Welcome to the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS), one of Africa's largest and most diverse faculties.
In its pursuit of teaching excellence, the Faculty has embraced the University's hybrid teaching and learning model, an optimal blend of face-to-face and virtual (or online) student learning opportunities. This model provides the best of both worlds – face-to-face teaching, where it is most suitable but enriched by the wide range of virtual learning tools and products.
At NAS, we aim to answer as-yet unanswered questions and be part of a scientific community dedicated to responding to humanity's grand challenges. Research is focused, among others, on achieving food and water security in Africa, making renewable energy affordable to African populations and eliminating poverty-related diseases.
The challenges facing humanity can only be solved by teams of scientists who work together across disciplinary boundaries. These teams consist of dedicated experts in the various disciplines who are already active in the Faculty and scientists who move comfortably between disciplines in their search for new solutions to old problems. Together, we can effect positive change in the world.
More about the Acting Dean: Prof Vinesh Maharaj
Prof Vinesh Maharaj, a natural product chemist who was trained in the discovery of new drug leads based on biodiversity samples, is Acting Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences from 1 January 2026.
Prof Maharaj holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of South Africa, with specialisation in natural product chemistry. He received his master's and honours degrees from the University of Pretoria and a BSc (Chemistry) from the University of Durban Westville.
Prior to his appointment at the University of Pretoria in 2013, he was the Technology Manager and Chief Scientist in Biosciences at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). He was employed by the CSIR for 25 years, where he was involved in the discovery of new drug leads based on biodiversity samples. His major areas of expertise include natural products chemistry, isolation and structure elucidation of natural compounds and their biological evaluation, in close collaboration with molecular biologists/ biochemists/ pharmacologists.
He holds a C-rating from the NRF and is registered with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP).