Assessing the security implications of genome editing technology
Two FABIans were among the travel award recipients to attend an International Workshop in Hannover, Germany.
8 Nov 2017
6 Nov 2017
Argentinian Forest Pathologist visits FABI
FABI hosted a visit by Argentinian forest pathologist Sergio Ramos from the National Institute for Agricultural Technology (INTA) in Argentina.
1 Nov 2017
Insect pests of Eucalyptus in Rwanda
FABI researcher Dr Brett Hurley recently visited Rwanda, as part of a project funded by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
27 Oct 2017
CTHB honours participants of its outreach and mentorship programmes
The DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health in Biotechnology (CTHB) at the University of Pretoria hosted a lunch on 26 October to honour those who participated in its outreach and mentoring programmes during 2017.
26 Oct 2017
FABIans participate in Santa Shoebox Project: Share the joy of giving
A small group of FABIans from the Shaw Lab decided to ensure that eight underprivileged children receive a Christmas gift in the form of a Santa Shoebox.
25 Oct 2017
International Insect Rearing Workshop
A Research Assistant and postgraduate student at the FABI Biocontrol Facility, Samantha Bush, attended the 20th International Insect Rearing Workshop at Mississippi State University, Starkville, USA, from 1-5 October.
23 Oct 2017
PSANA SPCA drive
PSANA, the Postgraduate Students Association for the Natural and Agricultural Sciences, recently launched a Community Service Portfolio in an effort to help the greater Pretoria community.
20 Oct 2017
FABI hosts Lesotho Biosafety Committee visit
Dr Sanushka Naidoo and Mrs Adri Veale hosted the Lesotho National Biosafety Coordinating Committee on a visit to FABI.
19 Oct 2017
FABIan selected as ASPB Plantae Fellow
Danielle Roodt, a PhD student in FABI, has been selected to become a Plantae Fellow for the 2017-2018 period; the only African representative among a group of 35 scientists. Annually, Plantae selects scientists, spanning from graduate to Professor level, to aid in keeping the platform interactive and up to date, and to share what they are reading with a global community.
18 Oct 2017
FABIans present at the Plant Genome Evolution Conference
The fourth Plant Genome Evolution (PGEV) Conference, a Current Opinion in Plant Biology conference held every two years, took place in Sitges, south of Barcelona, Spain from 1-3 October.
13 Oct 2017
FABI Biennial Report available online
The FABI Biennial Report 2015-2017 is now available online and can be downloaded here (add url). The report summarizes the research activities, publications, as well as staff and students achievements of the all the research groups in the Institute over the past two years.
12 Oct 2017
FABI Research Fellow visits CERC
FABI Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr Janneke Aylward, visited the China Eucalypt Research Centre (CERC) in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, China, from 24-27 September.
6 Oct 2017
Jolanda Roux receives Havenga Prize
Prof. Jolanda Roux, an associate professor in FABI, has been awarded the prestigious Havenga Prize for Natural Sciences by the Suid Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns (South African Academy for Arts and Science) at a ceremony on 29 September.
5 Oct 2017
FABI shines at the IUFRO Anniversary Congress
A large contingent of FABI and other South African forestry research scientists and postgraduate students attended the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations’ 125th Anniversary Congress held from 18-22 September in Freiburg, Germany. IUFRO President and FABI Director Prof Mike Wingfield was joined by 11 fellow FABIans along with eight other South Africa representatives. The five-day conference drew 1,348 oral and 454 poster presentations by more than 2,000 attendees to the congress. Posters: Arriagada-Cares D. De Vos L, M. Gevers C. Granados G. Hulbert, J. Pham N. Santana Q. Vivas M. Session Presentations: Chirwa P. Hurley B. Jami F. Naidoo S. Pavlic-Zupanc D. FABIans organised two discussion sessions: Dr Brett Hurley. Joey Hulbert. Dr Irene Barnes chaired a session “Dothistroma and other needle diseases of pine”.
4 Oct 2017
FABIANs attend International Symposium on Biological Control
Drs Brett Hurley and Michelle Schröder attended the 5th International Symposium on Biological Control of Arthropods (ISBCA), held in Langkawi, Malaysia from 11-15 September. The session topics included aspects of accidental introduction of biocontrol agents, pre- and post-release genetics, Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) policy, and successes and uptake of biocontrol in developing countries. Presentations from FABI included: Dr Brett Hurley – Investigating the complex gall community of Leptocybe invasa. Dr Michelle Schröder – Biological control of the Gonipterus scutellatus species complex: testing the species, climatic and phonological mismatch hypotheses In addition, a poster was submitted by Samantha Bush, titled ‘Host specificity testing of Psyllaephagus bliteus, an accepted biocontrol agent of Glycaspis brimblecombei, reveals a new host. Samantha’s poster, which was from her MSc work, won the Best Poster Award – congratulations Samantha!
4 Oct 2017
FABI student leads international session at IUFRO Congress
FABI PhD student Joey Hulbert organised a session titled ‘Early detection and monitoring of invasive forest pests and pathogens with citizen science’ at the IUFRO 125th Anniversary Congress in Freiburg Germany.
3 Oct 2017
Professor Mike Wingfield receives the Chinese Government Friendship Award
Professor Mike Wingfield, Director of FABI and President of IUFRO visited Beijing during the weekend of 28 September where he received the Chinese Government Friendship Award for 2017. The award was presented to Mike to acknowledge his 20 years of collaboration with Chinese colleagues in the field of tree health. Mike’s visit to China also provided an opportunity to meet with various colleagues with close ties to IUFRO.
2 Oct 2017
IUFRO President’s Dinner celebrates 125 year history
IUFRO President Prof. Located on the historical Münsterplatz, the Kaufhaus’ scarlet façade is a landmark on the square. (Main group photo credit: Klaus Polkowski/IUFRO)
29 Sep 2017
IUFRO President addresses IFSA sub-plenary session on forestry
The International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA) hosted a sub-plenary session titled “Our future forests” during the International Union of Forest Research Organization’s (IUFRO) 125th Anniversary Congress in Freiburg, Germany. The session included a panel discussion led by IFSA President Salina Abraham that debated what future forests will look like and how forestry education must adapt to address the changing needs of the future generations of researchers, many of whom are IFSA members.
29 Sep 2017
IUFRO-EFI Young Scientists Initiative Launched at Anniversary Congress
IUFRO President Prof. Information about the initiative and the application process, which closes on 31 December 2017, can be found on both the IUFRO and EFI websites.
28 Sep 2017
IUFRO Russian book launch
IUFRO and the Russian forestry community have a long and successful association that stretches back several decades. The book is nearly 600 pages long and an electronic version can be downloaded here.
27 Sep 2017
Acoustic Welcome for the IUFRO President
The opening of the International Union of Forest Organizations (IUFRO) 125th Anniversary Congress saw President Prof.
27 Sep 2017
IUFRO 125th Anniversary Congress opens
The much anticipated International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) 125th Anniversary Congress was opened by President Prof. Mike Wingfield on 19 September in Freiburg, Germany.
20 Sep 2017
FABI researcher elected as a Fellow of the Next Einstein Forum
Congratulations to FABI researcher, Dr Sanushka Naidoo, who has been elected as a Fellow of the Next Einstein Forum (NEF).
19 Sep 2017
14 Sep 2017
Sarawak Forestry Group visits FABI
FABI was honoured to receive a visit on 11 September by a delegation of forestry industry representatives from Sarawak in Malaysia.
14 Sep 2017
FABI volleyball team face rivals at UP Spring Day tournament
FABIans took to the courts once again on 13 September at the University of Pretoria’s Spring Day celebrations on the LC de Villiers Sports Campus.
12 Sep 2017
Three papers published on genetics and genomics of Cassava Brown Streak Disease
Three UP-FABI PhD students, based in Uganda and Kenya, recently published first author papers on results from a Gates Foundation project on the genetics of cassava tolerance to CBSD.
12 Sep 2017
Centre of Excellence Annual Director’s Forum and Community Outreach
The Annual Centres of Excellence Director’s Forum held in Port Elizabeth from 31 August till 2 September gave South African scientists a platform to discuss the Triumvirate (people, knowledge enterprise and engagement with society) Transformation in the DST-NRF Centres of Excellence. Core team members from the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB) engaged young learners from Port Elizabeth at a science outreach forum.
8 Sep 2017
Macadamia research: FABI attend the 2017 SAMAC Research Symposium
Dr Gerda Fourie from FABI attended the annual Southern African Macadamia Growers’ Association (SAMAC) Research Symposium held on 6-7 September at Sibaya Casino, KwaZulu-Natal.
8 Sep 2017
FABI student's poster commended in SAASTA's Young Science Communicators Competition
FABI PhD candidate Darryl Herron was highly commended for his poster about “Food Security” in the Annual Young Science Communicators competition organized by SAASTA.
7 Sep 2017
FABIans welcome spring in a kaleidoscope of colour!
FABI held its annual Spring Tea in the FABI Courtyard on 1 September.
4 Sep 2017
The Department of Plant and Soil Sciences hosts learners from Woodhill College
FABI staff and students in Department of Plant and Soil Sciences hosted a School Science Day for Grade 11 learners and teachers from Woodhill College.
31 Aug 2017
Listening in on plant-microbe communication: Australian Mycologist visits FABI
FABI hosted Dr Jonathan Plett, a leading mycologist, from the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment at Western Sydney University, Australia from 28-30 August.
25 Aug 2017
APRIL Forestry Group visits FABI
FABI had the pleasure of hosting a visit on the 22 August by a delegation of senior management and researchers from the Indonesia-based Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL), a division of the Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) Group of companies.
25 Aug 2017
Extraordinary Professor Gerhard Pietersen says farewell to colleagues and students after 13 years at UP
Staff and students in the Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology of the University of Pretoria gathered on 21 August to wish Extraordinary Professor Gerhard Pietersen well as he takes up a research position in the Western Cape. Prof. He supervised 16 completed MSc's and two completed PhD's during his time at UP. Prof.