A multidisciplinary team collaborating across faculties and with FABI researchers has been awarded first prize in the University of Pretoria’s Senate Conference Research Project Call, an honour presented by UP’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof. Francis Petersen, at the recent Senate meeting. The Senate Research Project Call was established to foster trans- and interdisciplinary research across the University, encouraging innovative collaborations that directly address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The winning project, titled “Unlocking sustainability and circularity through the ProtoBuilding Concept,” brings together expertise from timber engineering, architecture, genetics, and marketing. The initiative seeks to pioneer modular, timber-based construction solutions tailored for the African context - emphasising sustainability, circularity, and frugal innovation. The team aims to reimagine the role of timber in shaping resilient, low-carbon built environments, contributing to both climate-conscious infrastructure and economic development through innovation in natural materials.

A heartfelt congratulations to the project team lead by Prof. Schalk Grobbelaar (York Timbers Chair, EBIT) as principal investigator, Prof. Sanushka Naidoo (FABI, NAS), Dr Johann van der Merwe (EBIT), Mr Christo van der Hoven (EBIT), Dr Michelle van der Merwe (EMS), and Dr Tinashe Ndoro (EMS) - whose diverse expertise and collaborative spirit made this recognition possible.

This award celebrates not only the potential of the ProtoBuilding concept to deliver real-world impact, but also FABI’s ongoing commitment to sustainable forestry research and interdisciplinary innovation.

We look forward to following the progress of this exciting project as it unfolds.

(Photos: EyeScape/UP)