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20 November 2020
We recently celebrated UKZN's annual Spring graduation ceremonies, and moving much of our interaction to virtual or hybrid platforms hasn't stopped the flow of research and interactions, with many exciting events having taken place and some even coming up!
We hope you enjoy reading about the achievements of some of our recent graduates, and will perhaps even see some of our alumni and friends at the upcoming Durban Research Action Partnership annual Research Symposium, the Indaba on the Management of Invasive Alien Plants in the Greater Umngeni Catchment, the Postgraduate Research & Innovation Symposium (a major highlight in UKZN's calendar), or the Centre for Water Resources Research's Research on Tap webinar. More detail on all of that below.
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Ms Gugulethu Tshabalala, an intern project manager at the Duzi-uMngeni Conservation Trust (DUCT) in Pietermaritzburg, graduated from UKZN with a Master’s degree in Environmental Science for research conducted at Fountainhill Estate (FHE) near Wartburg, which explored the impact of land use practices on sediment yields and nutrient loads on grasslands and maize crops.
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MAgric Teaches “Old Dog” New Tricks
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Seasoned irrigation technician, Mr Danie le Roux has rebooted his academic career using his considerable experience and skill to complete a Master of Agriculture (MAgric) degree in Agricultural Extension and Rural Resource Management (AERRM) at UKZN based on research that explored problems with collective irrigation schemes and developing farmers.
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“Superfood” Sweet Potato has Enhanced Nutritional Value
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Ms Sonia Naidoo can now add the title of doctor to her name after completing a PhD in Plant Breeding in which she bred new sweet potato varieties with enhanced nutritional value she hopes will contribute to fighting poverty, malnutrition and food insecurity.
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South African Vegans Under the Spotlight
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Ms Sansha Kohidh earned a Master’s degree in Dietetics for research she did into aspects of what is involved in a vegan diet in South Africa, including dieters’ motives for making the lifestyle choice, challenges they faced and the nutritional quality of the diet.
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Wheat Breeding Leads to Drought Tolerance
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Dr Zamalotshwa Thungo is the proud holder of a PhD in Crop Science gained through UKZN’s African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI) for research she did into developing new varieties of drought-tolerant wheat that possess quality traits desirable for breeding.
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PhD Graduate Completes Doctoral Team
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Dr Laurencia Govender was awarded her doctorate at UKZN’s virtual Spring Graduation, bringing the number of full-time PhD staff members in UKZN’s discipline of Dietetics and Human Nutrition up to its full complement of seven.
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First World Food Day Symposium for UKZN
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The College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science (CAES) hosted UKZN’s first celebration of World Food Day with an online symposium, accompanied by a food stand on the Pietermaritzburg campus, aimed at encouraging research and technology for the development of symbiotic ecological food production systems and sustainable food production.
UKZN joined the nation and the world to highlight the plight of 870 million undernourished people globally, many of whom live in rural areas where their main source of income is agriculture.
More than 130 participants joined the online symposium. Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the CAES Professor Albert Modi said the aim of the event was to explore what is done with the research produced at UKZN to change people’s lives. He noted that many UKZN students come from rural and peri-urban areas where poverty and hunger are prevalent, and many across the University’s five campuses live in residences and are funded by government.
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WaterNet Symposium Session Champions Indigenous Crops for Food Security
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At the 21st Southern African Development Community (SADC) WaterNet Symposium held virtually this year, UKZN’s Centre for Transformative Agricultural Food Systems (CTAFS) united with WaterNet, South Africa’s Water Research Commission (WRC) and the Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems (SHEFS) international and interdisciplinary research partnership to host a joint special session.
WaterNet is a regional network of university departments and research and training institutes specialising in building capacity in water resources management by strengthening collaboration and training programmes in southern Africa. Its annual symposium promotes interaction between researchers, academics, practitioners and policymakers in the water and related sectors, with this 21st event focusing on integrated water resources management for sustainable development in eastern and southern Africa.
The special session focused on reinforcing the role of underutilised indigenous and traditional crops, and linking water, food and health. The session explored the important role that neglected and underutilised (NUS) crop species can play in creating a sustainable food system in southern Africa that ensures sustainable and healthy food for its people and addresses malnutrition and food insecurity, vulnerability to climate change and environmental issues, and socioeconomic issues; and brings about inclusivity and equity in the food system.
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PhD Graduate Awarded for Outstanding Achievement Shortly before her Death
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Dr Jenny Russell received the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) medal for outstanding academic achievement, awarded for her exceptional PhD in Grassland Science, shortly before her death in October.
Russell had returned to UKZN to pursue her master’s and PhD degrees decades after she completed her undergraduate and honours studies in biological sciences at the then University of Natal in the 1980s, her Honours project involving a study of bush encroachment in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve. She then worked for The Valley Trust as an ecology education facilitator, before spending several years focusing on motherhood.
Turning to storytelling as an offshoot career, she became a professional battlefield guide in KwaZulu-Natal, where she passionately shared the beauty of South Africa and vivid battle stories with foreign visitors.
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UKZN Unites with Water and Agriculture Sector for World Food Day Dialogue
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Crop Science Academic Inaugurated in South African Young Academy of Science
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Professor Lembe Magwaza of the Discipline of Crop Science is among 10 young academics nationally inaugurated into the South African Young Academy of Science this year.
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Since 2011, the [Academy of Science of South Africa's] SAYAS has provided a national platform for South Africa’s young scientists, across numerous disciplines, to interact with one another and access international networking and career development opportunities, enabling them to fully participate in local and internationally relevant research and development agendas. SAYAS recognises young scientists under 40 with PhDs and who have excelled in their fields.
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Magwaza, an Associate Professor in the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, completed his PhD in horticultural sciences at Stellenbosch University and has more than 15 years’ research experience and eight years’ lecturing experience. An NRF Y-rated researcher, he focuses on horticultural science, plant physiology and postharvest biology and technology, developing methods and protocols for preserving fruit and vegetable quality and reducing postharvest losses.
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Centre for Water Resources Research - Newsletter
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African Centre for Crop Improvement - Newsletter
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The African Centre for Crop Improvement releases regular newsletters with news, updates and achievements from its staff, students and alumni. Read the October newsletter here and sign up on their website if you'd like to receive these regularly.
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23 November - Durban Research Action Partnership Symposium
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25 November - Indaba on the Management of Invasive Alien Plants in the Greater Umngeni Catchment
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2 December - Webinar: Citizen Science for Sustainable Development and Water Security
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10 & 11 December - Postgraduate Research & Innovation Symposium
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Vacancy - Siyazisiza Trust Crop Production Facilitator
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The Siyazisiza Trust is looking to employ a crop production facilitator on their farm in Mthunzini (KZN) to supervise farm operations and to assist in enabling the continual and timeous supply of fresh produce from smallholder farmers to market.
Please submit your CV, together a with cover letter motivating your suitability for the above role, to info@siyazisiza.org.za. Please include “Crop Production: Application” in the subject line.
Closing date for applications: 11th December 2020 (no further applications will be accepted after this date).
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Video - World Food Day 2020 at UKZN
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UKZN celebrated International World Food Day on 16 October with an online symposium, accompanied by a food stand on the Pietermaritzburg campus, aimed at encouraging research and technology for the development of symbiotic ecological food production systems and sustainable food production.
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Alumnus Video Feature: Free-Range Poultry
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In this third and final installment of a series of videos from Farmer Proud, alumnus and free-range poultry producer Alistair Moores-Pitt (Bachelor of Agricultural Management) addressed the challenges of poultry farming, including rental costs, land ownership concerns, and the difficulty of offering premium free-range products that cost the consumer more. He highlighted the need for increased awareness about the value of purchasing South African, free-range produce to support local enterprises, both large-scale commercial and smaller-scale free-range producers - particularly as dumping of mass-produced poultry through international imports threatens local production. He concluded by suggesting tax measures which could better support South African poultry producers and consumers.
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Bursary & Graduate Placement Opportunities
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Water Research Commission Unemployed Graduate Programme
The WRC, together with the Department of Science and Innovation have partnered to develop a short-term programme to support the employability of graduates who have the passion and ability to contribute towards the water and sanitation (and linked) sectors in South Africa across multiple disciplines.
They invite unemployed graduates looking to make a contribution to the water and sanitation sector in areas such as water treatment, quality, sanitation, innovation, ecological infrastructure, data science, climate change, agriculture, green markets, ICT, water finance and economics etc., to apply for a 3-month funded opportunity to gain work experience and participate in capacity building.
The programme kicks-off in January 2021.
Apply here on or before 17:00, Thursday 26th of November 2020
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SANSOR Graduate Placement Programme
The South African National Seed Organization (SANSOR) is inviting unemployed graduates that want to have a career in the seed industry to apply for a graduate placement. This opportunity will allow graduates to acquire practical work experience through mentoring and exposure in the seed industry.
Graduate placements will be done through SANSOR, but placements will be at South African Seed Companies that are SANSOR members.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?
- Unemployed South African graduates and postgraduates in Agriculture.
- A Background in Plant Breeding, Plant Pathology, Agronomy, Pasture Science, Biotechnology, Plant Physiology, Genetics and Molecular Plant Biology and Entomology and Virology
- South African Permanent Residents who hold a South African Identity Document qualify while non-South Africans are not eligible.
- Applicants should not be older than 30 years old at the time of submission of an application to qualify.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Only graduates who hold an Advanced Diploma or bachelor’s degree at NQF level 7, Honours at NQF level 8, MTech or master’s degrees at NQF level 9 and DTech and PhD at NQF level 10, qualify to apply for this graduate placement programme.
- Candidates who receive their qualification in the beginning of next year can also apply.
- Candidates who would be registered full-time during the 2021 academic year need not apply.
- Candidates have to be available from March 2021-April 2022 with no other commitments.
- Students that will only graduate in 2021 but complete their qualifications before 1 March 2021 are welcome to apply.
CLOSING DATE: 15 December 2020
No late applications will be considered.
Please note: SANSOR receives a high number of applications each year and is not able to reply to all applicants to inform them if their application was unsuccessful. If you do not hear anything from them after 31st March 2021 then your application was not successful.
Applications & queries can be directed as instructed on the website.
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Illovo SA (PTY) LTD
2021 Bursary Opportunities
Illovo Sugar South Africa (PTY) Ltd invites University students from previously disadvantaged groups in South Africa to apply for bursary funding of their undergraduate studies in one of the following fields:
- Electrical Engineering (heavy & light current)
- Mechanical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Agriculture
- Finance
- Marketing
Who should apply:
- First & second year students either at a University or University of Technology.
- Only self-funded students will be considered (students who have a bursary or NSFAS do not qualify).
- Preference will be given to students who come from communities surrounding the Illovo SA operations.
- Only South African citizens will be considered.
Important information
- The bursary covers academic fees (including registration, tuition and examination fees), accommodation, meals and prescribed textbooks.
How to apply:
- Register here: https://bsp.fundi.co.za/ - and follow the step-by-step guide to create a profile, upload documents (certified copies of identity document, proof of registration and the academic record) then click apply.
For queries please email illovosugar@fundi.co.za
When will you receive feedback?
- Feedback will ONLY be sent to successful candidates 4 weeks after closing date.
Bursaries will be awarded in line with the Employment Equity plan of the organisation.
CLOSING DATE: 15 DECEMBER 2020
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