Opp-Gen Research and Conservation

22/04/2026

We often speak about the planet as something separate from us, something to protect or restore, but much of the work shared at the Oppenheimer Research Conference points to how closely people, health and the natural world are connected.

Conservation does not sit apart from people; it moves through communities, health systems, and the landscapes we inhabit together.

As Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka reflected, “We can’t ask people to protect wildlife if they don’t have their basic needs met. Healthy people, healthy animals, healthy environment; it’s one system.”

This idea was explored at the 14th ORC through a number of addresses and discussions, including Dr David Western’s reflections on coexistence across landscapes and Dr Duan Biggs’ work on how the responsibilities and benefits of conservation are shared.

is a reminder of that connection. The work is in how we sustain it.

A recent Daily Maverick feature on Dr Hayley Clements, the inaugural JWO Research Grant recipient, offers a closer look at how this interconnection plays out in practice, showing how much of Africa’s biodiversity persists within the landscapes where people live and work.

Read the article: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-04-06-from-discovery-to-impact-mapping-africas-biodiversity/

22/04/2026

The Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Research Grant (JWO Research Grant) supports early-career African scientists working at the intersection of biodiversity, conservation, and real-world impact.

In a recent Tipping Points conversation, past recipients reflect on how their work has shaped policy, informed conservation practice, and developed over time.

If you meet the criteria and are considering applying, this is a useful place to start.

– USD 150,000 research grant
– Up to three years of support
– Applications close 1 May 2026

Watch the conversation and explore what is possible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_AwDjRBoi8&list=PL94jzJdLEUFYBn5p_-zneYBgVtrw8vBIl&index=25

Explore the full criteria and begin your application: https://jworesearchgrant.org/grant-application/

Dr Nompumelelo Catherine Baso Gideon Idowu Hayley Clements

07/04/2026

Dr Hayley Clements, one of the participants in an upcoming Tipping Points webinar, reveals that sub-Saharan Africa has lost a quarter of its biodiversity, stressing the need for inclusive conservation…

07/04/2026

A quarter of sub-Saharan Africa’s biodiversity has already been lost — yet more than 80% of the remaining biodiversity persists outside formally protected areas.

In this article by Daily Maverick, Dr Hayley Clements reflects on the findings of a continent-wide study and the need to rethink conservation — placing people, working landscapes, and local stewardship at the centre.

Read the full piece:

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-04-06-from-discovery-to-impact-mapping-africas-biodiversity/

Dr Hayley Clements, one of the participants in an upcoming Tipping Points webinar, reveals that sub-Saharan Africa has lost a quarter of its biodiversity, stressing the need for inclusive conservation…

06/04/2026

What happens after a scientist receives the Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Research Grant?

In our next Tipping Points webinar, past recipients unpack what comes next — the breakthroughs, the setbacks, and the reality of turning African research into real-world impact.

Join Dr Hayley Clements, Dr Gideon Idowu and Dr Nompumelelo Catherine Baso as they share how their work continues to shape scientific leadership across the continent.

From the field to policy, from data to decision-making, this is where science meets change.

Tuesday, 7 April 2026 | 13:00–14:00 SAST

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tipping-points-38-tickets-1985436953374?aff=oddtdtcreator

25/03/2026

Applications are now open for the Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Research Grant 2026!

Now in its eighth year, the grant supports qualified early-career African scientists working on research that advances biodiversity conservation and provides solutions to some of Africa’s most pressing environmental challenges.

The award provides USD 150,000 to enable an independent research programme of up to three years.

Eligible candidates are encouraged to review the criteria carefully before submitting their applications.

Further information, including eligibility requirements and application guidelines, is available here:
https://jworesearchgrant.org/grant-application/

Applications close on 1 May 2026.

17/03/2026

Applications for the 2026 Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer (JWO) Research Grant open on 23 March.

The grant supports early-career African scientists whose work advances biodiversity conservation and environmental stewardship across the continent.

Applicants must hold a PhD, have no more than seven years of post-doctoral research experience, be affiliated with a credible African institution able to manage grant funding, and propose research focused on and conducted in Africa.

One successful applicant will receive USD 150,000 to support an independent research programme of up to three years, enabling rigorous, African-led scientific inquiry grounded in local ecological realities.

If you are an eligible researcher working on complex environmental challenges in Africa, we encourage you to begin preparing your application.

Swipe through to see the brilliant JWO Research Grant recipients to date.

Dr Nompumelelo Catherine Baso | Dr Shannon Conradie | Dr Lova Marline | Dr Elizabeth Le Roux | Dr Gideon Idowu | Dr Bernard Coetzee | Dr Hayley Clements

16/03/2026

Registration is now open for the 15th Oppenheimer Research Conference (ORC), taking place from 7 to 9 October 2026 at the Randjesfontein Cricket Ground, Midrand.

Since its inception in 2010, the ORC has become a recognised highlight on the science calendar. It continues to bring researchers, practitioners, and students together to share ideas that support the conservation of ecosystems, biodiversity, and heritage.

Abstract submissions are now open for those wishing to be considered for oral or poster presentations. Contributions should be grounded in evidence, attentive to context, and relevant to the natural and environmental sciences.

To register for the conference or submit an abstract — and to view conference fees, deadlines, and submission guidelines — please visit: https://og.flock.events/ep/page?event=15th-oppenheimer-research-conference

The deadline for abstract submissions is 5 June 2026.

04/03/2026

Dr Lovanomenjanahary Marline was awarded the Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer (JWO) Research Grant in 2023 for her bryophyte research in the tropical Afro-Malagasy region in Madagascar.

Dr Marline’s research focuses on bryophytes — mosses and liverworts that thrive in cool, elevated places. Though small and often overlooked, they are highly sensitive to environmental change and pollution. By studying their diversity and distribution across Madagascar’s mountain massifs, she is building a vital biodiversity resource while using these plants as natural indicators of air quality and shifting climate patterns.

This work reflects the intention behind the grant: to support rigorous, African-led research that responds to complex environmental challenges.

Applications for the 2026 JWO Research Grant will open soon. If you are an early-career African scientist working at the intersection of biodiversity and conservation, watch this space.

21/02/2026

On World Pangolin Day, we acknowledge the long-term research at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve to help better understand and conserve the Temminck’s pangolin.

Researchers based at Tswalu have used tracking, diet analysis, and physiological monitoring to reveal how this elusive mammal responds to seasonal shifts in food and temperature and how its foraging influences the Kalahari ecosystem.

Insights from ongoing research will help establish protocols for assessing pangolin health and welfare and inform emerging efforts to support the release of rehabilitated pangolins back into the wild.

This work contributes to global knowledge of a species threatened by illegal trade, helping to guide efforts that safeguard pangolins, their habitats, and our understanding of Temminck’s pangolin across South Africa’s landscapes.

Images by Marcus Westberg

31/01/2026

One of Tswalu's resident species is the Hartmann’s mountain zebra, identified by its dewlap, orange-brown muzzle, and stripes that stop at the stomach.

This subspecies is adapted to arid, rocky terrain, and large tracts of mountain shrubveld on Tswalu’s Korannaberg foothills provide the ideal habitat for them.

Research by PhD student Paulo Ribeiro, supported by Oppenheimer Generations and the Tswalu Foundation, explores how environmental change, anthropogenic impact, and competition with other zebra species cause spatial restrictions for the vulnerable herbivore.

This work contributes to a better understanding of the factors influencing the species’ survival and helps identify where protection and management efforts can have valuable impact.

Images by Barry Peiser Wildlife Photography and Hailey Pope

Tswalu Kalahari Reserve Wits - University of the Witwatersrand

26/01/2026

COP30 may be over, but the work continues through initiatives like our partners at the Future Ecosystems for Africa (FEFA) programme.

Led by Professor Laura Pereira and Professor Sally Archibald, FEFA engages with several of COP30’s core priorities, including nature-based solutions, climate adaptation, and equitable climate action. Grounded in African leadership and evidence, the programme challenges one-size-fits-all approaches and helps clarify what to protect, where to restore it, and how decisions can better reflect local realities.

FEFA connects researchers and projects across the continent to support action on conservation and development challenges. This was discussed during a panel at the 14th Oppenheimer Research Conference, where the team explained how their work transitions from research to tools and actions, ultimately leading to better-informed policy that strengthens African voices in global conservation dialogues.

Insights from FEFA are highly relevant as global attention focuses on climate finance, resilience, and biodiversity, guiding strategies rooted in science, social equity, and African priorities.

Wits - University of the Witwatersrand UN Climate Change