World Water Week
World Water Week is an annual global event focused on addressing water-related challenges and solutions. It is typically held in the last week of August, and in 2024 the Water Research Group (WRG) decided to acknowledge it in three different events. The first event was a collaborative effort initiated and organised by the WRG, the NWU Green Team Society, the Safety Health and Environment department (SHE), and the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. This river cleanup was held to remove trash and debris from a section of the Mooi River. Over 40 volunteers from various faculties and departments collected litter such as plastic, glass, and metal from the riverbanks near Trim Park, collecting around 100 bags of trash.
The second event focused on raising awareness about water conservation and the importance of healthy river systems. This event specifically highlighted the river's living inhabitants, particularly fish, to emphasise their ecological significance and encourage the next generation to protect these vital organisms. Members of the Water Research Group, supported by students from PhASRec (Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation) and Nature-I-Am (https://natureiam.co.za/), teamed up to provide an engaging educational experience for the 80 Grade 7 learners of Vyfhoek Primary School, located just outside Potchefstroom on the N12. Learners rotated through eight interactive stations each designed to explore a different aspect of fish biology and river ecology, combining education with fun and activities to reinforce the importance of water conservation.
The third event adopted a citizen science approach, offering a hands-on opportunity for participants to assess the health of the Mooi River from an ecological perspective. The goal of the event was to monitor various aspects of the river’s ecosystem, including invertebrate diversity, water quality, and bacterial presence, using standardised test kits and protocols. This information contributes valuable data to ongoing efforts to monitor and improve the health of the Mooi River ecosystem.
Raising awareness for clean water and a sustainable future
Fish Day
The annual Fish Day, hosted by the Water Research Group (WRG) from NWU, is an educational event about fish and the environment. This informative event highlights various aspects of fish, including their biology and behaviour patterns, through engaging games and exhibitions. Interested children are divided into groups and proceed to different stations focusing on various fish-related aspects, such as food web ecology, fish anatomy, lifecycles and breeding, habitats, behaviour, threats and fish parasites.
Fish Day is a platform to celebrate the importance of fish, raise awareness about conservation issues, and promote sustainable practices to safeguard aquatic ecosystems and the livelihoods of millions of people dependent on fisheries and aquaculture. By teaching young minds, it offers children a multifaceted learning experience that promotes environmental awareness, scientific inquiry, and appreciation for the natural world, laying the foundation for future conservation leaders and responsible stewards of the environment.
Ensuring future migratory fish species
Frog Day / Padda Dag
The African Amphibian Conservation Research Group (from NWU) celebrates an annual Frog Day, welcoming children of all ages to learn more about the wonderful world of frogs. This educational event aims to explore the captivating world of frogs under the guidance of passionate experts dedicated to amphibian conservation. The curious children move between different stations focused on different aspects of frog biology and behaviour, including anatomy, lifecycle stages, and ecological significance.
Frog Day serves not only as a celebration but also as a vital step in nurturing a generation of environmentally conscious individuals by imparting knowledge and empathy from an early age.