Department of Botany & Zoology - Stellenbosch University

07/09/2026

September Sunset Seminar at SUBG: Uncovering hidden invertebrate “cities” in kelp holdfasts

Beneath the towering canopies of the Great African Seaforest lies a bustling, microscopic metropolis tucked away in the kelp holdfast. These root-like holdfast structures harbour hyper-diverse invertebrate communities whose full ecological roles and biodiversity remain largely uncharted. This talk explores our research journey spanning the coast from Port Nolloth to De Hoop as we move from documenting and disentangling biodiversity records to understanding how these hidden ecosystems function.

SUBG offers a guided tour for attendees prior to the seminar. Tour spaces are limited and available by advance booking only.

Both the seminar and tour are free. To book, email [email protected].

03/09/2026

02/09/2026

Calling all those intrigued by the natural world and interested in furthering their studies

14/08/2026

July 2026: Society for Experimental Biology conference, andiamo!

Three members of the CL•I•M•E lab went international this July and attended the Society for Experimental Biology annual conference held in Florence, Italy. Susana and two PhD students, Tania and Bridget, were accepted to share their work with oral presentations and posters at the event.

The conference was a great success, with exposure to many high-quality speakers and projects. Bridget gave a presentation on her models of thermal acclimation in the Harlequin ladybeetle and got to talk with other interested attendees about thermal performance curves and insect locomotion. “This wasn’t only my first international conference but also my first time in Europe! So, everything was very exciting. I’m happy to have met students doing similar work to mine and created new connections with researchers across the world.”

Tania presented a poster with a short talk on trait-specific thermal sensitivity in the Harlequin ladybeetle and field microclimate temperatures. Tania had a busy poster session discussing her work with interested researchers working on similar topics. “The SEB conference was such a welcoming event for me as a postgraduate student. It highlighted the high quality of experimental biology happening around the world, while also providing opportunities for networking and soft skill development. It was a bonus to attend a conference in such a wonderful city filled with beauty and history at every turn.”

Susana also presented some of the lab’s work on sex-determined melanisation differences and was met with a lot of enthusiasm and ideas to bring back to Stellenbosch. Some exciting and highlighted sessions included “Seasonality and stress resilience: responses to environmental challenges during global change” and “Crossing boundaries, crossing distances: physiology of species undergoing range shifts and invasions”, topics that are at the very heart of the CL•I•M•E lab’s focus areas. The meeting was also very nicely designed to inspire and empower young researchers.

Despite the European summer heat (reaching as high as 35°C every day!), the CL•I•M•Ers had a great time, especially being in Florence, which had no shortage of beautiful sights, refreshing Aperol’s and delicious pizzas. We will keep our eyes on the next SEB meeting!

13/08/2026

Marnel's input touches the journey of any student studying biology at Stellenbosch University

This Women’s Month, we’re celebrating women at Stellenbosch University (SU) who lead change and inspire others through social impact, innovation and scholarship.

12/08/2026

Congratulations to Sabrina on her nomination 🥳

As South Africa commemorates the 70th anniversary of the historic 1956 march of 20 000 women to the Union Buildings, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) is proud to announce the finalists for the 2026 South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA). Celebrated annually during Women's Month, SAWiSA recognises and rewards excellence in science, technology and innovation (ST&I) by South African women. The awards also celebrate outstanding researchers and scientists whose achievements inspire the next generation of women and girls to pursue careers in ST&I.

This year's theme, "Placing Women at the Centre of Science, Technology and Innovation," aligns with the Department's mantra of "Placing science, technology and innovation at the centre of government, education, industry and society." The theme underscores the critical role that women play in advancing scientific excellence, driving innovation and contributing to South Africa's socio-economic development.

The DSTI Fellowships have been renamed in honour of the late Prof. Shirley Keolebogile Motaung, one of South Africa's most distinguished black women scientists and academics. The DSTI-Prof. Keolebogile Motaung Fellowships will be awarded to young women pursuing their master's and doctoral degrees in recognition of their academic excellence and research potential.

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner on 20 August 2026 at the NH Johannesburg, Sandton Hotel.

08/07/2026

We would like to invite you to attend the next Webinar for the HAA on Tuesday (28 July 2026) at 18h00 SAST.

In this presentation, Alex Nieto will discuss methods for estimating amphibian population densities, with a particular focus on acoustic spatial capture–recapture (aSCR). The talk will highlight ongoing collaborative work with Anura Africa to monitor threatened South African amphibians, drawing on examples from the Cape Peninsula Moss Frog, Micro Frog, and Long-toed Tree Frog. Alex will introduce the principles behind aSCR, its application within passive acoustic monitoring, and its growing role in amphibian conservation.

Presentation title💻: Listening to the Landscape: A non-invasive technique for estimating population densities of amphibians

When🗓️: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Time 🕕: 06:00 PM, Johannesburg

Please register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/dSpzTRYGTBWAh4uE0qTlVw

08/07/2026

📢 WE ARE HIRING!

We are looking for a a Research & Project Manager to support The Earthshot Prize Africa programme.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to one of the world's leading environmental initiatives by identifying and supporting innovative climate and nature solutions across Africa. The successful candidate will lead research, coordinate regional programme delivery, develop compelling communications content, and provide project management support for Earthshot Africa, Generation Earthshot, and African Earthshot finalists.

📅 Application Deadline: 17 July 2026 (11:49 PM EST)
🔗 For more information and to apply: https://phh.tbe.taleo.net/phh04/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=CONSERVATION&cws=39&rid=2741