School of Geosciences - University of Witwatersrand

Jun 10

The future of mining demands more than incremental change – it requires bold, collaborative thinking. Professor Grant Bybee, associate professor and the head of school at the Wits School of Geosciences, and Professor Glen Nwaila, director of the African Research Centre for Ore System Science at Wit...Read more

The future of mining demands more than incremental change – it requires bold, collaborative thinking. Professor Grant Bybee, associate professor and the head of school at the Wits School of Geosciences, and Professor Glen Nwaila, director of the African Research Centre for Ore System Science at Wits University, explore this subject in their latest article, Mining Reimagined: A call for an urgent, unified systems approach to sustainable transformation in the minerals and mining industry, featured in The Future of Sustainability annual publication. The article, published on 1 May 2026, highlights the importance of integrated systems thinking, innovation and sustainable transformation in shaping the future of the minerals and mining sector. Read the full article here: #WitsUniversity #WitsGeosciences #Sustainability #WitsForGood

Jun 6

PhD Opportunity: Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Structural Geology in the Gobi Desert Looking for PhD students on this multi-institutional research project into the geological evolution of Mongolia's Eastern Gobi Basin. This is a field-intensive project, including multiple expeditions to the remot...Read more

PhD Opportunity: Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Structural Geology in the Gobi Desert Looking for PhD students on this multi-institutional research project into the geological evolution of Mongolia's Eastern Gobi Basin. This is a field-intensive project, including multiple expeditions to the remote Gobi Desert, combined with opportunities to develop expertise in sedimentary basin analysis, stratigraphy, and tectonics. Applicants with backgrounds in geology, sedimentology, stratigraphy, structural geology, or related disciplines are encouraged to apply. Application Details: merge all requested documents into a single PDF file, then email to Zubair.Jinnah@wits.ac.za -Letter of Motivation -Full CV -Letters of Academic Recommendation (3) -Undergraduate/Honours Transcripts -Include any publications (full citation and abstract only) that resulted from your Honours or Master's research, accompanied by a description of your role within the publication. -Detailed in-field experience from your Honours or Master's research. For more information visit: https://witsgeosciences.start.page

Jun 5

We were honoured to participate in Take a Girl Child to Work Day, led by the Wits Mining Institute in partnership with Women in Mining South Africa, on 30 May 2026. The initiative aims to introduce female learners to the world of mining through an engaging and interactive experience at the Universi...Read more

We were honoured to participate in Take a Girl Child to Work Day, led by the Wits Mining Institute in partnership with Women in Mining South Africa, on 30 May 2026. The initiative aims to introduce female learners to the world of mining through an engaging and interactive experience at the University of the Witwatersrand. Learners gained exposure to different areas of the mining value chain, including geosciences, mining engineering, mineral processing and mining technology. As part of the programme, the Wits School of Geosciences hosted a visit to the Earth Observatory and the Garden of Time. We are incredibly proud of our students, who shared their learning experiences in our undergraduate laboratories and introduced learners to the fundamentals of mineralogy and petrography. Through these activities, learners had the opportunity to explore the practical side of geosciences and gain a better understanding of its important role within the mining industry. We are excited to be part of an initiative that reflects a shared commitment to empowering young women and inspiring the next generation of female leaders in mining and geosciences. #WitsUniversity #WitsGeosciences #WitsForGood #Mining

May 25

Exciting news – we’re hiring! 📣 The Wits School of Geosciences is expanding, and we are seeking exceptional candidates for three academic roles: 👉️ Adjunct professor in Economic Geology and Ore Systems Science. This is a great opportunity for a senior industry professional with more than 10 y...Read more

Exciting news – we’re hiring! 📣 The Wits School of Geosciences is expanding, and we are seeking exceptional candidates for three academic roles: 👉️ Adjunct professor in Economic Geology and Ore Systems Science. This is a great opportunity for a senior industry professional with more than 10 years’ experience to bridge the mining/exploration world and academia, leading our flagship MSc Economic Geology programme. Permanent, fully remunerated, flexible modalities 👉️ Lecturer/senior lecturer/associate professor in Geosciences. We’re especially keen on candidates with expertise in hydrogeology and/or geometallurgy, although outstanding geoscientists across all disciplines are encouraged to apply 👉️ Lecturer to full professor in Computational Geophysics. Help us build the future of geoscience through numerical modelling, machine learning, high performance computing (HPC) or data science applied to Earth systems. Ideal candidates will bridge the disciplines of geology, geochemistry and geophysics with a computational approach These roles, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, offer access to extraordinary geological opportunities within one of the continent’s premier research-intensive institutions, supported by elite analytical facilities and industry connections. Deadline for applications: 31 August 2026. Submit your application at https://www.wits.ac.za/vacancies/. For questions, contact: grant.bybee@wits.ac.za Know a geoscientist? Please tag them below. 👇 #Geoscience #Geology #Geophysics #Hydrogeology #Geometallurgy #EconomicGeology #AcademicJobs #WitsUniversity #Hiring #Africa #EarthScience

May 6

The Wits School of Geosciences is pleased to host Dr Herman van Niekerk (University of Johannesburg) for an upcoming Geotalk: Against the Odds: A Case Study in Antarctic Field Risk, Logistics and Survival — The story of the UJ Geology Field Party, South African National Antarctic Expedition (2025–2...Read more

The Wits School of Geosciences is pleased to host Dr Herman van Niekerk (University of Johannesburg) for an upcoming Geotalk: Against the Odds: A Case Study in Antarctic Field Risk, Logistics and Survival — The story of the UJ Geology Field Party, South African National Antarctic Expedition (2025–2026) Date: Thursday, 7th May Time: 16h00 (GMT+2) Venue: G121, Honours Room, Wits School of Geosciences Online access available via Zoom (Meeting ID: 97168403738) and YouTube at @witsgeosciences All are welcome! #geotalks #witsgeosciences #antartica #exploration