Link to: Shaping Africa’s Marine Future: Inside the OPERA & African Digital Twin Workshops, Cotonou, Benin, 12-16 October 2026
Shaping Africa’s Marine Future: Inside the OPERA and African Digital Twin Workshops, Cotonou, Benin, 12-16 October 2026
NRF-SAEON Egagasini team members attended the second OPERA workshop that took place between the 12th and the 14th of October in Cotonou, Benin, University of Abomey-Calavi through the UNESCO International Chair of Mathematical Physics and Applications.
Science and technology in action
Link to: Standardizing River Monitoring Across Lowveld’s Major Catchments
Standardizing River Monitoring Across Lowveld’s Major Catchments
A SAEON EFTEON technician joined experts in the Lowveld in preparation for EFTEON’s upcoming baseline sampling campaign across the Sabie, Sand, and Crocodile River catchments.
Link to: Two More Weather Stations Deployed – EFTEON Lowveld Landscape Expands its Climate Monitoring Footprint
Two More Weather Stations Deployed – EFTEON Lowveld Landscape Expands its Climate Monitoring Footprint
The number of active weather stations in the Lowveld Landscape Network is now five.
Link to: Through the functional ecology looking glass: How do plant functional traits respond to climate and soil in Griqualand West?
Through the functional ecology looking glass: How do plant functional traits respond to climate and soil in Griqualand West?
MSc Student Anika Botha’s research project Exploring how plant functional traits respond to climate and soil in Griqualand West.
Message from the MD
Link to: Message from the MD Dr Ashley Naidoo
A message from the MD, Dr Ashley Naidoo
Thank you for the warm welcome. I look forward to visiting you at your work sites over the next two quarters. This month’s science meeting and recognition awards celebrate SAEON’s excellence, including five ICID awards for Dr. Zanele Ntshidi and the South African National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage. With such high-performing teams delivering at scale, we have a strong foundation to build greater impact together.
People and networks
Link to: NRF-SAEON Egagasini Highlights Ocean Science and Community Partnerships at Nairobi Convention COP12 in Tanzania
NRF-SAEON Egagasini Highlights Ocean Science and Community Partnerships at Nairobi Convention COP12 in Tanzania
NRF-SAEON Egagasini Node attended the 12th Conference of the Parties (COP12) to the Nairobi Convention in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Link to: SAEON Contributes to SAHS Conference in the Drakensberg
SAEON Contributes to SAHS Conference in the Drakensberg
NRF-SAEON played a prominent role during the South African Hydrological Society (SAHS) conference held at the Champagne Sports Resort in the Central Drakensberg from 1 to 3 September.
Link to: Crop Water Use at a Scale Farmers Can Act On
Crop Water Use at a Scale Farmers Can Act On
Ameera Yacoob, an NRF-SAEON-hosted PhD candidate at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), was invited to present in a WRC special session at the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) 2026 Conference.
Link to: South Africa wins big at the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage conference in France
South Africa wins big at the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage conference in France
The South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON) congratulates Dr Zanele Ntshidi, and the South African National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (SANCID) for winning five awards at the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID).
Building vital capacity
Link to: Advancing Ecological Monitoring: Highlights from the 18th SAEON GSN Indibano
Advancing Ecological Monitoring through Innovative Technologies: Highlights from the 18th SAEON GSN Indibano
The 18th SAEON Graduate Student Network (GSN) Indibano, held in Mpumalanga from 13–18 September 2026, under the theme “Advancing Ecological Monitoring through Innovative Technologies.”
Link to: Bringing the Ocean Inland: Connecting Ocean Knowledge to Inland Communities
Bringing the Ocean Inland: Connecting Ocean Knowledge to Inland Communities
NRF-SAEON, led by Dr Tammy Morris of the Egagasini Node, hosted a workshop
Link to: Bringing marine biodiversity to life: Our experience at the Deep-sea Biodiversity and Applied Taxonomy Workshop
Bringing marine biodiversity to life: Our experience at the Deep-sea Biodiversity and Applied Taxonomy Workshop
SAEON’s Egagasini Benthic Biodiversity team participated in the SponBIODIV project’s Deep-sea Biodiversity and Applied Taxonomy Workshop, hosted at the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town.
Link to: Connecting Science, Policy, and People: Reflections on the IOI-SA Ocean Governance Training Programme
Connecting Science, Policy, and People: Reflections on the IOI-SA Ocean Governance Training Programme
NRF-SAEON Safiyya Sedick attends the International Ocean Institute Southern Africa (IOI-SA) Ocean Governance Training Programme.
Science engagement
Link to: Inspiring Future Environmental Scientists: The Grade 11 Science Camp 2026
Inspiring Future Environmental Scientists: The Grade 11 Science Camp 2026
Arid Lands Node hosted 20 learners from 28 to 30 September 2026 at Sandveld Nature Reserve for a Grade 11 Science Camp.
Link to: Rooted in Science
Rooted in science
The NRF-SAEON Elwandle Node, Shallow Marine and Coastal Research Infrastructure (SMCRI) staff empowers grassroots innovators from quintile 1 schools.
Link to: Exploring Biodiversity: SAEON Grade 9 Science Camp at Bonamanzi Game Reserve
Exploring Biodiversity: SAEON Grade 9 Science Camp at Bonamanzi Game Reserve
SAEON’s Grasslands Node hosted a Grade 9 Science camp bringing together 16 learners and three educators from four schools across the Maputaland Coastal Plain (MCP)
Link to: Blue Schools 2026 Showcases South Africa’s Next Generation of Environmental Researchers
Blue Schools 2026 Showcases South Africa’s Next Generation of Environmental Researchers
The 2026 Blue Schools Conference was held on the 14 October, bringing together learners, educators, guests and partners for a day dedicated to learner-led science and ocean research.
Link to: NRF-SAEON in the media 04/2026
SAEON in the media
SAEON’s people and projects received coverage in national print, broadcast, online and social media.
