Die Internasionale Geassosieerde Laboratorium “Mikroorganismes vir innoverende veerkragtigheid teen klimaatsverandering en volhoubaarheid van wynmaak” (MICROWISE) bring twee navorsingseenhede bymekaar: die gesamentlike navorsingseenheid Wetenskappe vir Wynkunde (Sciences pour l’œnologie, SPO) in Montpellier, Frankryk, en die Suid-Afrikaanse Wingerd- en Wynnavorsingsinstituut (SAWWNI) aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch. SPO funksioneer onder drie akademiese owerhede: die Nasionale Navorsingsinstituut vir Landbou, Voedsel en die Omgewing (INRAE) van Montpellier, die Universiteit van Montpellier en die Instituut “Agro Montpellier”. MICROWISE bou voort op ‘n lang geskiedenis van samewerking, wat sedert 2015 gegroei het en tot stand gekom het deur gesamentlike wetenskaplike publikasies, ‘n gesamentlike PhD-projek en talle navorsing mobiliteit geleenthede vir studente en navorsers.

Die twee navorsingseenhede kon hierdie projek ontwikkel om hul samewerking te versterk deur hul gemeenskaplike navorsingsbelangstellings en hul unieke eienskappe soos hul ligging in twee hemisfere en hul wetenskaplike kundigheid te benut. Die wynbedryf is ‘n dinamiese sektor wat tans talle uitdagings moet navigeer. Dit sluit in die ontwikkeling van produksieprosesse wat (1) veerkragtig is teen klimaatsverandering (wat die samestelling van grondstowwe verander), (2) volhoubaar en winsgewend is, en (3) omgewingsvriendelik is (deur chemiese insette te verminder). Dit is ook belangrik om die veranderinge in wynverbruikerspatrone in ag te neem, en te beweeg na kwaliteitsprodukte met ‘n sterk karakter en uniekheid. MICROWISE poog om die biodiversiteit van wynmikroörganismes te ondersoek en aangepaste biologiese oplossings te ontwerp om hierdie uitdagings aan te spreek, wat weer sal bydra tot die sektor se verbintenis tot landbou-ekologiese oorgang.

Hierdie projek sluit drie hoofbenaderings in:

– ‘n Ekologiese benadering waarvan die doelwitte is om die natuurlike biodiversiteit van mikrobiese gemeenskappe wat met wyn geassosieer word, tussen Frankryk en Suid-Afrika te vergelyk, die interaksies tussen mikroörganismes te verstaan, en die omgewingsfaktore wat betrokke is by mikrobiese populasie dinamika te identifiseer, wat spesies en stamme bevoordeel wat ‘n positiewe impak het en die sensoriese eienskappe en styl van wyn diversifiseer.

– ‘n Fisiologiese benadering waarvan die doelwitte is om die fisiologiese eienskappe van nie-Saccharomyces giste te bestudeer en hierdie diversiteit te gebruik om nuwe gemengde aanvangskulture te ontwikkel wat aangepas is vir die variasies in druiwesap samestelling wat deur klimaatsverandering veroorsaak word, en om wyne te produseer wat aan verbruikersvraag voldoen en toegang tot nuwe markte kan bewerkstellig.

– ‘n Biochemiese benadering waarvan die doelwitte is om die diversiteit van mannoproteïene en ander selwandkomponente tussen gisspesies en -stamme te karakteriseer, die verwantskappe tussen die chemiese struktuur en funksie van hierdie komponente te ontrafel en hierdie kennis te gebruik om wynsteensuur-, kolloïdale- en proteïenonstabiliteite in wyn te voorkom en die sensoriese persepsie van wyn te moduleer.

MICROWISE sal ‘n raamwerk bied vir hoëvlak-wetenskaplike samewerking oor projekte wat daarop gemik is om mikrobiese diversiteit te benut vir ‘n meer volhoubare en klimaats veranderende wynbedryf. Benewens die voordele vir die bedryf, sal hierdie inisiatief die navorsingspanne van beide akademiese eenhede ondersteun deur die uitruil van kundigheid en nagraadse studente-opleiding te fasiliteer, en deur mobiliteitsgeleenthede te bied.

Die MICROWISE-afskopvergadering het op 8 en 9 September 2025 in Montpellier plaasgevind en is bygewoon deur ‘n groep akademici, na-doktorale genote en nagraadse studente van beide instellings. Tydens die openingsessie het HE Mnr. David Martinon, ambassadeur van Frankryk in Suid-Afrika, die belangrikheid van hierdie wetenskaplike samewerking beklemtoon om die uitdagings van die globale wynbedryf aan te spreek en die toekomstige werk alle sukses toegewens. Prof. Kennedy Dzama, Vise-dekaan: navorsing, nagraadse studies en innovasie van die Fakulteit AgriWetenskappe aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch, en Dr. Christophe Chassard, hoof van die afdeling Mikrobiologie en Voedselketting by die INRAE, het ook hul beste wense vir die samewerking uitgespreek.

Dwarsdeur die vergadering het wetenskaplike aanbiedings en werkswinkels navorsers in staat gestel om areas van gemeenskaplike belang te identifiseer en ooreenkomste te verken. Besprekings het gefokus op toekomstige navorsingsprojekte en befondsingsvoorstelle wat gesamentlik ontwikkel moet word. Hierdie vergadering was besonder produktief en het die toewyding van alle belanghebbendes gedemonstreer.

Foto: MICROWISE-deelnemers by die afskopvergadering (8-9 September 2025)

MICROWISE-koördineerders vir verdere navrae: Prof Benoit Divol (divol@sun.ac.za) en Dr Carole Camarasa (carole.camarasa@inrae.fr).

The International associated laboratory “Microorganisms for innovative resilience to climate change and winemaking sustainability” (MICROWISE) brings together two research units: the joint research unit Sciences for Oenology (Sciences pour l’œnologie, SPO) in Montpellier, France and the South African Grape and Wine Research Institute (SAGWRI) at Stellenbosch University. SPO operates under three academic authorities: the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE) of Montpellier, the University of Montpellier and Institut Agro Montpellier. MICROWISE builds on a long history of collaboration, which has grown since 2015, and materialised through joint scientific publications, a joint PhD project and numerous research mobility opportunities for students and researchers.

The two research units were able to develop this project to strengthen their collaborations by leveraging their common research interests and their unique attributes such as their location in two hemispheres and their scientific know-how. The wine industry is a dynamic sector, which must currently navigate numerous challenges. These include developing production processes that are (1) resilient to climate change (which modifies the composition of raw materials), (2) sustainable and profitable, and (3) environmentally friendly (by reducing chemical inputs). It is also important to take into account the changes in wine consumption patterns, moving towards quality products with a strong character and typicity. MICROWISE aims to explore the biodiversity of wine microorganisms and design adapted biological solutions to address these challenges, which in turn, will contribute to the sector’s commitment to the agroecological transition.

This project includes three main approaches:

– An ecological approach whose objectives are to compare the natural biodiversity of microbial communities associated with wine between France and South Africa, to understand the interactions between microorganisms, and to identify the environmental factors involved in community dynamics, favouring species and strains that have a positive impact and diversify the sensory properties and style of wine.

– A physiological approach whose objectives are to study the physiological properties of non-Saccharomyces yeasts and to use this diversity to develop new mixed starter cultures adapted to the variations in grape juice composition induced by climate change and to produce wines that meet consumer demand and can access new markets.

– A biochemical approach whose objectives are to characterise the diversity of mannoproteins and other cell wall components between yeast species and strains, to unravel the relationships between the chemical structure and function of these components and to use this knowledge to prevent tartaric, colloidal and protein instability in wine and to modulate the sensory perception of wine.

MICROWISE will provide a framework for high-level scientific cooperation on projects aimed at leveraging microbial diversity for a more sustainable and climate-resilient wine industry. Beyond its benefits for the industry, this initiative will support the research teams of both academic units by facilitating the exchange of expertise and postgraduate student training, and by offering mobility opportunities.

The MICROWISE kick-off meeting took place on the 8th and 9th of September 2025 in Montpellier, and was attended by a group of academics, postdoctoral fellows, and postgraduate students from both institutions. During the opening session, HE Mr David Martinon, Ambassador of France to South Africa, emphasised the importance of this scientific collaboration in addressing the challenges of the global wine industry and wished the future work every success. Prof Kennedy Dzama, Vice-Dean: research, postgraduate studies and innovation of the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University, and Dr Christophe Chassard, Head of the Microbiology and Food Chain Division at the INRAE, also expressed their best wishes for the collaboration.

Throughout the meeting, scientific presentations and workshops enabled researchers to identify areas of common interest and explore synergies. Discussions focused on future research projects and funding proposals to be developed jointly. This meeting was particularly productive and demonstrated the commitment of all stakeholders.

Photo: MICROWISE attendees at kick-off meeting (8-9 September 2025)

MICROWISE coordinators for further enquiries: Prof Benoit Divol (divol@sun.ac.za) and Dr Carole Camarasa (carole.camarasa@inrae.fr)

Daniela Ramos, MSc(Agric) student in Horticultural Science, recently attended the ISHS XIV International Controlled and Modified Atmosphere Research Conference (#CAMA2025) in Wenatchee, Washington State, where she presented her research paper titled “Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere – Chlorophyll Fluorescence (DCA-CF) and Controlled Atmosphere (CA) in Long-Term Storage of ‘Cripps Pink’ Apples, with Special Reference to Internal Browning.” Daniela received the ISHS Young Minds Award for Best Oral Presentation. Competing against international PhD students, this award recognises both the importance of her research field and the high quality of her work on a global scale.

Daniela is part of the Post-harvest Physiology Research Chair in Deciduous Fruit group, under the leadership of Dr Elke Crouch in the Department of Horticultural Science. The group focuses on long-term storage techniques and technologies to reduce post-harvest loss. Non-chemical long-term storage methods that maintain fruit quality are particularly important for South African exports, as they allow fresh produce to be supplied during periods of global scarcity. When correctly applied, these techniques reduce physiological disorders and food loss, while also providing unique insights into ripening and disorder physiology.

Daniela’s MSc research specifically examined the development of internal browning and fruit quality in ‘Cripps Pink’ apples (Pink Lady™) after long-term storage, influenced by growing-region temperature and canopy position. Her study tracked the ripening rate of 92 orchards, linking pre-harvest temperature to post-harvest quality and storage disorders. These large trials were conducted in collaboration with Geology CGA, TerraClim, and ExperiCo, with further collaborations and methodologies being explored for climatic studies. The research was funded by the Postharvest Innovation Fund 5 (DSI) and Hortgro Science.

The conference provided Daniela and her research with invaluable exposure to the international scientific community. She engaged in discussions with global peers and academic pioneers, and visited facilities including Washington State University, USDA-ARS Tree Fruit Research Laboratories (and their CA facilities), the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, Stemilt, and McDougal research, sorting, and storage facilities. Daniela extends her gratitude to the SU Overseas Conference Grant and her supervisor for funding, which made it possible for her to present her work on the international stage.

Photo: ISHS Division Postharvest and Quality Assurance (DPHQ) chairperson Prof. Giancarlo Colelli, Daniela Ramos (MSc Student Horticultural Science) Stellenbosch University, Convenor Dr. Carolina Torres, Washington State University, TFREC. 

 

Researchers from the Department of Horticultural Science in the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University recently won an international award for developing a Decision Support System (DSS) to monitor water use in subtropical fruit tree orchards. The 2025 WatSave Innovative Water Management Award was presented to Dr Sebinasi Dzikiti, a senior researcher in the department, and his team by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage at the 4th World Irrigation Forum, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 7–13 September 2025.

The DSS was developed in response to a need for a practical, user-friendly, and accurate tool for managing water resources in one of South Africa’s most water-stressed regions, the Inkomati-Usuthu Water Management Area (IUWMA). This region is a major producer of subtropical fruits such as mango, banana, litchi, and citrus, all under irrigation. Frequent droughts, climate variability, and growing competition for water have placed significant pressure on fruit producers to improve water productivity—producing more fruit with less water. The study was co-funded by the Water Research Commission (WRC) and IUWMA from October 2020 to March 2024.

The DSS was developed using 50 years of daily climate data (1960–2010) across more than 250 quaternary catchments in the IUWMA, combined with scientifically validated crop coefficients. Outputs from the DSS include orchard water use (transpiration and evapotranspiration), potential yield, water use efficiency, and irrigation requirements. Orchard water use is calculated using the internationally acclaimed FAO 56 principles, but with locally derived crop coefficients. A key innovation was the implementation of a procedure to derive crop coefficients using readily available input data, published in international peer-reviewed journals (Agricultural Water Management, Scientiae Horticulturae, and Hydrology). These accurate, site-specific crop coefficients allow farmers to schedule irrigation more precisely and make informed decisions about which tree crops to grow where, based on water requirements and estimated yields.

Currently, the DSS operates as a web-based tool for the IUWMA. Users select the approximate location of their property on the IUWMA map and navigate to their specific farm or orchard by loading the farm boundaries. The system retrieves long-term daily climate records from the nearest weather station for use in calculations. Users then input crop type, average tree height, fractional canopy cover, soil type, orchard floor vegetation status, and irrigation system to calculate crop coefficients, which are subsequently used to derive water use and crop yield. Results are presented both graphically and in tabular form as monthly summaries. Field testing was conducted using four years of experimental data collected from grapefruit, mango, litchi, and citrus orchards in a commercial farm in Malelane, IUWMA, with additional data on macadamia and citrus from prior WRC- and industry-funded projects. Wider validation of the DSS across other locations in the IUWMA is planned but requires additional resources.

“Given that this tool was developed to address the specific needs of users in the IUWMA, we are very excited to have moved this study from basic science to practice,” said Dr Dzikiti. “We are truly humbled that our work has been recognised not only locally but also internationally. While we used data from a single catchment in South Africa as a case study, the concept behind the DSS can be replicated in other locations in South Africa and beyond.”

The Wood App – alles oor hout, binne almal se bereik

Sedert die bekendstelling van The Wood App (https://thewoodapp.com/), het hierdie innoverende produk van die Departement Bos- en Houtkunde van die Stellenbosch Universiteit ontwikkel van ‘n beskeie opvoedkundige platform tot ‘n omvattende bron van inligting met betrekking tot alles rakende hout konstruksie. Die webwerf se inhoud en reikwydte het uitgebrei sedert dit in 2020 geskep is deur Dr Philip Crafford en Prof Brand Wessels, en duisende gebruikers ontwerp, gebruik en dink anders oor hout as tevore.

Opwindende groei

Die aantal gebruikers weerspieël die sukses van die plaform. Getalle het toegeneem vanaf 11,000 gebruikers in April 2024, tot die huidige totaal van 23,000. Alhoewel die webwerf ontwikkel is deur plaaslike hout spesialiste en gemik is op die plaaslike mark, bedien The Wood App tans 9,000 gebruikers buite Suid-Afrika. Hierdie groei bevestig die plaaslike relevansie van die produk, terwyl dit erkenning gee aan die internasionale kwaliteit en belangrikheid van die platform.

“Die reaksie oortref deurlopend ons verwagtinge,” sê Dr Crafford, ‘n nagraadse genoot by die Departement Bos- en Houtkunde. “Die voortdurende groei in gebruikersgetalle, asook die oorweldigende vraag na die fisiese kursusse wat aangebied word, is baie bemoedigend.”

Aanlyn opvoedkundige platform

The Wood App is internet gebasseerd en die inhoud is gratis beskikbaar vir enigeen met internet toegang. Tans word 11 kursusse aanlyn aangebied. Onderwerpe wissel van basiese houtraam of houtdek bouwerk en stresgegradeerde hout, tot spesialis onderwerpe soos klankbeheer in hout geboue, hout in vuur en kruisgelamineerde houtontwerp. Elke kursus neem ongeveer 2.5 uur om te voltooi, en sluit interaktiewe vasvrae in.

“Ons is opgewonde oor die vooruitsig om binnekort ‘n nuwe kursus, Die Grondbeginsels van Houtdakontwerp, bekend te stel,” deel Crafford. “Ons doel is om die webwerf deurlopend uit te brei, in lyn met die veranderende behoeftes van ons gehoor.”

Digitale en fisiese opleiding

Alhoewel die basis van The Wood App steeds die aanlyn kursusse is, het die platform suksesvol uitgebrei en sluit nou fisiese werkswinkels ook in. Die vraag na hierdie sessies oortref dikwels die beskibaarheid en ‘n onlangse kursus in Stellenbosch het 150 aansoeke ontvang terwyl slegs 80 kandidate geakkommodeer kon word. Hierdie in-persoon kursusse is CPD-geakkrediteerd vir argitekte.

Die kalender vir werkswinkels vir 2025 het afgeskop met in houtraam kursus in Stellenbosch op 12 Februarie. 40% van die kursusgangers was argitekte en 15% was bou-inspekteurs. Dit illustreer die aantreklikheid van die platform vir belangrike rolspelers in die konstruksiebedryf. Op 2 Julie is ‘n verdere houtraam kursus in Durban aangebied.

Die program vir 2025 het ook ‘n dek-en-paal konstruksie werkswinkel in George op 2 April ingesluit, sowel as ‘n houtraam bouwerk, hout in vuur, en houtgradering werkswinkel in Pretoria op 8 en 9 September.

Die datums vir werkswinkels vir 2026 sal binnekort aangekondig word, en sal weer geleenthede soos houtraam bouwerk, massa hout bouwerk en geïtegreerde volhoubaarheid in verskeie Suid-Afrikaanse dorpe of stede insluit.

Industrie ondersteuning en erkenning

Die sukses van die platform sou nie moontlik gewees het sonder die ondersteuning van belangrike rolspelers in die bedryf nie. Die ontwikkeling van The Wood App is moontlik gemaak deur die finansiële ondersteuning van Sawmilling South Africa, die Suid-Afrikaanse Houtbewaarders Assosiasie (SAWPA), en Fibre Processing & Manufacturing (FP&M) SETA. Hierdie fondse maak dit ook vir The Wood App moontlik om die aanlyn kursusse gratis beskikbaar te stel.

Die platform lewer meetbare bydraes tot professionele ontwikkeling in die hout industrie, met meer as 250 CPD sertifikate wat reeds aan argitekte uitgereik is, en meer as 500 aanlyn kursusse wat tot op hede voltooi is.

Vooruitsigte

Die visie van The Wood App is om plaaslike ontwerpers, ontwikkelaars, kontrakteurs en DIY’ers te ondersteun, te inspireer en aan te moedig om hout te gebruik. Die doel van die platform is om ‘n leer-omgewing te skep wat teoretiese kennis en praktiese vaardighede kombineer. Aanlyn kursusse van hoë kwaliteit word deurlopend ontwikkel en by die webwerf gevoeg. Hierdie hulpbronne word gekomplementeer deur praktiese werkswinkels en bied dus ‘n omvattende opvoedkundige pakket aan vir alle hout-entoesiaste.

Vir verdere inligting, of om in te teken op die kwartaallikse nuusbrief, kontak asseblief info@thewoodapp.com. 

Besoek https://thewoodapp.com/ om meer uit te vind oor kursusse, werkswinkel skedules en hulpbronne aangaande alle houtverwante onderwerpe.

The Wood App – everything wood, within everybody’s reach

Since the launch of The Wood App (https://thewoodapp.com/), this innovative product of the Department of Forest and Wood Science, Stellenbosch University, has grown from a modest educational platform into a comprehensive resource on all things related to timber construction. After the creation of the website in 2020 by Dr Philip Crafford and Prof Brand Wessels, it has expanded its offering and reach, changing the way that thousands of users think about, design and work with wood.

Exciting growth 

The numbers reflect the platform’s success. From 11,000 users reported in April 2024, The Wood App now boasts 23,000 users globally. While the site was initiated and developed by local wood specialists and aimed at local wood fans, The Wood App currently serves 9,000 users outside South Africa. This growth confirms not only the local relevance, but also the international recognition of the platform’s quality and significance. 

“The response continues to exceed our expectations,” states Dr Crafford, a post-doctoral fellow at the Department of Forest and Wood Science. “The continued growth in user numbers, as well as the oversubscription of the in-person courses offered, is very encouraging.”

Online education platform

The Wood App is web based and its content is available, free of charge, to anybody with access to the internet. Currently, 11 online courses are offered. Topics range from basic timber frame or deck building and stress graded timber, to specialised subjects such as sound control in timber buildings, timber in fire and cross-laminated timber design and construction. Each course takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete, and includes interactive quizzes. 

“We are excited to launch a new course, The Fundamentals of Timber Roof Design, soon,” says Crafford. “Our aim is to keep expanding the site, to meet the changing needs of our audience.”

Learning digitally and physically

While the foundation of The Wood App is still its online courses, the platform has successfully grown to include physical workshops. These events are often oversubscribed, with 150 applications received for one course in Stellenbosch, where only 80 people could be accommodated. These in-person courses are CPD accredited for architects.

The workshop calendar for 2025 kicked off with a Timber Frame Workshop in Stellenbosch on 12 February. Of the attendees, 40% were architects and 15% were building inspectors. This illustrates the appeal of the platform to key role-players in the construction industry. Another Timber Frame Workshop was presented in Durban on 2 July.

The 2025 program also included a Deck and Pole Construction Workshop in George on 2 April, and Timber Frame Building, Timber in Fire and Timber Grading Workshops on 8 and 9 September in Pretoria.

Workshop dates for 2026 will be announced soon and will again include events such as Timber Frame Building, Mass Timber Building and Integrating Sustainability into Design using Wood, in and around South Africa’s major cities. 

Industry support and recognition

Without the strong backing from the industry, the platform’s success would not have been achieved. The creation of The Wood App was made possible by the financial support from Sawmilling South Africa, the South African Wood Preservers Association (SAWPA), and Fibre Processing and Manufacturing (FP&M) SETA. It has also enabled The Wood App to continue to offer its online products for free.

The platform is making measurable contributions to professional development in the timber industry, with more than 250 CPD certificates issued to architects and 500 online courses completed to date.

Looking ahead

The vision of The Wood App is to support and inspire local designers, developers, contractors and DIY’ers to use wood.  The platform aims to create a learning environment that combines theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills. High quality online courses are continuously developed and added to the website. These resources are complemented by practical workshops, offering a comprehensive educational package to all wood enthusiasts.

For more information, or to subscribe to the quarterly newsletter, please contact info@thewoodapp.com. 

To explore courses, workshop schedules and resources that cover “all things wood”, visit https://thewoodapp.com/

A delegation comprising Dr Ethel Phiri, Dr Nyasha Magadzire, Prof Niel Goosen, Prof James Pryke, Dr René Gaigher, Tamarin Powell, and Julia Harper recently represented Stellenbosch University (SU) at the Green Futures workshop in Lusaka, Zambia. Dr Phiri organised a symposium on indigenous and underutilised crops, while in-field farmer engagement was conducted by Prof Goosen, Prof Pryke, and Dr Gaigher. The event, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH), brought together leading researchers, practitioners (including farmers), and policymakers from across the continent to explore innovative approaches that promote biodiversity conservation and the circular economy, with the ultimate goal of fostering resilient and sustainable food systems.

The SU team actively contributed to discussions on advancing African-led solutions to climate and environmental challenges. Their diverse expertise—spanning crop sciences, biodiversity and agroecology, sustainable food systems, renewable energy, and policy engagement—ensured a rich exchange of perspectives and reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration.

Beyond the conference, SU and the University of Zambia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their commitment to collaborative research and knowledge exchange. The delegation also joined field trips to local farming and conservation initiatives around Lusaka (Kasisi). Here, the SU team led discussion groups that showcased new technologies and facilitated conversations on biodiversity and the circular economy for Zambian small-scale farms. These visits highlighted community-driven practices in regenerative agriculture, water management, and ecosystem restoration, offering valuable lessons and opportunities for future partnerships.

The Green Futures engagement underscored the importance of cross-border collaboration in sharing knowledge and driving sustainable innovation. SU’s participation reflected the University’s commitment to co-developing solutions, fostering partnerships, and building networks that contribute to a greener, more sustainable future for Africa.

Four postgraduate students, supervised by Prof Sonja Matthee in the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology and co-supervised by Prof Conrad Matthee (Department of Botany and Zoology), recently attended the 5th International Congress on Parasites of Wildlife (ICPOW), held in Kruger National Park from 14–18 September 2025. The conference was attended by 138 delegates representing several South African, African, and international research and tertiary institutions.

Ms Inge Raubenheimer (PhD) presented results from her recently completed MSc project on the parasites associated with Smith’s bush squirrel in South Africa. She received the award for Best First-time Poster Presenter (poster title: Mitochondrial DNA phylogeography of a species-specific sucking louse, Johnsonpthirus heliosciuri, as a proxy to provide insights into the population connectivity of its host, Smith’s bush squirrels, Paraxerus cepapi) and was runner-up for Best First-time Oral Presenter (presentation title: Ectoparasites and gastrointestinal helminths associated with Smith’s bush squirrel (Paraxerus cepapi) in South Africa).

Mr Ernst Sclemmer (MSc) was runner-up for Best First-time Poster Presenter for his poster on a New species of Gastronodus Singh, 1934 (Nematoda: Spirocercidae) discovered in a South African rodent.

Ms Lola Singo (MSc) was awarded 2nd runner-up for Best First-time Oral Presenter for her presentation on the Diversity and distribution of ectoparasites associated with Rhabdomys spp. (Muridae) in the Fynbos, Nama- and Succulent Karoo biomes.

Lastly, Ms Jessica Kipling (PhD) was awarded 2nd runner-up in the Senior Oral Presenter category. Her presentation was entitled Parasite diversity of the Karoo bush rat (Otomys unisulcatus) in the Western Cape.

Prof Sonja Matthee, who chaired the Local Organising Committee of ICPOW, also presented findings from a collaborative project entitled Host and parasite contributions to ectoparasite species assemblages on sympatric rodents.

The conference also provided an opportunity to reconnect with ConsEnt alumni. Dr Luther van der Mescht is now a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Entomology and Zoology at the University of the Free State, while Prof Nkululeko Nyangiwe is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agriculture and Animal Health at the University of South Africa.

Photo 1:  5Th ICPOW Awards ceremony. From left to right: Ms Inge Raubenheimer (PhD), Prof Conrad Matthee (co-supervisor), Ms Jessica Kipling (PhD), Ms Lola Singo (MSc), Prof Sonja Matthee (Supervisor) and Mr Ernst Schlemmer (MSc).

Photo 2: Group photo with alumni at 5th ICPOW. From left to right: Prof Conrad Matthee (Botany and Zoology, SU), Prof Sonja Matthee (ConsEnt, SU), Dr Luther van der Mescht (UFS), Professor Nkululeko Nyangiwe (UNISA), Mr Ernst Schlemmer (ConsEnt MSc, SU), Ms Lola Singo (ConsEnt MSc, SU), Ms Jessica Kipling (ConsEnt PhD, SU), Ms Alyssa Little (Botany and Zoology PhD, SU) and Ms Inge Raubenheimer (ConsEnt PhD, SU).