Developments during the year 2001 resulted in the establishment of the African Centre for Gene Technologies (ACGT) within the Faculty. The ACGT is a virtual centre that will draw together all of the research initiatives in this field within the UP/CSIR Biotechnology Task Group. The Centre will also serve as the core of the Biotechnology Platform that is being established as part of the SERA Alliance.

The following major items of research equipment were acquired by the Faculty in order to enhance the research capacity of a number of research groups:

· a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) that has been installed in the Analytical Chemistry Group;
· a high-pressure liquid chromatograph (HPLC) in the Biochemistry Department;
· a DNA microarray system consisting of a GEN III Array spotter and GenePic 4000B Scanner as part of ACGT;
· a resonant mirror biosensor and multi-well fluorimeter in the Biochemistry Department;
· a high throughput DNA sequencer which replaces one of the obsolete automated sequencers in the Genetics Department.

The recruitment of additional postgraduate students is required in order to maintain a vibrant research environment. To this end, a number of new research programmes were established and funding for them was secured through the MacArthur and Rockefeller Foundations, which have supported the initiation of a regional Masters programme in environmental economics. In addition, the Faculty has developed relationships with the Southern African Wildlife College, Citrus Research International, the Life Insurers and Marketing Research Association (LIMRA) and the Agri-Business Chamber, all of which contribute opportunities for student training and research projects.

Recognition from the University for the research achievements of our staff was reflected in the award of both of the Chancellor's Awards for Teaching and for Research to members of the Faculty. In addition, there was an outstanding young researcher award and a group of our best academics were named as outstanding academic achievers.

The individual research highlights of the different Schools in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences are recorded below:

In January 2001, a research grant of $90 000 was received from the Rockefeller Foundation for a study of the impact of the adoption of GMO crops (maize and cotton) on the economy and livelihoods in South Africa.

Improving the delivery of extension services in South Africa has been a strong focus of research. Problems experienced in this regard in the North West Province were addressed and towards the end of 2001 Prof. Gustav Düvel received a major contract from the National Department of Agriculture to manage the improvement of extension services.

In a new project developed in collaboration with the CSIRO of Australia, the use and acceptability of a newly patented Wetting Front Detector is being investigated.

The School of Agricultural and Food Sciences also identified and established an interdisciplinary research focus in Consumer Sciences, which is supported by a variety of clothing and food industries as well as those industries devoted to the development and creation of lifestyle products for the broad South African community. This led to a significant increase in postgraduate students - from a total of 8 masters and doctoral students at the end of 1999 to 29 in 2001.

A major research thrust that will unite the School of Biological Sciences and the School of Agricultural and Food Sciences deals with the prediction of climate change over the next fifty years. The changes will significantly affect the distribution of South African animal species and will not only compromise existing conservation efforts and the efficacy of our protected areas, but are also likely to increase conflict resulting from land usage as agricultural activity and conservation needs converge in shrinking grasslands.

The pursuit of sustainable development requires the meaningful integration of environmental, social and economic objectives. Researchers in the School have developed an integrated model that captures the most important developmental features of South Africa over the past 40 years. This tool allows for the systematic exploration of future developmental scenarios, provides likely outcomes and can be used to explore potential future interventions prior to costly implementation.

A computer-generated three-dimensional model was created of one of the malaria parasite enzymes being targeted for drug development studies. The model was verified by biochemical studies, and species-specific differences between the malaria and human enzyme could be identified for development of parasite-specific drugs. Significant progress was made in the use of lipid cell wall antigens from the tuberculosis organism and in the identification of the effects these have on host immune cells. Support for the TB project via a Flemish-South African bilateral agreement was renewed in 2001. One PhD and one MSc student from the University participated in this project. Several full-length gene sequences coding for tick salivary gland proteins were obtained. These proteins are involved in tick feeding. These sequences will be used to develop anti-tick feeding vaccines, as well as to develop novel vascular disease therapeutics.

Dr Namrita Lall of the Department of Botany has been awarded a UNESCO-L'OREAL fellowship for her research on tuberculosis. This fellowship is awarded to only ten women in the world. Based on her work, the Department filed an application for an international patent on the antituberculosis activity of natural products isolated from Euclea natalensis.

A small virus-specified non-structural protein of the African horse sickness virus was identified that is cytotoxic and causes membrane disruption by integrating into the cellular membrane. The interesting finding that this toxicity characteristic was lost when the membrane-spanning domains of the protein were genetically modified was published in a leading Virology journal.

Research is given a high priority in the School of Physical Sciences. This is reflected in the research output of the School, which has been increasing continuously over the past few years, both in quantity and (more importantly) in quality. A study of the highlights and outputs of the different departments in the School brings to light the exceptionally high quality of the research that is being conducted, for example, superconductivity and cold cathode research in physics, and elemental synthesis research in chemistry.
The increase in research output has been aided by the acquisition of new (and expensive) instruments funded by the University. This renewal process will be continued in order to maintain the competitiveness of the School.

The School of Mathematical Sciences has been involved in a number of contract research projects with industry, and important linkages exist with institutions like Gensec, Sanlam, HSBC-bank in England, African Life and Standard Bank.

Financial support that was received for research projects include:

· funding from the NRF for several research projects;
· THRIP funding for the UP-Gensec project in Financial Mathematics;
· the Mellon Foundation postgraduate mentoring awards;
· funding from the First Rand Foundation for the establishment of a Chair in Insurance and Actuarial Sciences.

The research achievements of Prof. Elemer Rosinger was recognised by the Chancellor's Award for Excellent Research. Of the 21 Year 2000 Gold Medal Awards of the South African Mathematical Society, sponsored by Rand Merchant Bank, and awarded for 2001 to top achievers in mathematics in South Africa, three were made to mathematicians of the University, namely Prof. Elemer Rosinger, Prof. Anton Ströh, and Prof. Johan Swart.

Statistical research was carried out on behalf of a number of organisations, including SANLAM, HSBC-bank in England, African Life, Standard Bank, SAGE, and Botswana Life. The research was undertaken in conjunction with the Life Insurers and Marketing Research Association (LIMRA) and in collaboration with SANLAM, while research activities were managed by Business Enterprises at the University of Pretoria (BE@UP). Other major research activities in the School included market analysis, the development of random number systems for the cell phone industry and the development of an instrument for quality assurance in the insurance industry.