ATKV honours academic for his environmental talks

Potchefstroom Campus - The Afrikaanse Taal- en Kultuurvereniging (ATKV) has honoured Prof Kobus van der Walt from the Faculty of Natural Sciences on the of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU) for his contributions to environmental matters.

He is the presenter of RSG’s “Omgewingspraatjie” that is broadcasted weekly. Prof Kobus is a professor in natural science and technology philosophy and a well known academic that specialises in environmental philosophy, hydrology, catchment area management and environmental management.

Prof Kobus was pleasantly surprised by the ATKV award. “In the past, I’ve always listened with great interest to RSG’s weekly “Omgewingspraatjie”. Little did I know that I would be taking over from Prof Tertius Harmse as presenter.” He still remembers how afraid he was about the “big shoes that he had to fill” as Prof Tertius’s successor.

“I still remember the first broadcast in March 2009 very well – I was drenched with sweat when I eventually put down the phone!” However, the programme is an “absolute joy” for him these days, and he says that, through his in-depth research for the programme, he still learns a lot about his fields of study.

He says he has a responsibility to make people aware of our influence on the environment. “Through small adjustments, everybody can still have a quality life without destroying the environment in the process.”

Prof Kobus thanked Derrich Gardiner and RSG, his colleagues at the NWU as well as the “friends of the environment” listeners. “Without the listeners’ questions, “Omgewingspraatjie” would have been much less interesting.”

Prof Kobus van der Walt (left) receives his award from Mr Japie Gouws, the ATKV’s managing director.