Understanding bug behaviour to tackle Africa’s food challenges – UP’s Prof Chris Weldon delivers inaugural lecture

Posted on April 25, 2025

Prof Weldon’s impactful address focused on how better knowledge about the biology of tiny pests could solve some of Africa's most significant agricultural challenges

UP researcher discovers two new dung beetle species which don't roll balls or use dung

Posted on November 13, 2024

Over the past two decades, field trips in search of dung beetles have taken University of Pretoria (UP) doctoral student Christian Deschodt across Southern Africa. But it was a well-trodden walk to fetch his kids from school, a mere 1,5km from his home near Hartbeespoort, that saw him stumble...

Dr Vermeulen appointed to South African National Committee of the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research

Posted on September 30, 2024

Dr Els Vermeulen, Research Manager of the Mammal Research Institute (MRI)’s Whale Unit, has been appointed to the South African National Committee of the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR).

#UPGRADUATION2024: Four-time UP graduate adds PhD to her name

Posted on September 10, 2024

Congrats to Nina Parry, who’s just graduated from UP for an incredible fourth time! This time she received her PhD for research focused on developing rearing methods for black soldier flies in start-up bioconversion facilities

Prof Torto inducted as International Fellow of National Academy of Sciences

Posted on September 10, 2024

Prof Baldwyn Torto, an Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Zoology and Entomology at the University of Pretoria (UP), was recently inducted into the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) as an International Fellow.

NAS boasts six staff members as finalists for 2023/24 ‘Science Oscars’

Posted on July 01, 2024

Six of the twelve individuals from the University of Pretoria (UP) who have been announced as finalists in the 2023/2024 NSTF-South32 Awards, popularly known as the “Science Oscars” of South Africa, hail from the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS).

UP experts contribute to discovery of new ‘superpowers’ in mole rats, which could inform human health interventions

Posted on June 04, 2024

University of Pretoria (UP) scientists have contributed to discovering how the naked mole rat is able to withstand heart attacks and fend off bowel cancer, two of the most fatal human ailments in the developed world. Their findings were published recently in two Nature Communications papers.

First edition (May 2024) of Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences newsletter (SquaredUP)

Posted on June 03, 2024

The first edition for 2024 (May 2024) of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences newsletter (SquaredUP) is now available.