Welcome to Research Matters. This curated site highlights some of the University of Pretoria’s most impactful and innovative research which addresses some of our society’s most pressing concerns so that we can transform lives and communities. We are rated as the number one university in South Africa for research outputs. Our vision is to be a leading research-intensive university in Africa that is recognised internationally for its quality, relevance and impact. We develop people, create knowledge and strive to make a difference locally and internationally.
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‘People think that because South Africa is a dry country, there is not a lot of opportunity for hydropower,’ says water engineer Marco van Dijk, ‘but it is actually low-hanging fruit.’
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The ceramics industry, which is still thriving today, came into being when humans discovered that they could form clay mixed with water into objects that could then be made more durable by subjecting them to heat.
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Despite the great advancements made by humankind through research, which is an exclusively human ability, nature still holds many unexplored secrets.
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A collaborative team effort is needed to counter the increasing danger of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in wildlife evident in the continuous spread of the disease to wildlife on unrelated properties in different parts of South Africa.
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A few years ago, PhD candidate Lourens Swanepoel, under supervision of Prof Michael Somers and Dr Fredrik Dalerum of the Centre for Wildlife Management at UP, decided to look into the survival rates and causes of mortality of leopards in southern Africa.
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The South African government have announced that more than R300 billion will be invested in transport infrastructure over the next three years in an effort to reduce road deaths and traffic congestion, while also expanding the country’s cargo transport capabilities.
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