Francois Roets

Life did not take over the globe by combat, but by networking. This view of the natural world, the way in which all organisms interact with one another in intricate ways, to make the machinery of life work properly has long been a research focus of numerous scientists. These interactions, or symbiosis, between organisms is often a major driving force in the evolution on life on earth.

As faculty in the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology of the University of Stellenbosch (Diversity and Symbiosis research group) our work focuses on the diversity and interactions of fungi, plants and arthropods. I support this project fully, because a major factor impacting symbioses in a changing environment is man. The earlier that future scientists are exposed to impacts of our endeavors on the natural world, the faster they can help plan for possible solutions....and the best classroom for this is not the classroom at all!!

January 2017