Nico Smit is the co-ordinator of the NWU-Water Research Group. He is also the Director of the Environmental Research Unit. His research specialisation is in aquatic ecology and focus on the role of keystone species in aquatic ecosystems and the anthropogenic impacts on them. He plays an active role in postgraduate student supervision. His areas of expertise are aquatic ecologist and ecotoxicologist, specialising in aquatic ecology, fish biology and ecology, marine and freshwater parasitology. He acts as project leader of two multi million rand project on the conservation of southern Africa’s iconic tiger fish, as well as a project on the Phongola river and flood plains and Platinum Group Elements in the Hex River.
Honorary Medal from the South African Academy for Science and Arts’ Faculty of Natural Science and Technology for a significant contribution towards the advancement and development of Science in South Africa (2015)