News Bulletin of 11 June 2025, 5pm

University of Pretoria senior lecturer Dr Bernard Coetzee has been named among The Explorers Club 50’s Class of 2025 — a global list of 50 people “changing the world, that the world needs to know about.”
The prestigious honour recognises his groundbreaking work in conservation ecology, from studying light pollution’s impact on mosquitoes to promoting human-elephant co-existence.
Dr Coetzee, who helps run UP’s Conservation Ecology Research Unit, says the award is a platform to connect with global changemakers and raise awareness of biodiversity loss.
He’s conducted fieldwork on every continent and believes humanity’s future is closely tied to the fate of the natural world.

At just 12 years old Prasiddhi is already making a big impact on India’s environment. Known as the Indian Greta Thunberg she has planted over 150,000 trees and founded the Prasiddhi Forest Foundation.
Her journey began at age seven when a devastating cyclone inspired her to start planting fruit forests. These are biodiverse green spaces that provide food and shelter while helping the environment. The forests have been planted in schools government offices and community areas mostly in Tamil Nadu.
Prasiddhi’s foundation promotes a 3G Network which stands for Generate oxygen Grow food and Gift efforts back to the community. She has also spoken at TEDx events and the United Nations Climate Change Summits inspiring thousands of volunteers across India to join her mission.
Her work shows how one young person’s vision can grow into a nationwide movement toward a greener future.

The University of Johannesburg recently partnered with the Gauteng Department of Health to mark World Food Safety Day on 7 June. Themed “Science in Action,” the event focused on using scientific knowledge to reduce foodborne illnesses across the food chain.
Prof Thokozani Mbonane highlighted the serious but often underreported issue of food poisoning in South Africa, urging science to play a bigger role in protecting communities. Christina Moumakwe, Deputy Director for Environmental Health Services, stressed that food safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Students presented innovative projects, including plays about foodborne illness risks and research on sustainable alternatives to wood fuel. Xylan de Jager shared successful hand hygiene projects that improved cleanliness by 50%, vital in preventing contamination.
The event reinforced the vital role of science in keeping food safe and communities healthy.