About the Institute
An independent South African research institute built on the belief that good inquiry — careful, honest, and free from political or commercial pressure — doesn't require institutional backing to have value.
Founded by H. Laubscher, TLIR brings together domain experts from across disciplines — agriculture, medicine, law, technology, literature and the arts — to produce research that is methodologically sound, openly accessible, and genuinely impactful.
The Laubscher Institute for Research (TLIR) was established as a vehicle for independent inquiry — a place where ideas are tested against evidence rather than shaped by convenience or consensus.
We operate as a multidisciplinary research body, drawing on the expertise of qualified practitioners and academics across a wide range of domains. Our work spans theoretical research, applied investigation, policy analysis, and public scholarship.
All publications are subject to rigorous internal review before carrying the TLIR name. We believe that credibility is earned, not assumed, and that the integrity of our process is inseparable from the value of our output.
We are not affiliated with any political party, commercial entity, or ideological movement. Our funding structure is designed to preserve independence at every level — from research design through to publication.
TLIR is committed to open access: the belief that knowledge produced in the public interest should be freely available to the public. Every published paper, report, and policy document is made accessible through our online archive at no cost.
We welcome scrutiny. Our methods, sources, and conclusions are documented transparently — because accountability is part of the work, not an afterthought.
TLIR's mission is to produce and share research that serves the public interest — carefully done, openly available, and honest about its methods and limitations. We pursue this through disciplined inquiry and a commitment to making our findings freely accessible.
We measure success not in volume, but in rigour and relevance — work that actually informs, challenges, and contributes to better decisions.
We envision a society in which independent research is valued, funded, and acted upon — where policymakers, practitioners, and the public alike turn to credible scholarship as a foundation for consequential decisions.
TLIR aims to be a trusted reference point in the South African intellectual landscape: a body whose independence is beyond question and whose work speaks for itself.
How We Work
No political affiliations, no commercial sponsors. Our findings follow the evidence — wherever it leads, regardless of who it inconveniences.
Every published work is freely available to all. Research funded by or for the public interest belongs to the public.
All publications go through internal review before they carry the TLIR name. We check methodology, sources, and conclusions — and we don't publish work we can't stand behind.
We measure success in real-world change — research that informs policy, shifts understanding, and contributes to a better-informed society.
The Founder
H. Laubscher founded TLIR out of a straightforward conviction: that good research shouldn't require institutional permission. He is not an academic in the traditional sense. He holds a Diploma in Mental Health and a Diploma in Child Psychology — both completed through Alison — and has spent years reading, writing, and thinking independently across psychology, social systems, and institutional behaviour.
Some of that work has found its way into publication. More of it has shaped how TLIR approaches its questions. He started this institute because he believes independent, evidence-based inquiry has value regardless of where the person doing it studied — and because he wanted to build something that could hold itself accountable to that belief.
TLIR is still early. He would rather say that plainly than dress it up.
The People
An experienced practitioner in crop production, land management, and practical farm operations. He brings hands-on agricultural expertise and real-world insight to TLIR, contributing knowledge on sustainable practices, rural systems, and food production.
A registered General Practitioner with extensive experience in hospital management, providing clinical and operational insight to TLIR across health sciences research and medical policy.
A freelance writer for Jonathan Ball Publishers, recognised for her reading and study guides for prescribed texts including My Japan and Donker Web. She contributes deep Afrikaans literature expertise to TLIR's humanities research.
An accomplished visual artist and educator with hands-on experience in creative practice and arts education. At TLIR, she contributes insight into artistic expression, visual literacy, and the role of the arts in learning and culture.
An LLB-qualified legal expert with more than two decades of experience, offering guidance on legal structures, policy interpretation, and regulatory impact. Holds a special interest in family law and its intersections with social policy.
An experienced IT professional providing practical insight into systems, infrastructure, and emerging technologies. He supports TLIR with expert technical guidance across the technology domain and digital research environments.
The Engine Room
An institution built on independence is only as strong as its willingness to be wrong — and its commitment to finding out.