News
UP vets perform extractive tusk surgery on elephant in Poland
Two University of Pretoria (UP) veterinarians saved the life of a 5.5-ton elephant at Poznan Zoo in Poland, by performing a surgical extraction of his damaged tusk. Ninio, an African elephant, suffered a severe infection in July after a crack appeared at the bottom of his right tusk.
UP researchers call for women to lead socio-economic transformation
South Africa faces many social and economic problems including poverty and inequality, but researchers working to solve these issues say it is important to focus on women in order to fix them.
University of Pretoria tops ranks in new DHET report on SA research outputs
A recently released Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) report reveals that the University of Pretoria (UP) produced the most weighted research outputs per capita for 2017, as well as the highest number of published research outputs in South Africa. UP also produced the most weighted research outputs per capita in 2015.
UP researchers lead the charge to protect women and children from the effects of HIV
Two UP researchers are looking into the progress of children born to HIV positive mothers to see if life-saving ARVs have any adverse effects on their early development.
UP in top three of South African universities as it improves its researchers’ rating
The University of Pretoria has significantly improved its international standing and ranking by strengthening its position within the 400 – 500 band of the top universities in the world. The exciting development places UP in the top three South African universities, according to the latest 2019 Academic Ranking of World Universities, released by the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy.
UP’s Prof Adrian Tordiffe wins SA Veterinary Association’s Research Award for work on health of cheetahs
University of Pretoria Professor Adrian Tordiffe, an associate professor in veterinary pharmacology at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, was recently honoured with the South African Veterinary Association’s Research Award for his in-depth work on the health and metabolism of cheetahs.
Don’t be afraid of outperforming others, says UP innovator Prof Alice Chan
In part three of our #WomenofUP series this August, we speak to Professor Alice Chan who lectures in Innovation Management at the Graduate School of Technology Management, Faculty of Engineering, Build Environment and Information Technology. She asserts that women should have the mentality that they are not worth less than men.
UP actively boosts women professors and researchers
South African universities are actively pursuing gender equality and academic advancement opportunities to substantially increase the number of women professors and leading researchers.
SA economy requires 4IR research-intensive boost
In the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, universities are expected to be central actors of scientific, social and technological change in the drive for innovation and economic growth. It is against this background that countries are enhancing their competitiveness by strengthening their research-intensive universities.
South Africa’s carbon tax matters – for the economy and tackling climate change
Carbon tax is likely to be an effective way of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, which lead to climate change and have negative consequences for human life. But the carbon tax that’s been introduced in South Africa could cost jobs, unless people acquire skills that can be used in sectors that are not carbon-intensive.
Global award a ‘career highlight’ for UP seed scientist
Prof Terry Aveling from the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Pretoria recently won the award for the best paper presentation at the 32nd International Seed Testing Association Congress in Hyderabad, India.
UP Microbiology PhD student wins international prize
A UP PhD student in microbiology, Itumeleng Baloyi, was recently awarded the first prize for the best poster presentation at the Phytochemical Society of Europe and Young Scientist Meeting 2019 in Budapest, Hungary.
South Africa’s first SDG report card: how to move beyond ticking boxes
South Africa will present its first progress report on the Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations on 17 July. This report will provide a rather extensive snapshot of the country’s progress towards the 169 ambitious targets.
6 NSTF ‘brilliants’ studying at UP join astronomy tour
Six University of Pretoria (UP) first-year students recently went on a weeklong tour arranged by the National Science and Technology Forum as part of its Brilliants Programme for first-year students who excelled in grade 12 in 2018.
67% of seals are at risk of entanglement in oceanic plastic pollution, UP review of global data suggests
Researchers at UP have conducted a global review of studies on the entanglement of pinnipeds in oceanic plastic pollution, and found that 67% of these aquatic mammals are at risk of entanglement. Pinnipeds have front and rear flippers, and the group includes seals, sea lions and walruses.
‘Loss of species is an existential threat to humans’ – UP academics respond to UN extinction report
Wild spaces and the animals in them are disappearing at an alarming rate, according to the recent United Nations (UN) report on the extinction of species.
What now for arts and culture in SA? – Future Africa at UP hosts public forum on the state of the arts
As South Africa awaited President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of his new Cabinet, a rousing discussion at the May public forum at the Future Africa campus explored the way forward for the Department of Arts and Culture.
UP academics’ work on African mole-rat research could pave way for new painkillers for humans
Three University of Pretoria (UP) scientists are part of a team whose research on African mole-rats has led to a discovery that may hold the key to pain management in humans.
International Day of Action for Women’s Health: Implications of Caster Semenya ruling must be carefully weighed, says UP professor
The recent verdict by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), who rejected Caster Semenya’s challenge against the International Associations of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rules forcing her to lower her testosterone levels in order to compete internationally, has been described as an injustice to female athletes.
UP, HSRC and DST launch “rich and timely” publication on poverty and inequality
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) in conjunction with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Pretoria (UP) recently launched a flagship publication entitled Poverty and Inequality: Diagnosis, Prognosis and Responses, described by former Minister of Public Enterprises Alec Erwin as “a rich and timely contribution to a national reflection on the establishment and quality of our democratic nation state”.