Featured Research: Sustainability

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South Africa developing a booming crocodile economy

How do you get a crocodile to urinate in a cup? That is one of the questions that Dr Jan Myburgh from the University of Pretoria (UP) and his colleagues have had to research in order to develop reliable, effective ways of monitoring the health of farmed crocodiles in anticipation of a coming boom in the local industry.

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Capital cities in the spotlight at UP

With most of the world’s population now living in cities and the current rate of urbanization showing no signs of abating, the sustainable management of urban areas has become one of the most important development challenges of our time.

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Thinking out of the dam: pipeline power

‘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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Clear track to the future

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.

Lecture

'Energy efficiency and demand side management: Do they still come to the rescue?'

The lecture gives an overview of the research activities of CNES which is a Centre of Excellence focused on energy efficiency research, service and development. It hosts the National Hub for the Postgraduate Programme in Energy Efficiency and Demand-side Management of which Prof Xia is the director, as well as the Exxaro Chair in Energy Efficiency. Prof Xia discusses energy efficiency and...

Story

Have your (low GI) cake and eat it

Food with a low glycaemic index (GI) is generally considered healthier because it is digested at a slower rate than high GI food, thus providing sustained energy release. However, many people prefer high GI food such as cake because it simply tastes better.