Vacancy: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow - Forb Ecology Research Group (FERG)

Sub-programme: Ecological Interactions and Ecosystem Resilience (EIER)
Research group: Forb Ecology Research Group (FERG)

The North-West University’s Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management invites suitable applications for the Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Forb Ecology Research Group (FERG) as a plant ecologist within the Ecological Interactions and Ecosystem Resilience (EIER) sub-programme. Interested candidates are invited to familiarize themselves with the research themes of EIER through this link. 

This is a full-time Post-Doctoral Fellowship (PDF) funded through the NWU Post-Doctoral programme. The Unit currently has a number of positions available, and the PDF should commence as soon as possible. The fellowship is available for three years. The PDF position is reviewed on an annual basis and continuation thereof is subject to performance evaluation. The PDF will be based in Potchefstroom and hosted by Prof. Frances Siebert.

More information and application details here.

LDN National Working Group - Prof. Klaus Kellner

Sub-programme: Ecological Interactions and Ecosystem Resilience (EIER)
Subject group: Botany
Research group: EcoRestore

We wish to congratulate extraordinary Prof. Klaus Kellner on his appointment by the Director-General of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment to serve on the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) National Working Group to provide strategic oversight on the process of reviewing and updating of the LDN targets.

SAAB Silver Medal Award - Prof. Stefan Siebert

Sub-programme: Ecological Interactions and Ecosystem Resilience (EIER)
Subject group: Botany
Research group: GeoEco Lab

During the 49th Annual SAAB conference (7 - 11 January 2024 at Richard's Bay Campus, University of Zululand), Prof. Stefan Siebert was awarded the SAAB Silver Medal for significant contributions toward advancement of botany in South Africa.

Watch: https://fb.watch/pDAbPD56f2/
Prof. Stefan Siebert's major achievements in Botany: https://bit.ly/3S70swz

Keep an eye out for the next edition of ENVIRA for the more information.

Two new species of Stylochaeton (Araceae: Aroideae) from South Africa

MADELEEN STRUWIG, PRECIOUS T. LE ROUX, STEFAN J. SIEBERT & ABRAHAM E. VAN WYK

Sub-programme: Ecological Interactions and Ecosystem Resilience (EIER)
Subject group: Botany
Research group: GeoEco Lab

Researchers from the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management have recently discovered TWO new species of Arum lily / Varkoor on the hillsides of Sekhukhuneland. 
These species were previously identified as Stylochaeton natalense, but on closer inspection their reproductive structures were different than that of S. natalense. These species have now been described as A) Stylochaeton glaucophyllum (Blue bushveld arum / bloubosveldvarkoor) (blue-green leaves) and B) Stylochaeton sekhukhuniense (Sekhukhune bushveld arum / sekhukhunebosveldvarkoor).

Article in NEWS at NWU: https://news.nwu.ac.za/researchers-discover-two-new-species-bushveld-arum-lilies
Publication in Phytotaxa: https://news.nwu.ac.za/sites/news.nwu.ac.za/files/files/documents/Phytotaxa_Stylochaeton.pdf