Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Prof A Ströh, Dean
Telephone number: 012 420 3201
Fax number: 012 420 3890
E-mail address: dean.nas@up.ac.za
Message by the Dean
During 2008, the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences extended its boundaries and further established itself as one of the leading science faculties on the continent.
During the year under review, 166 MSc and 54 PhD students graduated. A significant number of the faculty’s researchers enjoy international and national recognition. The faculty has 88 scientists who have been rated by the NRF. In addition, a number of academic staff members received special awards in recognition of their valuable contributions to research. Prof Brenda Wingfield, a lecturer in the Department of Genetics and programme leader in the Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology, received the Distinguished Woman Scientist Award of the Department of Science and Technology (DST). Dr Wanda Markotter, a lecturer in the Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, received the L’Oreal South Africa Fellowship for Women in Science. Prof Pat Eriksson, head of the Department of Geology, was awarded the gold medal of the Southern Africa Association for the Advancement of Science (S2A3) in South Africa and Prof Mike Wingfield, director of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), received the gold medal of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). Prof Nigel Bennett, a lecturer in the Department of Zoology and Entomology, received the gold medal of the Zoological Society. Senior researchers in the faculty were also selected to serve in various prominent positions. Prof Edward Webb was elected as president of the South African Society for Animal Science, Prof Norman Casey was elected as president of the World Association of Animal Production, Prof Janus Jansen van Ryssen was appointed as editor-in-chief of the South African Journal of Animal Science and Prof Michael Somers was appointed as editor-in-chief of the South African Journal for Wildlife Research.
The faculty launched several new initiatives during 2008. The Aon Benfield Natural Hazard Centre, Africa, was established on 13 November in collaboration with Aon Benfield, a global independent reinsurance and risk intermediary. This multidisciplinary centre will promote research and contribute to the knowledge base regarding natural hazards with the ultimate aim of not only saving lives, but also of adding value to the lives of those most affected by natural disasters. The Department of Chemistry established a forensic drugs of abuse analytical group, led by Dr Tim Laurens. The group works closely with the Hatfield Court and its research is complemented by the Department of Geology’s growing focus on forensic mineralogy, particularly as applied to precious metals.
The faculty also obtained some highly sophisticated research equipment, which will greatly enhance the work of its researchers. The equipment is used by various departments, as well as a number of private and state enterprises. The Laboratory for Microscopy and Microanalysis obtained a Jeol JEM 2100F transmission electron microscope with a point resolution capability of 0.25 nm that operates with a field emission source at 200 kV. It is fitted with a four-megapixel camera, as well as a conventional film camera with high-resolution photographic capabilities. An energy-dispersive X-ray facility for microanalysis is also available. A Zeiss Gemini Ultra Plus scanning electron microscope was installed in November. The microscope has a field emission electron source that gives it a 0.67 nm resolving capability. Furthermore, it is fitted with an energy-dispersive X-ray system. It also has an electron backscatter diffraction ability that allows crystallographic information to be obtained from samples. A state-of-the-art Bruker 400 MHz Avance III nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer was commissioned by the Department of Chemistry. The spectrometer is critically important to researchers and students who work in the field of synthesis and the structure elucidation of natural products, as well as for the analysis of biological samples. The Mass Spectrometry and Chromatography Laboratory, led by Prof Egmont Rohwer, was identified by Sasol as a strategic national asset, thereby obtaining significant funding for this research group.
Another major research highlight was the recent development of degradation-enhancing additives for plastic carrier bags and general plastic packaging, based on clay nanotechnology, by the Institute of Applied Materials. These plastic products, so common in the modern lifestyle, lead to severe littering problems, affect both wildlife and domestic animals in terrestrial and aqueous environments, and take years to degrade and decompose. Degradable polymer technology provides a possible litter reduction strategy, the idea being to accelerate the natural sunlight-mediated degradation pathways of a plastic object.
The new additives are nanostructured, brucite-like anionic clays that comprise fatty acid intercalated layered double hydroxides. The development of these new polymer additives relied on novel intercalation procedures invented at the Institute of Applied Materials. Laboratory simulations of natural exposure to sunlight of plastics containing the additives showed that breakdown began after only 100 hours in plastics containing as little as 0.1 percent of active additives. There are also potential spin-offs for recycling non-littered plastics using higher temperatures on plastics containing the nanoparticle-based additives.
During 2008, a number of the faculty’s research programmes received major grants. The DST awarded a grant of R1.5 million to Prof Zander Myburg in the Department of Genetics as part of a project funded by the United States Department of Energy to sequence the genome of the eucalyptus tree. In addition, the South African Forestry Company (SAFCOL) funded a Chair in Forestry at the University of Pretoria to the value of R7 million to expand postgraduate research to the broader forestry field.
The Agricultural and Food Policy Programme (BFAP) of the Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development received substantial funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for a project on agricultural markets in the South African Development Community (SADC) as part of a consortium led by Michigan State University.
An extension of the Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa (CEEPA) coordinated a project to strengthen capacity in environmental economics and policy in Africa, which received approval of funding for Phase II of the project from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). The funding supports a four-year extension of the project from 2009 to 2012 at a total budget of 11 million Swedish Korona.
A UP/Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)/Agricultural Research Council (ARC) consortium, with Prof Robert Vleggaar, acting head of the Department of Chemistry, as the principal investigator for UP, gained a three-year R12.3 million contract from the NRF’s Innovation Fund. The aim of this project is to develop new drug leads that can act as inhibitors against HIV/AIDS.
The research focus of the Department of Biochemistry is on both medical and veterinary biotechnology applications. Within its broader national and international networking, it commands a comprehensive functional genomics technology that can identify and validate vaccine and drug targets and markers for diagnostics in single PhD research programmes that span three years, with a bench-fee budget of around R500 000 per target or marker identified. In addition, it has acquired the capacity to design and synthesise drugs or antigens through local and international collaboration with chemists.
Other research highlights include the publication of a book by Prof Jan Boeyens of the Unit for Advanced Study and Prof Demetrius Levendis of the University of the Witwatersrand, entitled Number theory and the periodicity of matter. This book attempts to decipher, clarify and communicate a fundamental principle to the scientific world. Its intended audiences transcend those who reside in the scholastic academic spheres to captivate even the non-specialists from other diverse fields.
The year under review also saw the celebration of FABI’s tenth anniversary on 14 May 2008.
Prof A Ströh
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