NWU produces research for a better future

Welcome to the fourth edition of the North-West University's newsletter, Research@NWU. The aim of the newsletter is to showcase research projects, researchers and related events. This newsletter is one of seven, distributed to academic staff and researchers during the year.

Study shows 45% of young graduates consider themselves to be underemployed

After years of the proverbial blood, sweat and tears that go into studying, most graduates cannot wait to start their careers. With unemployment in South Africa as high as it is currently, getting your dream job is not always guaranteed.

While many qualified graduates are able to find employment, some end up underemployed.

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There's more to wind and solar power than electricity

In the past decade, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind have made some inroads in supplying "green" energy to the country's power grid. To be self-sustainable with the use of renewable electricity, methods of energy storage are required, as solar and wind are naturally fluctuating and not constant sources of energy. This is one of the research areas under investigation at the NWU, but there is much more that solar and wind energy can do than just generate electricity, says Nicolaas Engelbrecht.

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Management technology to ensure the right to water

Intelligent water management technologies could be the answer to some of South Africa's water challenges. This is the view of Nicolene Steyn, one of the youngest PhD students at the NWU's Faculty of Law, who believes smart technologies could help ensure the right to water. Her study, a desktop-based investigation of current sources, is the first to explore intelligent water management technologies and their potential to address legally relevant South African city-level water service delivery challenges.

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Optentia is among top of the POPS in the world

Positive organisational psychology (POP) is a fast-growing field, and the NWU's Optentia research focus area is among the top 10 in the world for publications and citations in this field. Optentia's top 10 status, which focuses on the positive aspects of optimal functioning at work, is confirmed in a recent article titled "Positive Organisational Psychology: A Bibliometric Review and Science Mapping Analysis", published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

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Tree plantations are harming ecosystems

Replacing native forests with tree plantations is harming the soil at a microbial level by having an impact on soil fertility and the health of the planet.

This is one of the conclusions of NWU academic Prof Olubukola Oluranti Babalola – who along with Dr Adenike Eunice Amoo – recently conducted ground-breaking research to investigate the impact of land-use change on soil bacterial communities and characteristics.

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Getting the Constitution to work for street traders

While the informal economy is lifting hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty, several municipal by-laws hinder the growth of their businesses, and – to some extent – allow for the violation of their rights.

Nonhlanhla Ngcobo, a PhD researcher from the NWU, believes a possible solution for the protection and development of this sector lies in the Constitution.

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