The South African Journal of Science is a multidisciplinary science journal published bimonthly by the Academy of Science of South Africa. Our mandate is to publish original research with an interdisciplinary or regional focus and to provide a forum for discussion of news and developments in research and higher education. About the cover: Mollusc collections are among the oldest natural science collections in South Africa. Cole collates information about these diverse collections scattered across South Africa. Photo: Kevin Cole. Other articles in this issue explore the following: Ecological effects of clay mining by Macrotermes termites | Gold mining pollutants in the Klip River catchment, Johannesburg | Responses of South African value chain actors to plastic straw pollution
