We need to protect white rhino cows to charge at the threat of poaching

Posted on December 13, 2022

We could double the number of white rhino females in the coming decade by protecting them from poaching, which has been steadily increasing over the last decade. This is according to University of Pretoria (UP )researchers and their colleagues who suggest practical solutions to protect these...

Honey-making begins at the flower, according to new UP discovery

Posted on December 09, 2022

Prof Susan Nicolson from UP’s Department of Zoology and Entomology, and her colleagues, Dr Hannelie Human and Prof Christian Pirk, discovered that honeybees removed most of the water while collecting nectar from macadamia flowers.

Animal Science Feedlot Challenge offers practical teaching and research opportunities

Posted on December 08, 2022

Ready, set, feed! The University of Pretoria (UP)’s Department of Animal Science has established an innovative, practical approach to Animal Science teaching through a practical beef feedlot challenge. The 2022 winners were an all-female group, the MOOdonnas. The Feedlot Manager of the Year...

UP microbiologists discover rich diversity of life in Antarctica’s cold, dry soils

Posted on December 07, 2022

The ice-free areas of Antarctica were initially thought to be devoid of life, but with the advent of modern genetic technologies, scientists now know that microorganisms have adapted to living in this extreme environment.

UP scientists contribute to a key global study on the effects of grazing in deserts

Posted on December 05, 2022

Two University of Pretoria scientists have contributed to the first-ever global field assessment of the ecological impacts of grazing in drylands.

Two NAS professors appointed to IAP

Posted on December 03, 2022

Congratulations to Prof Stephanie Burton (Professor in Biochemistry and Professor at Future Africa) for her appointment as Co-Chair of the Interacademy Partnership (IAP) board for the 2022-2024 mandate, and Prof Christian Pirk (Department of Zoology and Entomology) for his appointment as a member...

Researchers discover tiny flightless dung beetle

Posted on November 30, 2022

UP taxonomist and leading expert in dung beetles occurring in southern Africa Christian Deschodt was contacted by researchers to help describe a dung beetle they suspected was a new species.

SASBMB Gold Award for Prof Don Cowan

Posted on November 28, 2022

Professor Don A Cowan, Director of the Genomics Research Institute and the Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics at the University of Pretoria, was recently awarded the South African Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SASBMB) Gold Award.