Prof Stuart Piketh
Prof Roelof Burger
Prof Roelof Burger is an atmospheric scientist with a research interest in understanding, observing and modelling the sources, fates and impacts of anthropogenic emissions. He has more than 15 years of experience in this field and holds a PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand. He has been part of more than 50 research projects in South Africa, Namibia, Mali, Libya, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, Australia, Italy, France, Thailand and the United States. He has been the principal investigator on numerous projects with a total value of more than $500000 and a co-principal investigator on projects of more than $2mil. Current research projects include the feasibility of intentional weather modification through cloud seeding, and managing air quality.
Prof Pieter Van Zyl
Prof Pieter Van Zyl is currently a group leader of the Atmospheric Chemistry Research Group (ACRG) at the North-West University (NWU), which focuses on ground-based in-situ atmospheric measurements, but research related to laboratory investigations, satellite observations and modelling is also conducted. He is currently node manager of the atmospheric node of BIOGRIP (Biogeochemistry Research Infrastructure Project) – a research infrastructure platform funded by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) within the South African Research Infrastructure Roadmap (SARIR) framework; convenor of the steering committee of the IGAC (International Global Atmospheric Chemistry) and WMO (World Meteorological Organisation) endorsed international DEBITS (Deposition of Biogeochemical Important Trace Species) project; as well as co-chair of the IGAC Southern Hemisphere Working Group steering committee. He is co-author of >80 publications in ISI accredited peer reviewed journals (excluding peer-reviewed conference proceedings) and 3 book chapters. He supervised/co-supervised 16 PhD and 24 MSc studies that have been completed since 2008, and is currently supervisor/co-supervisor of another 7 postgraduate studies that are in process. He is a South African National Research Foundation (NRF) rated scientist.
Prof Jacques Berner
Prof Jacques Berner is an Associate Professor at the School of Biological Sciences of the North-West University’s Potchefstroom campus. He teaches plant physiology to pre- and post-graduate students. He started his career at the North-West University in October 2007. Before his appointment at the NWU, he worked in the private sector, developing and testing fertigation products. He matriculated from Hoërskool Diamantveld in Kimberley. After studying at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, I obtained my B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Botany. I am a broadly trained plant physiologist with a keen interest in understanding nature through the lens of a plant scientist. His research mainly focuses on the photosynthetic processes in plants. He ultimately strives to improve his understanding of the interaction between plants and their environment. His current research projects revolve around the impacts of abiotic stress on crops and the physiological responses of weeds to herbicides. In addition, he participates in the development of new crops for a changing climate.
Dr Adeline Ngie
Dr Adeline Ngie's academic background that stemmed from Environmental Science, Geography and Environmental Management has led her through diverse research from anthropogenic activities on water and vegetation to applications of earth observation (GIS and remote sensing). The latter has driven most of her recent research into urban climates and crop productivity monitoring. She is also keen in interdisciplinary research within low-income urban communities and in collaborations currently within an NRF-Water-Energy-Food Nexus project with the Faculty of Law and other partners at the Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University (The Netherlands). She has been involved with research projects locally and internationally from conception to realisation. She has a passion to mentor other young scientists from through the University of Johannesburg, University of South Africa, and currently with the North-West University (NWU) from 2019. She has contributed to the world of knowledge through journal publications, conferences at both local and international levels where she has participated in discussions and presented papers within plenary, working and also technical sessions. Her TWAS-DFG award has led to a research collaboration with the TU- Dresden in Germany and other southern African partners looking into Smart monitoring of climate parameters for improving crop productivity within agricultural areas. She is part of a UNESCO-IGCP on investigating the impacts of mining activities in Africa which is a collaboration with scientists from seven other African countries.
Dr Sheldon Strydom
Dr Sheldon Strydom is a climatologist with interests in understanding the impacts of climate change at local to regional scales. He has 7 years of experience in the field of atmospheric sciences and holds a PhD from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He has published his research in international peer-reviewed journals such as “Climatic Change” and “Weather, Climate, and Society”. He has co-supervised 2 PhD students to completion, and is currently co-supervising 3 PhD candidates and 3 MSc candidates. He also serves as a subject editor of the local journal “Water SA”.
Mr Daniel Boshoff
Mr Danie Boshoff is a Physical Geographer who is currently pursuing his PhD on fire events at selected study areas in South Africa. He joined the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the NWU in February 2018. He specializes in fire science, pyrogeography, and interactions between climate and fire events.
Ms Nisa Ayob
Ms Nisa Ayob is an Alumni at the NWU and a lecturer with 5 years of teaching experience. Her main interest in both teaching and research is in applied GIS. Nisa is currently pursuing her PhD in Environmental Sciences titled “The impact of climate change on the Schistosoma transmitting snails in South Africa”. Her expertise lies on applications of GIS in applied environmental science and water borne diseases. Research Interests are in GIS and Remote Sensing, Water borne diseases, Vector diseases, Severe weather, Dust emissions.
Ms Ncobile Nkosi
Ms Ncobile Nkosi Lecturer at the North-West University and a PhD student under the climatology research group. Lecturing Geomorphology and interested in the relationship between atmospheric science and human sciences. Would describe myself as a philosopher and an influencer. Enjoy interacting with Students and Sharing science knowledge. I am a physical geographer however I have deep appreciation for Human Geography. My research interests include air pollution, water borne diseases and atmospheric sciences and soils.
Mr Phathu Mukwevho
School for Geo- and Spatial Sciences | Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management
Mr Phathu Mukwevho obtained his B.Sc, B.Sc ( Honours) and M.Sc. degrees from the University of Johannesburg and is currently enrolled for a dual doctoral programme with NWU and Keele University in the UK. His research focus is on evaluating the effectiveness of environmental and air quality governance policy instruments.
Dr Henno Havenga
School for Geo- and Spatial Sciences | Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management
NWU Potchefstroom Campus, Building E4, Room G48
Research specialism: Convective weather events, Numerical weather prediction, Anthropogenic impacts on the atmosphere
Dr Henno Havenga completed his PhD in 2022 where he examined intended and unintended anthropogenic impacts on severe convective storms over the industrial Highveld. He’s assisted various field campaigns locally and internationally, measuring ambient air pollution in rural settlements, chasing tornadoes with unmanned aerial vehicles, flying in thunderstorms to characterise ice particles and installing weather stations in remote locations. Dr Havenga teaches 1st year through to honours level students in general climatology, applied climatology, agricultural climatology, and remote sensing and GIS techniques.