by Phaphama Tshisikhawe and Kgaugelo Selane
Specialised research conducted at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) is aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through seven strategic research niche areas. These areas aim to address South Africa’s challenges, drive economic development, and deliver research that is locally impactful, nationally significant, and globally relevant, enhancing the University’s reputation and contributing to a better society.
Research Niche Area Leader in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment Prof Julius Ndambuki.
Under the leadership of Prof Julius Ndambuki, the Research Niche Area at the Faculty of Science focuses on the perilous issue of mitigating the impact of climate change and land use changes on water resources and the environment. It addresses critical global challenges such as pollution, floods, drought, and forest fires, events that disrupt ecosystems and human livelihoods. The research is geared towards developing solutions that safeguard sustainable development and prevent environmental disasters.
Key research themes include:
- Pollution and Remediation: Investigating constructed wetlands and hybrid systems for treating mine-polluted water and municipal wastewater.
- Groundwater Sustainability: Studying the conjunctive use of surface and groundwater resources to ensure long-term water security.
- Watershed Hydrology: Examining the effects of land use and climate change on water systems to support sustainable water resource planning.
This niche area contributes to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), advancing solutions for water security, environmental resilience and climate adaptation.