The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one who gets the people to do the greatest things.
~ Ronald Reagan
Link to: Newly established polar research infrastructure offers multiple opportunities
Newly established polar research infrastructure offers multiple opportunities
The South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI) will expand the world-class, long-term observational research infrastructure and datasets already established within South African polar and oceanographic research.
Science and technology in action
Link to: Little patches of diversity: the value of small fragments of pristine grasslands
Little patches of diversity: the value of small fragments of pristine grasslands
One of South Africa’s grassland ecosystems that is particularly threatened, is the Woodbush Granite Grassland in Limpopo. Only about six percent is still in a natural state, with the largest fragment being 192 ha. This small fragment contains ~660 plant species.
Link to: From beyond the grave: Elephant impacts on savannas even after death
From beyond the grave: Elephant impacts on savannas even after death
A multinational team of researchers, including scientists from SAEON, believe that the decay of even a single elephant carcass, because of its large size, can be significant in creating heterogeneity in the composition and ecological processes in savannas.
Link to: Drought effects on vegetation in the southern Succulent Karoo
Drought effects on vegetation in the southern Succulent Karoo
The area experienced widespread drought from 2015 to October 2021. These dry conditions, exacerbated by abnormally high temperatures, little cloud cover and high evapotranspiration rates, were to bring about major changes in vegetation, economics and land ownership.
Link to: Project FIND to strengthen research on the Mozambique Channel and the Agulhas Current
Project FIND sets out to strengthen research on the Mozambique Channel and the Agulhas Current
Professor Juliet Hermes, manager of the Egagasini Node, is one of seven international oceanographers selected by Seatrec to be equipped with world-class, sustainable technology to help save the ocean.
Link to: Creating South Africa’s very own Blue Schools
Creating South Africa’s very own Blue Schools
Blue Schools is an international programme aimed at improving the level of Ocean Literacy and Ocean Sciences. SAEON has been tasked with implementing the programme in South Africa.
Farewell message from the MD
Link to: Farewell message from the MD
Over the hill
As I am now reaching the top of Retirement Hill and looking back, it is fair to say that the journey I experienced with my fellow travellers in SAEON has been nothing short of exceptional. We have already moved far beyond our original vision and created a globally recognised institutionalised LTER network, the functionality of which is somewhat different from that of both a common bricks-and-mortar research institute and a network of such research institutions.
Tributes from the SAEON community
Link to: Steering the SAEON ship through the anchoring phase
Steering the SAEON ship through the anchoring phase
William Bond, Albert van Jaarsveld, Joh Henschel and Abeda Dawood trace the trajectory of SAEON’s remarkable growth and the pioneering role played by MD Johan Pauw.
Link to: A fully fledged SAEON stretches its wings and soars… tributes from the SAEON nodes
A fully fledged SAEON stretches its wings and soars
Fellow travellers in the SAEON Nodes remark on an incredible journey that stretched far beyond their expectations.
Link to: Spearheading SAEON’s research infrastructure and environmental data management
Spearheading SAEON’s infrastructure and data management
SAEON’s development as a distributed network with strong data management capabilities and an integrated operational focus positioned it as the ideal host for the environmental infrastructures in the SARIR stable.
Link to: Building vital capacity for the future
Crucial role in building future capacity
SAEON has helped build the foundations of a new generation aware of, and capable of, coping with future environmental challenges.
Link to: Tributes from the central hub of activity: SAEON’s National Office
From the central hub of activity
Staff members of the SAEON National office in Gauteng, from where Johan Pauw operated, pay tribute to him.
Link to: Peer (re)views: International and local bodies and networks
Peer (re)views – local and international
Peers from ILTER, the Department of Science and Innovation and the NRF acknowledge the role played by Johan in ILTER and the NSI.
Link to: The next chapter…
Embarking on the next chapter
“Goodbye tension, hello pension.” Johan, may you enjoy adventuring across all the biomes in your retirement.
Link to: SAEON in the media
SAEON in the media
SAEON’s people and projects received coverage in international and national print, online and social media.
SAEON eNews is the bimonthly online newsletter of the South African Environmental Observation Network.
SAEON is a research platform funded by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and managed by the National Research Foundation (NRF).
SAEON serves as a national platform for detecting, translating and predicting environmental change through scientifically designed observation systems and research.