1. Taime Sylvester (@TashnicaO) — Department of biomedical sciences, Stellenbosch University
“If you can dream it, you can do it” — Walt Disney
Taime Olivier is part of a dynamic Animal TB research group at Stellenbosch University, where she investigates tuberculosis in African Lions, looking at how the disease affects their immune responses. Including those bred for hunting and commercial use, lions are not a particularly endangered species; those living in the wild, however, are becoming scarce. Taime’s research could help inform ecological decisions in wildlife conservation.
2. Charles O’Donoghue (@cstjnod) — Department of chemistry, Rhodes University
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” — Maya Angelou
Charles O’Donoghue is studying an MSc in chemistry at Rhodes University. He has become aware of the scarcity of electricity in Africa, especially from clean energy, and believes in saving our planet with green science. Charles’s research looks at creating cheap and reliable catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells — a renewable energy source.
3. Tendai Samkange (@tensamkange) — School of pharmacy, University of the Western Cape
“If the generations to come still have a science phobia, then we will have failed to simplify and communicate science” — Unknown
Tendai Samkange is a master’s student at the University of the Western Cape, studying pharmaceutical science. He is working on designing polymeric nano-drug delivery systems, with particular focus on infectious diseases. The aim of his work is to prolong the action duration of drugs in the body, and thus reduce dosing frequency and side effects, as well as clearly targeting sites of infection.
4. Nozipho Gumbi (@Noziphogumbi) — Department of chemistry, Unisa
“Be on time, be present and bring your best self into the room, or don’t go into the room at all” — Vusi Thembekwayo
Nozipho Gumbi is doing a PhD in chemistry at Unisa. In South Africa clean water is a scarce resource. The types of pollutants finding their way into our water sources are constantly changing, so newer treatment methods need to be put into place. Nozipho’s research looks at ways of improving water purification, using membrane filters.
5. Wandisile Sixoto — Department of agricultural economics and extension, Fort Hare University
“If you were born without wings, don’t let anything to prevent them from growing” — Eeva Roots
Wandisile Sixoto is currently studying his MSc in agricultural extension at Fort Hare University. His research analyses methods of crop production in the Eastern Cape, examining ways of improving production to increase yield and meet market standards, as well as improving the livelihood of rural farmers. Originally from the rural outskirts of the Eastern Cape, Wandisile believes that our childhood experiences should never limit our potential.
6. Savannah Nuwagaba (@SavannahBrea) — Department of mathematical sciences, Stellenbosch University
“A new scientific theory does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it” — Max Planck
Savannah Nuwagaba is busy doing her PhD in biomathematics at Stellenbosch University. Using biology and mathematics, Savannah’s research aims to understand how the body size of different animals is affected by the time it takes them to catch, eat and digest their food. Because these processes depend on temperature, she believes her research is important given the current climate change debate.
7. Robert Schlegel — Department of biodiversity and conservation biology, University of the Western Cape
“The Earth is not dying, it is being killed, and those who are killing it have names and addresses” — Utah Phillips
Robert Schlegel is doing a PhD in coastal climate change at the University of the Western Cape. As the effects of climate change on the ocean become more pronounced, it is necessary to implement and maintain long-term monitoring systems. To this end, Robert’s work involves developing, implementing and maintaining the South African Coastal Temperature Network.
8. Margaret Siyawamwaya — Department of pharmacy and pharmacology, University of Witwatersrand
“When you go to where your fear lives, your freedom starts to display itself.” — Robin Sharma
Margaret Siyawamwaya is a PhD student at the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform. Margaret’s research examines the implementation of 3D printing in tableting to improve the effectiveness of oral anti-HIV drugs. 3D printing is a recent technique being implemented in the design of pharmaceutical formulations. It enables the creation of medicines that cater to patients’ specific needs.
9. Marli Louw — Department of viticulture and oenology, Stellenbosch University
“Life is too short to have bad wine!”
Marli Louw is currently doing her PhD in the Institute of Wine Biotechnology at the University of Stellenbosch. Marli was presented with the opportunity to apply her knowledge in the wine industry, both locally as well as internationally. Her research focuses on Brettanomyces bruxellensis, or Brett, a typical red wine spoilage yeast. She aims to understand how and why Brett is tolerant to sulphur dioxide, the most commonly added preservative in wine.
10. Claude Moshobane — South African National Biodiversity Institute
“There are no limits to what you can achieve if you put your heart to it”
Claude Moshobane is from Limpopo Province, and, on obtaining his master’s degree, has defied stereotypes regarding rural impediments. He is now a biosecurity scientist and works as a risk assessment researcher at the South African National Biodiversity Institute, based at the Centre for Invasion Biology at Stellenbosch University. His responsibilities include, among other things, the development of specific risk assessments and performing risk assessments of regulated species in South Africa.
11. Charles Rashama — Department of Chemical Engineering, Unisa
“Always seeking science solutions to real life day-to-day challenges faced by humankind”
Charles Rashama is a qualified chemical engineer with industrial experience in fertilisers, sugar-based ethanol, water treatment and minerals processing. His interest lies in the contribution of chemical engineering to a sustainable society. Rashama is currently studying an MSc in chemical engineering at Unisa. His research investigates whether sugars found in wood processing wastewater can be fermented into valuable ethanol.
12. Funeka Nkosi — Materials Science and Manufacturing Research Area, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
“To live like a king, you must work like a slave” — Alinafe Banda
Funeka Nkosi, whose expertise lies among other things in nanomaterials synthesis and electrochemical characterisation, is currently working within the Electrochemical Energy Technologies research group of the CSIR. Her research aims to improve the performance of rechargeable lithium ion batteries used in laptops and cellphones.
13. John Manamela — Department of Computer Science, University of Limpopo
“Enthusiastic. Self-motivated. Striving for success.”
John Manamela is currently studying towards his MSc in computer science at the University of Limpopo, where his research examines automatic speech recognition technology. John hopes to improve the current technology. His work is focused on the impact of emotion on speech recognition. This technology will eventually be implemented on our cellphones and computers for our everyday use.
14. Nthabiseng Mokoena (@nthabeeMo) — School of Electric, Electronic and Computer Engineering, North-West University; CSIR
“The sky is not the limit, just the beginning” — Unknown
Nthabiseng Mokoena is a master’s student at North-West University, Potchefstroom, where she is studying computer engineering through the CSIR. Her research is focused on facial recognition technologies. Current technology might not recognise a face if it is not facing the camera directly. Nthabiseng’s research looks at using 2D transformation to correct the rotation of the head.
15. Songeziwe Ntsimango — Department of Chemistry, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU)
“The foundation of every state is the education of its youth” — Diogenes of Sinope
Songeziwe Ntsimango recently completed his master’s degree in chemistry at NMMU. His research interest lies in targeted cancer therapy. The disadvantage of traditional or conventional chemotherapy is that it often affects healthy as well as cancerous cells. Songeziwe’s research aims to counter these shortcomings by targeting only cancerous cells, improving the effectiveness of the treatment.
16. Athule Ngqalakwezi — Advanced Materials Division, Mintek
“Success is not how many times you win, but about how many times you got up and found your feet when you fell.”
Athule Ngqalakwezi is a chemical engineering graduate from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. She is now working at Mintek, where her research involves formulating catalysts for the automotive industry using precious metals. Car emissions are a global issue, and Ngqalakwezi’s team is looking to reduce these.
17 David Phair (dphair91) — Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University.
“The work on ants has profoundly affected the way I think about humans.” — EO Wilson
David Phair is a PhD student at Stellenbosch University, studying behavioural ecology. His research is on social immunity in ants, looking at behavioural traits that enable ant colonies to fight off the spread of diseases. The findings of this research could eventually aid in the treatment of other colonial species in danger of disease spread, possibly even humans.
18. Bridget Marindi – Department of Physics and Geology, University of Limpopo
“Tell it like it is, for it usually is from within” — Unknown
Bridget Marindi is currently studying her BSc in geology at the University of Limpopo, where she plans to further her research in mineralogy.
Outside university, Marindi volunteers as a science education facilitator at the University of Limpopo Science Centre, where they teach 16–18-year-old learners from the area about science and conduct experiments with them, bringing science to the youth.
19. Donatello Mzilethi — Hydrometallurgy, Mintek
“The work of true education is to train the youth to be thinkers, and not to be mere reflectors of other men’s thoughts” — Ellen G White
Donatello Mzilethi is a qualified process engineer at Mintek in the Hydrometallurgy Division. Acid mine drainage is the result of metal and coal mining, which affects our water. Donatello’s work involves developing and incorporating different hydrometallurgical technologies to help solve acid mine drainage. He also spends time evaluating the potential uses and ways of synthesizing graphene to solve various techno-economic problems.