Contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

The research undertaken by the North-West University Water Research Group (WRG) is driven by the belief that excellent science should not only advance knowledge but also contribute to solving real-world environmental challenges. Through interdisciplinary research in ecology, ecotoxicology and parasitology, the WRG generates scientific evidence that supports biodiversity conservation, healthy aquatic ecosystems, sustainable water-resource management and environmental stewardship.

To demonstrate this broader societal impact, Scopus maps published research outputs to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) using publication and citation data from the past ten years. These internationally recognised metrics provide an indication of how research contributes to addressing global sustainability priorities and highlight the reach and significance of scientific outputs within the international research community.

The figures below illustrate the WRG's contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals through its peer-reviewed publications. The group's strongest contributions are to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), reflecting the WRG's focus on ecosystem health, water security, biodiversity conservation and One Health. Importantly, WRG research contributes to 14 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, demonstrating that understanding, protecting and restoring healthy aquatic ecosystems has far-reaching benefits for environmental sustainability, human well-being and sustainable development.

Click here to view the summary

Last updated: June 2026
Comments on the content and accessibility, please contact: Adri Joubert