FABI rewards excellence and looks to the future at 2018 year-end function
FABIans reflected on the gains of the year and looked forward to 2019 and beyond at the annual year-end function and awards ceremony on 17 November.
23 Nov 2018
22 Nov 2018
Vou Shutt’s prestige seminar marks a dozen PhDs completed at FABI
Vou Shutt successfully defended her PhD thesis on 21 November, marking the final stage of completing her degree by delivering a prestige seminar at FABI. Her presentation was titled “Bacterial pathogens of tomato in South Africa: Identification, population diversity and cultivar susceptibility”.
14 Nov 2018
FABI Postdoc appointed to The Innovation Hub Board
Dr Osmond Mlonyeni, who earlier this year completed his Ph.D in Genetics and is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at FABI has been appointed to the Board of Directors of The Innovation Hub.
13 Nov 2018
CTHB team visits University of Venda
On 11-12 October a team from the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB) visited the University of Venda (UniVen) in Thohoyandou in the Limpopo Province.
12 Nov 2018
FABI Professor attends workshop on microbial systematics
Between 28 and 31 October Prof Fanus Venter was invited to attend a National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored workshop on “Microbial Systematics for the Next Decade” held in Hood River, Oregon, USA.
9 Nov 2018
Key drivers of the CTHB’s mentorship and outreach programmes in 2018 speak about their inspiration and experiences
Mentorship at undergraduate and high school level have been the cornerstone of the CTHB’s outreach programmes since its founding 14 years ago. Staff, postdoctoral fellows and postgraduate students in the CTHB have mentored more than 200 undergraduate students, introducing them to the basic tenets of laboratory etiquette and postgraduate research.
9 Nov 2018
FABI research work features on Carte Blanche
The popular South African current affairs and investigative journalism programme Carte Blanche featured the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme's (TPCP) in FABI's research work on the Polyphagous Shothole Borer (PSHB) on its weekly programme on 4 November.
8 Nov 2018
FABI Director joins Chinese Academy of Forestry 60th anniversary celebrations
On 25-26 October, Prof Bernard Slippers attended the 60th Anniversary Celebrations of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAF) in Beijing, China.
7 Nov 2018
FABI shines at SASBi/SAGs conference
The Biennial joint SASBi/SAGS (South African Society for Bioinformatics/South African Genetics Society) Conference was held at Golden Gate National Park in the Free State Province from 16-18 October.
2 Nov 2018
Multiomics to analyse the soil microbiome
Dr Richard Allen White III, a postdoctoral Fellow at Washington State University, visited FABI where he presented a workshop on metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses during the week of 22-26 October.
1 Nov 2018
FABI presents a workshop on metagenomics and metatranscriptomics
During the week of 22-26 October, FABI hosted a workshop on metagenomic and metatransciptomic analyses.
31 Oct 2018
Chemical ecology field work at FABI
FABI postdoctoral Fellow Dr Marc Bouwer along with Dr Gabrielle Carstensen and MSc student Ashleigh Smith conducted a field trip to the Lothair and Barberton regions of the Mpumalanga province during the week of 23-26 October.
30 Oct 2018
The CTHB celebrates flagship mentoring and outreach programmes at its annual lunch
The DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB) celebrated the end of another successful year of mentoring and outreach at its annual lunch on 29 October.
26 Oct 2018
FABI PostDocs visit Sappi Research Centre
Dr Tanay Bose and Dr Marc Bouwer are both in Sappi funded postdoctoral Fellowships in FABI, and part of the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP).
25 Oct 2018
Eminent plant pathologist presents a special seminar at FABI on cereal rust pathogens in Australia
Professor Robert Park of the Plant Breeding Institute at the University of Sydney shared highlights of almost a century of research on cereal rust pathogens in Australia in his special seminar titled “Approaching 100 years of cereal rust research at the University of Sydney: Lessons learnt and the way ahead” on 8 October.
22 Oct 2018
FABIans treated to seminars by Professor Randy Ploetz and Dr Michelle Ploetz
Professor Randy Ploetz and Dr Michelle Ploetz treated FABIans to two seminars on 15 October. An authority on tropical fruit diseases at the University of Florida, Prof Ploetz discussed the re-emergence of Fusarium wilt of banana, while Dr Ploetz discussed the dynamics in the use of English in academy by second and third language speakers.
19 Oct 2018
Professor Morales Olmos discusses the economic impact of disease to the forestry sector in Uruguay
Professor Virginia Morales Olmos presented a special seminar at FABI on 10 October, titled “An estimate of the economic impact of Teratosphaeria nubilosa on Eucalyptus globulus plantations in Uruguay”. Reported in Uruguay in 2007, T. Prof Morales Olmos said a study using a cost/benefit analysis model showed economic losses of between one and 20 percent, depending on the location.
18 Oct 2018
The Avocado Research Programme hosts a series of lectures to commemorate its 10th year anniversary
To celebrate 10 years since its launch in 2008, students and postdoctoral Fellows of the Avocado Research Programme at FABI presented lectures on their research at the Plant Sciences Auditorium on 9 October.
17 Oct 2018
Diseases of avocado in Australia under the spotlight at a special seminar in FABI
Dr Elizabeth Dann kicked off discussions on avocado research with a special seminar at FABI on 8 October. Dr Dann is a plant pathologist with the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, a research institute at the University of Queensland in Australia.
8 Oct 2018
Hunting for ambrosia beetles in Tzaneen
During the month of September, a team of FABIans went collecting beetles in the natural forests of Tzaneen. This forms part of the PhD project of Wilma Nel, that aims to gain a better understanding of the ambrosia beetles and their fungal associates infesting eucalyptus and pin oak wood in South Africa.
1 Oct 2018
FABI celebrates 11th PhD thesis in the bag at Erika Viljoen’s prestige seminar
Prior her PhD oral defence on 28 September, Erika Viljoen presented her prestige seminar at FABI in the presence of colleagues, family and friends. Highly nutritious anddrought resistant, A. Erika completed her study under the supervision of Professor Dave Berger.
1 Oct 2018
Professor Burton highlights ways to advance SDGs in Africa at FABI
The University of Pretoria’s Vice-Principal responsible for Research and Postgraduate Education, Prof. Professor Burton explored how research can support the SDGs. FABI Director, Prof Bernard Slippers welcomed guests and opened the event.
28 Sep 2018
Blue skies and burnt trees
PhD candidate Darryl Herron shares his experiences on a recent field trip to the Cape.
26 Sep 2018
FABIans get a sneak peek of some of South Africa's brightest young scientists
Every year, hundreds of Grade 7s and 12s, descend on the University of Pretoria's L.C. de Villiers sports grounds to take part in the Northern Gauteng Science Fair where they transform the Rembrandt Hall into a science wonderland.
25 Sep 2018
FABIans participate in IUFRO Eucalyptus Meeting
Every four years, an international meeting is convened as one of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations' (IUFRO) more than 250 Working Parties, bringing together researchers and members of forestry industries to exchange research results and other relevant knowledge relating to Eucalyptus propagation.
25 Sep 2018
IUFRO Board Meeting held in Corvallis, USA
As President, Prof. Mike Wingfield chaired the meeting of the Board of IUFRO recently held in Corvallis, Oregon (USA).
21 Sep 2018
FABIans reflect on the applications of Next Generation Sequencing on their research at NGS Information Day
The Ion Torrent sequencing facility at the University of Pretoria held a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Information Day at the Plant Sciences Auditorium on 19 September.
14 Sep 2018
Kenya maize pathology workshop “on the equator” a resounding success
Was this the first ever maize pathology workshop held on the “on the equator”? Possibly! Maseno University in Western Kenya, not far from Lake Victoria, is situated in a hot and humid region. Fungal foliar diseases and pests of maize abound in the region since chemical control is seldom applied and maize production continues all year round.
13 Sep 2018
FABI initiative featured in Science Magazine
FABI PhD candidate Joey Hulbert and his co-supervisor Dr Francois Roets recently published an 'Outside the Tower' piece in Science Magazine titled: Science Engagement in South Africa. Photo credits: AIMS-Siuth Africa and Cape Citizen Science
10 Sep 2018
FABIans present at International Workshop on the Genetics of Tree-Parasite Interactions
The 6th International Workshop on the Genetics of Tree-Parasite Interactions was hosted by Ohio State University from 5-10 August in Mt. Sterling, Ohio. Researchers from around the world, including Prof. Sanushka Naidoo and PhD candidate Caryn Oates from FABI, presented their work and participated in lively discussions on the future of plant defence research.
7 Sep 2018
Fourteen FABIans capped at UP Spring graduation
Congratulations to 14 FABIans whose degrees were conferred at the Spring graduation of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Pretoria on 4 September.
6 Sep 2018
FABIans celebrate Spring Day with an ice cream party
The winter cold was but a distant memory when the FABI Social Club hosted an ice cream party in celebration of the Institute’s annual Spring Tea on 5 September.
5 Sep 2018
FABI's Writing Club going strong
It goes without saying that publishing scientific papers is crucial for a successful science career. Another important part of the writing and publishing process is reviewing and editing. FABI PhD candidate, Katrin Fitza, started a “Writing Club” in 2016 to support this process, and to learn about reviewing and editing at the same time.
31 Aug 2018
FABI PhD Student participates in international Invertebrate Pathology Conference
FABI PhD candidate Katrin Fitza took part in the Society of Invertebrate Pathology (SIP) conference. This annual meeting gathers around 400 people from around the world. This year the conference was held on the Gold Coast in Australia from 12-17 August.
30 Aug 2018
New GC-MS system in FABI to boost chemical ecology
In order to strengthen our chemical ecology platform, a new gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) system was installed in FABI recently.
30 Aug 2018
FABI alumnus Ryan Nadel makes a pit stop at FABI with students from Auburn University
Old FABIan and Assistant Research Professor at Auburn University, Prof. Ryan Nadel, made a turn at FABI on 17 August before heading back to the United States following a tour of southern Africa with a group of his students.