viral infections. It helps us better understand how viruses interact with the body and supports the development of treatments. I also study the medicinal plant geelbos, looking at its potential to treat major diseases like cancer and bacterial infections. Our work aims to understand what gives this plant its health benefits.<br></p><p><strong>Looking back on the Covid-19 pandemic, what have been the most rewarding aspects of your research on human coronaviruses?</strong></p><p>I believe my work — especially on previous SARS-CoV viruses — contributed to areas like diagnostics and surveillance. But what I found most rewarding was engaging with the public through various platforms to share current relevant scientific information during the pandemic. This helped counter the widespread misinformation, or what the World Health Organization called the 'infodemic'.<br></p><p><strong>You're also exploring the use of nanoparticles to treat infections. What exciting developments do you see on the horizon?</strong></p><p>I've collaborated on projects using nanoparticles to enhance immune responses against infections. These interdisciplinary efforts focus on developing new treatments by using nanotechnology to target pathogens and cancer more effectively. I'm especially interested in using nanotechnology to improve the effects of compounds we've identified from <em>geelbos</em>. However, our first step is to test the effectiveness of these antiviral and antibacterial compounds. If successful, this could lead to a broad-spectrum treatment for current and future coronaviruses.</p><p><strong>Universities are sometimes seen as 'ivory towers'. Why is it important for them to engage with the public through research?</strong></p><p>Public distrust in academic institutions — particularly in research — was already high a year or two before the pandemic. The mixed and often confusing messages from researchers during the pandemic likely made this worse. This has been further complicated by the easy access to information online, much of which is inaccurate. I believe researchers have a responsibility to communicate their work in ways that are accessible and understandable to the general public. It's also important to explain that science – especially in fields like medicine – is not always exact. What we share is based on the best available knowledge at the time and may change as new research emerges.<br></p><p><strong>Being the dean of a faculty can be challenging at the best of times. What keeps you going when things get tough?</strong></p><p>Engaging with staff and students to support them and to see people flourish and grow. This is also the reason I completed an MPhil in Management Coaching at Stellenbosch Business School. Listening to people and working with them to become their selves is rewarding.<br></p><p><strong>How do you juggle your responsibilities as Dean with doing research?</strong></p><p>I think most academics would agree that they are constantly busy. For me, careful planning is essential to make time for the things that matter and to maintain a sense of balance. I also try to remind myself that not everything requires an immediate response – some issues can wait, and it's important to prioritise thoughtfully.<br></p><p><strong>What aspects of your work do you enjoy the most?</strong></p><p>Impacting people and improving their wellbeing, be it through my research or leadership roles.<br></p><p><strong>Tell us something exciting about yourself that people would not expect.</strong></p><p>I love cooking. Similar to science, it's as simple as following a protocol.<br></p><p><strong>How do you spend your free time?</strong></p><p>I compete in road races, not well, but I try. And maybe <em>compete</em> is not the correct word; I complete road races and receive participation medals. <br></p><p><br></p> |
| Passing of renowned herpetologist met with shock and sadness | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11258 | | Passing of renowned herpetologist met with shock and sadness | Faculty of Science (media & communication) | <p>The Centre for Invasion Biology (CIB) and the Department of Botany and Zoology at Stellenbosch University (SU) were shocked to learn of the passing of <a href="http://john.measey.com/">Dr John Measey</a> (57) following a mountain bike accident in China on 19 April 2025.</p><p>At the time of his death, Dr Measey was an Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Botany and Zoology and a member of the Centre for Invasion Biology's (CIB) core team.</p><p>According to Prof. Dave Richardson, former director of the CIB and a close colleague, said John Measey was a permanent employee of Stellenbosch University between 2014 and 2022 during which time he was a highly valued member of the CIB's's core team and supervised 41 post-graduate students.</p><p>“Dr Measey was a globally respected herpetologist who made crucial contributions to the knowledge of the ecology and conservation status of amphibians and reptiles, especially in South Africa but also in many other parts of the world. He was the world expert on the African clawed frog or platanna (<em>Xenopus laevis</em>), a native African amphibian which is invasive in several parts of the world. </p><p>“Dr Measey also made major contributions to invasion ecology (the study of introduced and invasive species) more generally and was co-editor of the encyclopaedic book <em>Biological invasions in South Africa</em> that was published in 2020," Prof. Richardson added.</p><p>Since 2022, Dr Measey had been dividing his time between China, where he had a part-time appointment at Yunnan University in Kunming province, and Stellenbosch University. He served as Editor-in-Chief for the <em>African Journal of Herpetology</em> (2009-2017) and was an Associate Editor for <em>Herpetological Conservation and Biology</em>. He attended annual Herpetological Association of Africa (HAA) conferences as a well-known and respected expert. At an international level, he served as a Professor at Yunnan University, China, and was an Honorary Attaché of the Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France. </p><p>In a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BFoyPYCP5/?mibextid=wwXIfr">Facebook post</a>, the invasive species community of South Africa expressed their profound sadness at hearing the news of his passing. Describing him as an “international rock star" in the world of herpetology, they remember him as someone “who was always happy to give advice, guidance, asking questions and to fight for his students to be represented". </p><p>According to Prof. Richardson, Dr Measey was “a superb researcher, an excellent lecturer, supervisor and mentor. He was a crucial cog in the wheel of the invasion ecology in South Africa and his contributions will be sorely missed".<br></p><p><br></p> |
| AI’s impact under the spotlight on World Creativity and Innovation Day | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11252 | | AI’s impact under the spotlight on World Creativity and Innovation Day | Corporate Communication and Marketing/Korporatiewe Kommunikasie en Bemarking | <p><a href="https://www.un.org/en/observances/creativity-and-innovation-day"><strong class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0">World Creativity and Innovation Day</strong></a> was celebrated on 21 April. In opinion pieces for the media, experts at Stellenbosch University focused on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our lives and also emphasised the importance of building innovative systems to address inequality and creating a more inclusive future. Click on the links below to read the articles as published.</p><ul><li>Dr Lize Barclay (<a href="https://iolnewsletters.co.za/weekend-argus/opinion/opinion-is-ai-the-end-of-human-creativity-or-a-new-beginning-58965816-278d-4719-ade4-7287861e823a"><strong class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0">Weekend Argus</strong></a>)</li><li>Prof Willem Fourie (<a href="https://www.news24.com/news24/opinions/columnists/guestcolumn/willem-fourie-artificial-general-intelligence-is-coming-should-we-be-afraid-20250421"><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0"><strong>News24</strong></span></a>)</li><li>Prof Sara Grobbelaar (<a href="https://mg.co.za/thought-leader/2025-04-21-south-africa-needs-innovation-by-design-to-fix-fragile-failing-systems/"><strong class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0">Mail & Guardian</strong></a>)<br></li></ul><p><br></p> |
| SU lecturer’s WOOP25 campaign close to R100 000 fundraising target | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11241 | | SU lecturer’s WOOP25 campaign close to R100 000 fundraising target | Corporate Communication and Marketing/Korporatiewe Kommunikasie en Bemarking [Anel Lewis] | <p>With their 600 km cycle challenge completed, Stellenbosch University (SU) lecturer Dr Marietjie Lutz and her team of cyclists have their eyes trained on the ultimate finish line – raising at least R100 000 for science students in need.</p><p>They have already raised R92 000 with their Wheels of Opportunity (WOOP25) campaign, surpassing the R75 000 raised last year. “This campaign has not only raised awareness about the financial challenges many of our students face but has also become a powerful investment in the future of hardworking and deserving individuals. We plan to keep the GivenGain platform open until the end of April."</p><p>Their bodies may still be recovering from the gruelling cycle, but Lutz says the team never faltered in their dedication to the cause. Her four children completed the full distance with her over six days – even the youngest, Daniël, 14, who is in Grade 8 at Paul Roos Gymnasium. “He was unsure (at the start) of what distance he would be able to cover, and he ended up doing the whole thing." She said everyone involved in the cycle kept their focus on the goal. “No one ever asked 'why are we doing this?', we all just kept moving forward."</p><p>Lutz says the experience was about so much more than just pushing limits and completing a challenge. “For each of the riders, it was a journey of personal growth. It was about paying it forward for someone else." The objective to raise funds for talented but underprivileged students resonated particularly with her two eldest sons, Ben and Jan, who are both studying at SU. </p><p>As in 2024, the cycle was not without its challenges. Long distances took their toll and on Day 2, the group cycled a demanding 125 kms, spending over seven hours in the saddle. “We were all exhausted," recalls Lutz. The curious kudu from last year made a repeat appearance, says Lutz, and this time the group was joined for a short distance by an energetic eland. Fortunately, her torn hip labrum did not play up. “Amazingly, I had no issues. I think because I was better prepared physically than before." She adds that better planning made it possible to expand the group to include her whole family and four additional cyclists. Fuelled by salted potatoes and diluted Coca-Cola, they pushed through the heat and hills to complete the distance. </p><p>The support – both financial and motivational – was overwhelming, she says. Lutz initially wanted to cap the fundraising goal at R75 000 again. But, encouraged by her husband to aim higher, she set a target of R100 000. The donations that started even before the first kilometre was cycled made her realise that “if we decide the outcome at the beginning, we limit ourselves and then how will the impossible come true?". Ultimately, adds Lutz, she decided, “If we want to do good, we should not limit ourselves. And this applies to anything in life – a student studying for a degree, for example. We should not limit the outcome of any such dream."</p><p>Lutz carried the dreams of many students with her throughout the six days, and a miniature version of SU's mascot Pokkel was attached to her handlebars as a reminder of the campaign's goal. “When things got tough mentally and physically, I looked down at Pokkel and was reminded of the reason why we did this."</p><ul><li>To contribute, visit: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https://www.givengain.com/project/marietjie-raising-funds-for-stellenbosch-university-south-africa-99058&data=05%7c02%7c%7cbc9dcff75da44afd6ac508dd678cd78c%7ca6fa3b030a3c42588433a120dffcd348%7c0%7c0%7c638780576796449226%7cUnknown%7cTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7c0%7c%7c%7c&sdata=aAaiJFZ1X8YY9HL2Mucrk7Es8sbVjArxWqSqZjSsCEw%3D&reserved=0">https://www.givengain.com/project/marietjie-raising-funds-for-stellenbosch-university-south-africa-99058</a><br><br></li></ul><p><strong>Captions:</strong></p><p>The Lutz family, of which all four children completed the full 600km challenge.</p><p>Exhaustion after the second day's 125km stretch.</p><p>Beautiful scenery on the WOOP25 campaign cycle.</p><p>SU's Pokkel provided motivation when things got tough. <br></p><p><br></p> |
| Science faculty welcomes newly designated director | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11238 | | Science faculty welcomes newly designated director | Faculty of Science (media and communication) | <p>The Faculty of Science takes pleasure in welcoming Mr Mbuso Dludlu as its new director of faculty management from 1 April 2025.<br></p><p>He will be taking over the reins from Ms Mariétta van den Worm who has held the position for the past 25 years, and who will retire at the end of 2025.</p><p>With over 16 years of experience in the higher education sector, the last six years as departmental manager of SU's Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Mbuso says he is looking forward to combining his passion for science with management and leadership in his new position as faculty director. </p><p>Mbuso was born in Piet Retief in Mpumalanga, but raised by his late grandmother, Mrs Teressa Mazibuko, in a village called Makhosini outside the small town of Nhlangano in Eswatini. He completed a BSc in Chemical Technology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2008, followed by a Bachelor of Technology in Polymer Technology in 2014 and a Masters in Polymer Technology in 2016 from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). At the time, he was working as senior laboratory manager in TUT's Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology. It was during this time that he also lost both of his parents, Sizakele and Comfort Dludlu.</p><p>Currently pursuing a PhD in Polymer Science at SU, Mbuso says he will always be indebted to his grandmother for seeing to it that he got an education from selling handcrafts in the streets of Soweto and Johannesburg: “She wasn't educated, but she valued the importance of education. Today I am passionate about education, and I strongly believe in lifelong learning. I think it is for this reason that I have a teachable spirit, which is key for leadership."</p><p>For the past 25 years, he has been providing career guidance to learners through the not-for-profit organisation “Brighten-up your Future" which he established in 2007. He is also mentoring 12 university students at eight South African higher education institutions, pursuing studies in different fields – from the Sciences and Engineering to the Social Sciences, Economic and Management Sciences and Arts.</p><p>For his PhD, Mbuso is investigating the prevalence of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), commonly known as “forever chemicals" because of their persistence in the environment, at wastewater treatment plants and rivers and dams in the Western Cape. The objective is to develop a polymeric membrane with nanoparticles for enhanced removals of these persistent chemicals. His research is funded by the Water Research Commission and has been presented at two international conferences and to a panel of 30 City of Cape Town managers.</p><p>Mbuso, who joined SU in 2018 shortly after completing his MBA at Regent Business School, says he is deeply indebted to all his colleagues in the Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, and specifically Prof. Peter Mallon, former executive head of department, who initially introduced him to the systems and processes at SU: “Coming in here, I was only armed with my knowledge and skills, while Prof. Mallon had the experience and understanding. Over the next five years, we became a formidable management team, working together to put the department on a sustainable footing."</p><p>For now, he is excited about his new role as director of faculty management: “I am grateful to be taking over from the current director, who is a wealth of experience and institutional memory. I would like to build on the foundation and legacy she has laid for the faculty and university over the past 25 years."</p><p>He is looking forward to working with and supporting the Dean of Science, Prof. Burtram Fielding, and the management team: “To me, leadership and management are all about serving people to the best of your ability in order to create trust. Trust is a very special human experience. And we can only trust others when we know they are actively and consciously concerned about us," he adds.</p><p>For Mbuso, the values of compassion, empathy and respect are at the core of his concept of servant leadership. These values also happen to form part of SU's ECARE values of Excellence, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Equity: “I will be taking these values with me in my new role, in service to my colleagues and contributing thus to the growth and success of the Faculty of Science."</p><p>Lastly, he honours his family and wife of 14 years, Mrs Lydia Dludlu, and his children Lwandzile (13) and Kagiso (9). The family loves hiking in the Helderberg Nature Reserve, travelling or inviting friends and family over for a braai. And, of course, nothing beats a refreshing beach walk, finished off with ice cream.</p><p>“My life is grounded in reading the Word and in prayer, which is one of the key underlying principles in my life and in raising my children," he concludes.<br></p><p>Photo: Stefan Els<br></p> |
