Faculty of Science

FACULTY OF SCIENCE

Department of Biological Sciences

The Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Namibia currently offers undergraduate students 3 areas of specialization for their Bachelors degree: Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Environmental Biology. For postgraduate students the Department currently runs a two year taught Masters Degree programme (M.Sc. Biodiversity Management and Research) in collaboration with the Humboldt University of Berlin/Germany. Postgraduate students can also enroll in the Department for a Masters’ or PhD degree by research only.

Research areas in the Department currently include:

Population ecology Aquatic research: Investigation of potential toxicity to humans of Windhoek’s drinking water due to the presence of Endocrine Erupting Chemicals (EDCs); Investigation of the presence and potential toxicity of heavy metals in surface water resources of Namibia; Biogeochemical and nutrient cycling in the water column and sediments of freshwater dams and reservoirs in Namibia; Carbon cycling and microbial diversity and activity in shelf sediments of the Benguela upwelling systems of the coast of Namibia; The sulfur cycle and the role of large sulfur bacteria in marine sediments off the Namibian coast.	Applied and environmental and medical microbiology: biological activity of antimalarial and antimicrobial compounds and animal host-parasite interactions; Malaria research and the use of natural plant extracts in malaria treatment. Microbial pathogenesis, food safety and disease prevention Molecular and general genetics: Molecular Marker technology Crop Domestication Agricultural biotechnology Mushroom Production science: The Department of Biological Sciences also hosts the Namibia Type Culture Collection of microorganisms as well as the Zero Emissions Research Initiative (ZERI) African Regional Project. Pathobiology: Understanding Molecular Mechanisms of Host-parasite Interactions, including parasitic plants, parasitology of Plasmodium falciparum Conservation and management of Namibian biological diversity: including forest management; rangeland management; vegetation dynamics; ethno botany and traditional knowledge systems.

The Department of Biological Sciences also hosts the Namibia Type Culture Collection of microorganisms as well as the Zero Emissions Research Initiative (ZERI) African Regional Project. Our Department is the hub of excellence and innovation; our staff and students consistently excel in all areas of our endeavor!

At undergraduate level, the Department of Biological Sciences offers degree programmes in the following majors: Environmental Biology Molecular & Microbiology PLEASE DOWNLOAD FACULTY PROSPECTUS FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ON PROGRAMMES (WORD FILE) (PDF)