OP Vets at UP

A long‑held theory about giant prehistoric insects has just been debunked. A new nature study led by UP shows oxygen levels didn’t limit insect size, challenging decades of science. Read more: ow.ly/YLP950YBcPA #UniversityOfPretoria #UPResearchMatters

STRENGTHENING SKILLS: UP has equipped 90 small-scale farmers with the skills to boost food systems and rural economies. Through a partnership with Sibanye Stillwater, the programme is improving herd health, productivity and market access, turning knowledge into real economic opportunity. Read more: ow.ly/WvKX50YzilC #Agriculture #UniversityOfPretoria

A new UP-led global study challenges the widely repeated claim that wildlife populations have crashed by 73%. African data tells a different story: many species are stable or even increasing when conservation is done right. Evidence matters. Context matters. Africa’s successes matter. Read more: ow.ly/UZoZ50Yy5nB #UniversityOfPretoria #WildlifeConservation

Applications for 2027 are now open. Apply early, gather your documents, and take the next step toward your future at UP. Your future starts here. Apply now: ow.ly/ASfi50YBE5R #UniversityOfPretoria #ChooseUP

Rabies predominantly affects marginalised populations. Although effective human vaccines and immunoglobulins exist, the immunoglobulins are often inaccessible or unaffordable to those in need. Researchers in the Faculty of Veterinary Science at UP have tested antibodies generated in tobacco plants that can neutralise certain strains of the rabies virus. This approach will make neutralising antibodies cheaper to produce. In addition, the antibodies are more stable, and their production is scalable. Read more in the article ‘Pep talk from plants’ in issue 10 of UP’s ‘ReSearch’ magazine: ow.ly/Nv7f50Y5W0L #UniversityOfPretoria #UPResearchMatters

We wish all staff, students, alumni and the extended UP community a peaceful and joyous festive season! We extend our sincere appreciation for your positive contribution to the University throughout the year. #UniversityOfPretoria #FestiveSeason

The next generation’s health is a pressing concern, with technology and fast food dominating their diets. For UP researchers, gamification can be the key to promoting food literacy and empowering young people to make healthier choices. More on the article ‘Get your head in the game’ in issue 9 of UP’s ‘ReSEARCH’ magazine. Read more: ow.ly/TNNG50XFCb2 #UniversityOfPretoria #UPResearchMatters

UP & Hemmersbach Rhino Force achieve SA’s first equine pregnancies using ICSI & frozen embryos! This milestone aligns local equine reproduction with global standards. Read the full story: ow.ly/R2vT50XLivV #UniversityOfPretoria #VeterinaryScience

The silent threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is affecting our food systems, economies and health. From crop failures to untreatable infections, the consequences are far-reaching. At the University of Pretoria’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, researchers are digging deep into the environmental drivers of AMR to uncover where and how resistant bacteria are emerging in food-producing environments and what can be done to stop them. Read more on the article ‘Unveiling the silent threat’ issue 13 of UP’s ‘ReSEARCH’ magazine: ow.ly/6HIG50XFzFz #UniversityOfPretoria #UPResearchMatters

#MondayMotivation: New week, new opportunities! “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” — Mary Anne Radmacher. Keep going. #UniversityOfPretoria #MakeTodayMatter

RABIES IN CATS: Yes, that’s right – cats can get rabies too. That’s why pet owners should ensure that their feline pets receive regular rabies vaccinations, says UP’s Prof Claude Sabeta. Read more: up.ac.za/research-matte… #UniversityOfPretoria #RabiesAwareness

#WomenOfUP: Prof Raksha Vasantrai Bhoora of UP once resigned three times in a year. Eventually she choose to do her PhD in parasitology full time and it paid off when she won an award for her thesis. Read more: ow.ly/rUsV50WManx #UniversityOfPretotia #WomenInScience

This #WomensMonth, we celebrate #WomenOfUP: Nokuzola Faith Nkosi, lecturer & PhD candidate in Veterinary Tropical Diseases, makes a global impact through her research & teaching. “I now have a global impact. I never imagined this would happen.” More: ow.ly/Jneb50WNqkM

#MondayMotivation: A new week brings new opportunities to learn, grow, and achieve. Trust in the preparation and effort that have been invested — progress comes from persistence and focus. Make today matter 💙🆙 #UniversityOfPretoria #MakeTodayMatter

#ChooseUPDay2025 at UP's Onderstepoort Campus @OPtuks! 🐾 Prospective students, parents, and guardians are welcomed by Prof. Vinny Naidoo, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, to explore hands-on learning and world-class facilities. #UniversityOfPretoria #ChooseUP

#MondayMotivation: “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain Begin this week with strength and continue to move forward! #UniversityOfPretoria #MakeTodayMatter

This #MandelaMonth, let’s honour Madiba’s legacy by fighting student hunger. Up to 38% of SA university students face food insecurity. Support #UPGivingMonth & help build hunger-free, dignified learning spaces: ow.ly/mkB050Wp5jz #UniversityOfPretoria #UPGivingMonth

It’s #UPGivingMonth! Hear from Daisy Ngwenya, SNAPP Project Coordinator, on the best part of helping students. Get involved: ow.ly/lSEq50Wn2k0. Give today. #UPGivingMatters #InfiniteImpact

For the first time in Cambodia, a tusk extraction under general anaesthesia was successfully performed - saving Chi Chlorb the elephant. Led by UP’s Prof Gerhard Steenkamp, this cross-border effort marks a huge leap in #WildlifeConservation: ow.ly/V01C50Wjyho #ProudlyUP

Congratulations to Mammal Research Institute (MRI) Whale Unit at the @UPTuks, on their extraordinary achievement as a finalist for the Data for Research Award of the prestigious NSTF-South32 Awards the Science Oscars of South Africa (SA). The Awards recognise outstanding contributions to #science, #engineering, #technology (SET) and #innovation in SA since 1998. Dr Vermeulen is a Lecturer and Research Manager: MRI Whale Unit, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, UP. The MRI Whale Unit has been at the forefront of marine mammal research since 1985, building Africa’s most comprehensive whale monitoring programs. By tracking population trends, habitat use, and climate change impacts, its research directly informs conservation policies at national and international levels, including contributions to the IWC Scientific Committee, Southern Ocean Research Partnership, and IUCN. Collaborating with DFFE, SAEON, SAPRI, and CapeNature, the MRI Whale Unit bridges science and policy. Beyond research, it drives public education through partnerships with WWF and the upcoming South African Whale Centre, ensuring that marine science benefits both conservation and communities. See the list of all finalists who are contending as finalists for the best contributions to SET and innovation in SA under 16 different categories: nstf.org.za/current-finali… @South32 #NSTFawards2025 #scienceoscars #research #scientificresearch #development #KnowledgeBasedEconomy #sciencerolemodels #scienceexcellence #socioeconomicgrowth