New field identification guide aids research through showcasing Limpopo’s botanical riches

With excellent colour photographs and distribution maps that indicate where the plants occur, the guide facilitates accurate identification of nearly 800 plant species. The content advances taxonomy and biogeographic research and will contribute to the description, mapping, assessment and improved management of plants and plant communities in South Africa.

Science and technology in action

A growing network of African woodlands data

PhD student Buster Mogonong reflects on the workshop he attended in Tanzania to gain a deeper understanding of the response of African woodlands to global change.

Developing a positive space for locusts in the anthropogenic world

Earlier this year, ten institutions, including NRF-SAEON, discussed forming a brown locust research working group to plan a research programme in coordination with farmers, other stakeholders and the government.

Dr Mary-Jane Bopape honoured as an exceptional change maker

The Humanitarian Awards Global has announced its 2022 Honorary Awardees. SAEON MD Dr Bopape is one of only two South African recipients among countries ranging from Ghana to the UK and the USA.

SkiMonkey III benthic camera system being deployed

Five years of benthic monitoring in the Sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean

Launched in 2013, the study was designed to monitor long-term variation in the pristine benthic communities around the Prince Edward Islands, using the Egagasini Node’s SkiMonkey III benthic camera system.

group of climate experts from around Africa

Towards a unified African voice on strengthening ocean-based actions

A special workshop was organised to produce Africa’s views on strengthening ocean-based actions. These will be presented at the Bonn meeting and will hopefully result in highlighting the importance of the ocean in the COP27 discussions.

Meet the SeaMap project’s new coordinating officer

Safiyya Sedick’s previous research has focused on offshore ecology, the identification of benthic macrofauna and describing new species of marine worms.

Message from the MD

Exploring SAEON territory and forging new connections

SAEON Managing Director Dr Mary-Jane Bopape says she is looking forward to continued engagements on national, regional, continental and global platforms that SAEON has been contributing to, and new ones that will be forged going forward.

Building vital capacity

SAEON’s Graduate Student Network to host the first in-person Indibano since the Covid-19 pandemic

The Indibano talks will be in three sub-themes – terrestrial, marine/aquatic and socio-ecological studies – to accommodate a broader spectrum of research work in line with the EFTEON and SAEON mandates.

Inspiring learners to appreciate and protect our biodiversity

NRF-SAEON’s Science Engagement team hosted three events for learners – an online celebration and two in-person workshops – to celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity 2022.

NRF-SAEON in the media

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

The public has a distorted view of science because children are taught in school that science is a collection of firmly established truths. In fact, science is not a collection of truths. It is a continuing exploration of mysteries.

~ Freeman Dyson

SAEON eNews