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Natural and Agricultural Sciences celebrates best of the best

13 December 2020 Photo Supplied

Read More NAS Danie Vermeulen — The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences held its very first virtual Academic Awards Ceremony this year, where 103 prizes were awarded in 75 different categories. Prof Danie Vermeulen sponsored the award for the best undergraduate student in the faculty.

The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS) presented its very first virtual Academic Awards Ceremony this year, celebrating the achievements of students.

According to Tracy Isaacs and Heidiry White, both from the Office of the Dean: Natural and Agricultural Sciences and organisers of the event, the aim of this event is to award and reward skills, knowledge, talent, and abilities. They believe the event contributes to encourage, inspire, and motivate other students to excel.

“Academic awards in the faculty create meaningful moments of recognition that inspire others and reinforce the behaviour that led to the reward. Rewarding students for their hard work forms an integral part of creating a competitive spirit among students. Competition is essential, as it encourages every student to do their best to stand out,” says Isaacs.

Support and innovation

During this year’s ceremony, 103 prizes were awarded in 75 different categories. Dedicated academic staff who went the extra mile to ensure that no student was left behind, played a major role in the faculty awarding this number of prizes.

The quality of the programmes and the curriculum, together with innovative teaching and learning activities and approaches, form the basis for academic excellence in the faculty. Lecturers and students are also provided with ongoing support and proper resources to maintain a high quality of teaching.

An achievement that stood out was the work of Philip Schall, who received the Dean’s Award for best undergraduate student in the faculty. Schall obtained his degree with distinction. The Dean, Prof Danie Vermeulen, sponsored this award.

Search for knowledge encouraged

Lecturers and researchers encourage students on a daily basis to pursue academic excellence by challenging them to obtain the highest level of success in their work.

Students are also provided with an academic, creative, and enterprising spirit that not only prepares them for their academic journey, but also for the world of work. “While being exposed to a range of valuable and relevant learning experiences, students are prepared for further study, ongoing learning, and for their future work environment,” says Isaacs.

News Archive

UFS venture cleans up acid mine drainage

2015-07-06

The system that puts oxygen back into the water.

Photo: Supplied

South Africa is one of the most important mining countries in the world, beginning in the 1870s. Although the mining industry has been responsible for significant development and employment, it pollutes the environment and waters sources. Through the joint effort of a well-known mining company, the University of the Free State, and the Technology Innovation Agency (UFS/TIA) SAENSE Group, a new treatment for Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) has been developed.

The system treats the major contaminants found in acid mining wastewater effectively.

The UFS remediation systems use a reservoir tank into which the AMD is pumped. The water then flows passively (without using energy) to the Barium Carbonate Dispersed Alkaline Substrate (BDAS) system. The metals and anions in the AMD react chemically with the barium carbonate and precipitate (form solids). The solids stay in the tank while the clean water is released.

The efficacy and applicability of the research was demonstrated on site in Belfast, Mpumalanga where the team constructed a pilot plant in July 2014. This patented technology has treated 1 814 400 litres of Acid Mine Drainage to date with an outflow water quality that satisfies the South African National Standards (SANS) 241:2006 & 2011 regulations for drinking water.

Rohan Posthumus from the (UFS/TIA) SAENSE Group said: “At this stage, we do not recommend that the water should be used as drinking water, but certainly it can lower water usage in mines while finding application in dust suppression of washing processes. The team would like to complete a full characterisation of the final released water. There are currently no toxic by-products formed, and even very basic filtration can make the outflow drinking water.”

Prof Esta van Heerden’s research group from the Department of Microbial, Biochemical, and Food Biotechnology has been working on AMD research for some time, but the development of the BDAS system was started in 2013 by post-doctoral student, Dr Julio Castillo, and his junior researcher, Rohan Posthumus.

The data from the BDAS system have led to two publications in peer-reviewed journals as well as a registered patent.

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