Annual demersal survey: New discoveries and other benefits

During the voyage aboard the FRS Africana, collections were made of rare and unknown invertebrate species, adding to our growing knowledge of these animals.

Science in action

Team taking sediment redox potential measurements in sediment cores to get an indication of how anoxic and reduced the sediments are

Spotlight on Salicornia tegetaria and its role in heavy metal localisation

A SAEON Elwandle Node research team found that Salicornia tegetaria, a dominant salt marsh plant in the Swartkops estuary, acts as a metal trap, localising the spread of heavy metals.

Putting the brake on locust outbreaks

Years with and without mass outbreaks of brown locusts correlate with subcontinental climatic phases. That makes a SAEON study compelling because of the potential indicator value of ecosystem status.

Preparations done for the first batch of hatching experiments

Trading the African sun for a gothic cellar in Belgium

Dr Betsie Milne from SAEON’s Arid Lands Node swapped her office in hot Kimberley for extensive lab work at one of the top universities in Europe for three icy winter months.

Figure 1: A demonstration of the Location of the Agulhas Current’s Core and Edges product that locates the position of the Agulhas Current using satellite seas surface height data. The colour bar shows ocean current speeds (in m/s) derived from sea surface height.

SAEON’s physical oceanographers enlisted to provide vital information

The team will contribute near real-time information and relevant metrics about the state of the ocean based on satellite information and numerical models.

Champions participating in the Antarctic Cities Youth Expedition. Back row, from left: Katia Macías, Punta Arenas; Chloe Power, Hobart; Caleb Fraser, Christchurch and Florencia Garro, Ushuaia; with Rudzani Silima of Cape Town in front (Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Leane)

Witnessing science in action: The Antarctic Cities Youth Expedition

The Antarctic Gateway Initiative took five young individuals representing the five key Antarctic gateway cities to the Antarctic Peninsula – to learn what it is like to live and work in extreme polar conditions.

SAEON field assistant Mightyman Mashele (right) translating information provided by Louise Swemmer (SANParks, centre) to Olinda Ngomana, a traditional healer of Welverdiend village in Mpumalanga in the run-up to the National State of Disaster (Photo: Tony Swemmer)

Traditional healers in a time of COVID-19

Traditional healers are particularly vulnerable to the spread of the coronavirus in rural areas, where people are likely to consult a traditional healer before going to a hospital or clinic.

Message from the MD

Alas! Or Hurray?

Despite the doom and gloom surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, SAEON is proud to have made a significant contribution to South Africa’s management of the COVID-19 state of disaster, says MD Johan Pauw.

People and networks

Icebreaker sunset cruise along the estuary (Photo: Lucienne Human)

PSSA 2020: Science exploration and discovery

This year’s Phycological Society of South Africa conference consisted of intensive talks and workshops, stromatolite hunting, macroalgae collection and snorkelling in a kelp forest.

Meet Elwandle’s new team members

SAEON’s Elwandle Coastal Node welcomed five new staff members in January 2020 under the Shallow Marine and Coastal Research Infrastructure.

Scientists attending the three-day symposium

Science in service of society

SAEON’s Egagasini Node was well represented at the Nansen Tutu Centre 10th Anniversary Symposium, with seven oceanographers in attendance.

Building vital capacity

The incoming GSN Steering Committee. From left: Amukelani Maluleke, Corianna Julie, Nasreen Burgher, Craig Mahlasi, Lindokuhle Dlamini and Marlize Muller (Photo: Jessica Els)

Meet the Graduate Student Network’s new steering committee

The new committee has kickstarted the planning for this year’s Indibano, a meeting place for postgraduate students to share their research and engage with leading researchers.

Dr Glenn Moncrieff assists individual students with R Studio as he takes a break from presenting

Data Visualisation R and QGIS workshop equips students to analyse datasets

Through these workshops the students not only learn new skills, but also meet other students, which broadens their academic networks.

Tsumbedzo explores part of the Northern Drakensberg mountain range during the 2020 conference of the South African Association of Botanists

Learning the Ndlovu way

Tzumbedzo Ramalevha reflects on the wide range of learning experiences he was exposed to as an intern at SAEON’s Ndlovu Node.

Science engagement

Supporting the linchpins of our education system

The Ndlovu Node presented an educators’ workshop on South African biomes and the Egagasini Node ran an exhibition and workshop at this year’s Science Teacher Day Workshop.

Measuring weather conditions and vegetation characteristics help us understand how these features of the landscape interact. Here Dr Robert Skelton explains how plant traits and plant water use are linked (Photo: Jasper Slingsby)

Leaves to landscapes

The Fynbos Node’s multi-faceted exhibit at the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s Career Day showcased most of the science team’s fields of expertise.

SAEON in the media

SAEON’s people and projects received coverage in national print, broadcast, online and social media.

The book of nature is written in the language
of mathematics.

~ Galileo Galilei

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