National Research Foundation

05/11/2026

The International Union of Architects has recognised the contribution of a Science Shop project in ensuring access to safe, adequate and affordable housing through participatory design, research and advocacy.

The recognition was part of the annual World Architecture Day, which draws attention to the collective responsibility that architects hold in shaping sustainable, inclusive, and resilient environments.

The Science Shop participatory research project, titled “Co-Creating Wellness and Dignity”, is aimed at understanding the challenges and strengths of the communities of Melusi informal settlements through participatory action research.

The increasing number of informal settlements in South Africa is an indicator of the vast imbalances and a systemic failure within the city. The purpose of the study is to document and map the community services, buildings, and environment, and to understand living conditions in these communities and how this affects health and well-being.

The project is hosted by the University of Pretoria and led by Prof Carin Combrink.

NRF-SAASTA is the implementing agency for the Science Shop community-based participatory research projects.

Read more: https://www.nrf.ac.za/nrf-saasta-implements-the-science-shop-research-project-on-co-designing-housing-futures-with-melusi-informal-settlement/

05/11/2026

Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) is a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) that primarily affects animals but can also cause zoonotic tuberculosis in humans.

Transmission of M. bovis mainly occurs through close contact with infected animals or their products. However, infected animals can also shed M. bovis into the environment, where the bacteria may persist.

A recent NRF-funded research study focused on rural communities in the UMkhanyakude District of KwaZulu-Natal, an area with a high burden of tuberculosis in both human and animal populations. The study aimed to determine whether M. bovis DNA was present in shared water sources used by people and animals in the area.

The researchers sampled 63 shared water sites. MTBC DNA was detected at 12 of the 63 sampled shared water sites, and M. bovis DNA was confirmed at four of these 12 sites.

However, the study did not establish that viable M. bovis bacteria were present in the water or that tuberculosis was being transmitted through these water sources.

The researchers concluded that the detection of MTBC and M. bovis DNA in shared water sources in a high-TB-burden area supports further investigation into the possible role of the environment in tuberculosis epidemiology.

Want to know more? Read the full NRF Science Matters article here: https://www.nrf.ac.za/science-matters-magazine/

03/11/2026

Prof Maharaj secures historic first NRF C1 Rating for Walter Sisulu.

Professor Ajesh Maharaj has become iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu’s first researcher to receive an NRF C1 rating for his sustained scholarly contributions to the international rheumatology community.

NRF C-ratings are awarded to researchers who are recognised as "established" researchers in their field.

Prof Maharaj’s rating casts a spotlight on his dedication to advancing the understanding and treatment of rheumatic diseases, while bringing African patients and their healthcare needs into global research discussions.

His journey in rheumatology research has been shaped by a commitment to improving the understanding, diagnosis and management of rheumatic diseases, particularly in populations whose experiences and healthcare needs are often underrepresented in international research.

“Our responsibility as African researchers is not simply to participate in global science, but to help shape it, to generate knowledge that improves the lives of our patients, strengthens our healthcare systems and ensures that Africa is recognised not only as a source of research data, but as a leader in scientific innovation and discovery,” he said.

Congratulations, Prof Maharaj!

Read more here: https://wsu.ac.za/en/component/content/article/prof-maharaj-secures-historic-first-c1-nrf-rating-for-walter-sisulu

03/11/2026

Reminder: The NRF and the Department of Science,Technology and Innovation SA invite applications for the second cohort of the DSTI–NRF Policy Fellowship Programme.

Fellows will gain practical policy experience while supporting the use of research evidence to inform decision-making and address South Africa’s socio-economic and developmental challenges.

🎯 Who may apply?
• Early- and mid-career individuals who obtained their doctoral degree within the past 10 years.
• South African citizens or permanent residents.
• Applicants must also be registered or employed, on a permanent or fixed-term basis, at an NRF-recognised research institution, or be able to secure such an affiliation before taking up the grant.

⌛ Duration: 24 months

🔗 To learn more/apply, visit the NRF’s website here: https://www.nrf.ac.za/dsti-nrf-policy-fellowship-programme-cohort-2-24-month-placements/

📧 Please direct any queries to [email protected]

📅 Closing date: 17 November 2026

02/11/2026

Twenty years of world-class research | Prof Bert Klumperman recently received his fourth consecutive NRF A-rating, recognising sustained research excellence in polymer chemistry, including work exploring applications in drug discovery and contraceptive development.

An NRF A-rating is awarded to researchers who are unequivocally recognised by their peers as leading international scholars in their field for the high quality and impact of their recent research outputs.

Prof Klumperman was appointed at Stellenbosch University’s Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science in 2007 as the holder of the South African Research Chair in Advanced Macromolecular Architectures – a position he held for the next 15 years

He is the leader of an internationally renowned research group on this topic, and the co-founder of a company that produces polymers for the isolation and stabilisation of membrane proteins.

Close to 130 postgraduate students have graduated under his supervision.

Congratulations, Prof Klumperman!

Read more: https://www0.sun.ac.za/researchforimpact/2026/10/09/prof-bert-klumperman/

02/11/2026

Gauteng recorded 414 malaria cases and 11 deaths between January and March 2026.

Travel to malaria-endemic areas, delayed diagnosis and changing environmental conditions are among the factors contributing to malaria cases reported in Gauteng, according to Prof Tiaan de Jager, a public health and environmental health researcher at the University of Pretoria.

Prof de Jager shared these insights during a webinar hosted by NRF-SAASTA, in collaboration with the Department of Science,Technology and Innovation SA.

The webinar examined the increase in malaria cases in Gauteng and highlighted the importance of public awareness, early diagnosis and preparedness for outbreaks associated with extreme weather events.

Prof de Jager noted that people returning from malaria-risk areas may mistake early symptoms for other illnesses or fail to inform healthcare professionals about their recent travel. Such delays can allow the disease to progress, increasing the risk of severe complications and death. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are therefore critical.

He stressed that malaria does not respect provincial or national borders, making regional cooperation and effective early-warning systems essential to South Africa’s efforts to eliminate the disease.

Read more here: https://www.nrf.ac.za/nrf-saasta-hosts-webinar-examining-causes-of-gautengs-malaria-spike/

30/10/2026

The International Conference on Coastal, Marine and Maritime Research took place in Durban this week. The conference brought together scientific data to find practical solutions to the impact of climate change on oceans and coastal areas.

NRF-SAEON's Prof Juliet Hermes was one of the presenters at the conference. She was interviewed by the SABC about the importance of ocean observation. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GIkAjc1sKw

Prof Juliet Hermes leads a team focusing on observations, modelling and research of the marine environment around southern Africa as part of the NRF's South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON). In addition, she manages the South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI) and is a Professor at the University of Cape Town and Nelson Mandela University.

The University of South Africa, Unisa and Department of Fisheries, ...

30/10/2026

NRF-iThemba LABS is inviting Master's and PhD applications for the 2027 SA-CERN Excellence Scholarship call.

The scholarship provides full-cost-of-study support for successful applicants who are commencing their studies in the 2027 academic year.

This includes sponsorship of research trips to CERN aligned with the selected students’ projects.

The SA-CERN programme is a national programme funded by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and the National Research Foundation to provide South African researchers, students, engineers and technicians with an opportunity to participate in the world’s premier and largest international research facility at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland.

Enquiries: [email protected]

To learn more/apply: https://tlabs.ac.za/sa-cern-bursary/

29/10/2026

Congratulations to Prof Sudesh Sivarasu on receiving his NRF B-rating. This rating recognises a researcher as an "Internationally acclaimed" researcher in their field.

Prof Sivarasu holds the DSTI-NRF South African Research Chair (SARChI) in Biomedical Engineering and Innovation at the University of Cape Town, where he is the Head of the Division of Biomedical Engineering and Director of the Biomedical Engineering Research Centre (BMERC).

His research addresses the design and translation of affordable, appropriate medical technologies, guided by the Frugal Biodesign methodology he developed, which is now applied in medical device programmes across several continents.

He joined us at the recent NRF Next Generation and Emerging Researchers (NGER) Symposium, where he was part of the panel discussion on solving the commercialisation conundrum.

His intellectual property portfolio spans 24 patent families, 89 patent applications and 39 granted patents in jurisdictions including the UK, USA, EU, India, China and South Africa. Technologies from his laboratory have led to five spin-out companies.

He has produced over 145 scholarly outputs, and his work has attracted 24 awards across four continents.

Prof Sivarasu has supervised more than 100 postgraduate researchers, many of whom now lead medical device companies and academic research groups.

29/10/2026

The Big Data Africa School, hosted by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRF-SARAO), prepares Africa’s future researchers for AI-driven medical imaging and quantum computing.

Twenty-six students from seven African countries participated in this year’s school.

The school focused on the application of machine learning, deep learning and quantum computing techniques to medical imaging, bringing together leading researchers and African postgraduate students to tackle real-world health challenges using data science.

For the first time, the Big Data Africa School introduced participants to quantum computing as part of its technical programme, reflecting the growing potential of quantum technologies to transform data-intensive scientific research.

Over the past decade, NRF-SARAO’s Big Data Africa programme has evolved into one of Africa’s leading capacity development initiatives in data science, equipping hundreds of young researchers with advanced computational skills needed to tackle complex scientific and societal challenges.

Through initiatives such as the Big Data Africa School, NRF-SARAO continues to build advanced data science capacity across the African continent, equipping young researchers with the computational skills, international networks and collaborative experience needed to address complex scientific and societal challenges.

Read more here: https://www.sarao.ac.za/news/big-data-africa-school-prepares-africas-future-researchers-for-ai-driven-medical-imaging-and-quantum-computing