Maintaining long-term research infrastructure in a fire-prone environment

Fynbos Node technician Abri de Buys weighs up the pros and cons of evacuating high-value instruments when faced with possible fire or other large-scale disturbance.

Science and technology in action

Four successive seismic events along the South African coast – cause for concern?

Although South Africa is not a high-risk area for tsunami events, four earthquakes within a space of five months served as a reminder to coastal disaster management bodies that our coast is not entirely immune.

A variety of subtropical marine species washed up along the east coast near Tshani-Mankhosi in the Transkei.

Physics key suspect in east coast mass mortality event

Two SAEON nodes played a key role in tracking and monitoring a large fish mortality event along South Africa’s east coast, where a wide range of subtropical species washed up along the shore.

Rob measuring plant water status with a pressure chamber in the Cederberg.

Dr Rob Skelton receives country’s highest postdoctoral research rating

The National Research Foundation’s P-rating is typically awarded to fewer than seven people a year across all disciplines. P-rated researchers are considered likely to become future international leaders in their fields.

African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana) are ecosystem engineers, moderating the type and quality of habitat for other fauna

Are our reserves evolving into a Jurassic World?

To prevent a situation where giants rule, there needs to be some cap on the population size of megafauna in our wildlife reserves, says Ndlovu Node technician Rion Lerm.

Analysis of land cover changes in the Maputaland Coastal Plain

Regularly updated and long-term land-use data is vital to improve our understanding of changes in the land surface and the impact on water resources.

The NRF Ocean Accounts Framework Work Programme 2 is developing ecosystem extent and condition accounts for Algoa Bay (pictured) as a case study

Ocean accounting: Classifying marine and coastal ecosystems

The Ocean Accounts Framework Work Programme 2 is focused on developing ecosystem extent and condition accounts for Algoa Bay as a case study.

Celebrating 10 years with SAEON

Tshililo Ramaswiela looks back on his many and varied career highlights as a field technician pioneering long-term observation at SAEON’s Arid Lands Node.

Message from the MD

A tribute to an exceptional Earth System Scientist and his instructive role in SAEON and ILTER

A conclusive part of the remarkable legacy left by internationally renowned scientist Bob Scholes is the creation of SAEON and EFTEON, through which his good work is continued, locally and internationally.

Building vital capacity

SAEON hosts its first online Fame-Lab® competition

Addressing topics ranging from terrestrial to oceanic science, the enthusiastic competitors presented their research to a public audience in under three minutes, with some using props to better explain their topic.

Reflections on an internship

A DSI-NRF internship at the Ndlovu Node enabled Tsumbedzo Ramalevha to develop and refine vital skills such as communication, problem solving, analytical thinking, accuracy and time management.

Science engagement

SAEON highlights marine science careers at annual career summit

Learners were guided through an online marine science career platform developed by SAEON to enable them to explore the platform on their own and get acquainted with the different careers.

Egagasini Node presents online science camp for grade 9 learners

The learners were exposed to various fields of science, the scientific method, data analysis, women in science and careers in science. They also had ample opportunity to interact with scientists.

How to make every drop count

Learners from Ba-Phalaborwa were taken on a tour of the Oxford water-quality monitoring stations to learn more about water-monitoring techniques and processes and the technologies that enable water quality control.

SAEON in the media

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

Science is the best process that humans have yet developed to provide insight into an apparently magical, yet very real world.”

~ Dr Rob Skelton, P-rated Research Fellow, SAEON

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