The College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, with the assistance of Mr Vassan Bensingh of the Department of Education, organised the donation of 54 microscopes from the Discipline of Geology to three under-resourced high schools near Durban. When the University of Natal’s Pietermaritzburg and Howard College Geology Departments merged in 1996 (joining the...

Developing resilience through partnerships and collaboration was explored during the annual Ukulinga Howard Davis Memorial Symposium hosted by UKZN at its Ukulinga Research Farm in Pietermaritzburg. The event, a joint initiative between UKZN and the Howard Davis Farm Trust, is a multi-level Symposium which honours the educational legacy of Howard Davis, who...

A registered dietician, PhD candidate and part-time lecturer in Dietetics and Human Nutrition at UKZN, Ms Joan Akob has received an award for Emerging Scientists from the Dynamic Ladyz (DL) Network. The network - which hosts a South African Diaspora Women’s Award ceremony annually as part of its efforts to work...

Professor Andrew Green of the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences (SAEES) is to receive an award from the American Geophysical Union (AGU) that recognises his research in ocean sciences. The Africa Award for Research Excellence in Ocean Sciences will be presented to Green at a ceremony in the United States in December. Green joins...

Ms Maureen Nkhathutsheleni Tshikunde graduated with a Master of Science in Agriculture in Crop Science after evaluating elite heat and drought tolerant wheat genotypes based on drought tolerance and water-use efficiency parameters. Tshikunde, who completed her undergraduate and honours degrees at the University of Venda, chose to study at UKZN...

Dr Mthokozisi Kwazi Zuma received a PhD in Crop Science for his research on farmer perceptions and the agronomic potential of Provitamin A-biofortified maize (PVABM) for smallholder farming systems in KwaZulu-Natal. Zuma explored the potential of PVABM for smallholder farming systems, looking specifically at smallholder farmers’ perceptions of maize production...

Mr Zawadi Angomwile Mwaikonyole, a crop production officer in Tanzania’s Mafia District Council, graduated with his Master’s degree in Plant Breeding through the Improved Masters in Cultivar Development for Africa (IMCDA) programme at UKZN. His research focused on the genetic diversity of maize inbred lines and evaluated early maturing hybrids under low...

Mr Sibusiso Lucky Zulu earned his Master’s in Crop Science for calculating the best age at which to harvest sugarcane, an important management factor that determines the economic returns for cane growers. While sugarcane production is widespread in South Africa, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, there is still uncertainty about and limited...

Ms Jelila Blalogoe has graduated with her Master’s in Plant Breeding cum laude through a MoBreed project funded by the EU Intra Africa Academic Mobility Scheme programme.  Her research explored the factors that influence the germination and dormancy of seeds of the “spider plant”, an underutilised, traditional leafy vegetable. The “spider plant”, or Gynandropsis gynandra L. Briq, is...

Ms Olivia Chipeta’s research for her Masters in Plant Breeding assessed the level of morphological and genetic diversity of groundnuts in order to select the best genotypes for consequent breeding of desired traits that include yield and reduction of the carcinogen aflatoxin. Chipeta set out to contribute to the groundnut...

Mr Chimwemwe Josia, a Technology Transfer Specialist at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Malawi, graduated with his Masters in Plant Breeding through the Improved Masters in Cultivar Development for Africa (IMCDA) programme at UKZN. Josia evaluated maize hybrids for low-nitrogen tolerance, yield stability and genetic purity. He tested the...

Senior scientist at the Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI), Dr Bronwyn Goble graduated with her PhD in Environmental Science for her study on alternative approaches to knowledge sharing and information storage for integrated coastal management (ICM) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Goble has spent the past 10 years working closely with the coastal management authorities...

Research conducted by Dr Justin du Toit for his PhD in Grassland Science shows that as the climate changes, grassiness in the semi-arid Karoo is on the rise. His study investigated factors influencing the botanical composition of the eastern Karoo, including rainfall, grazing by livestock, and the impact of minimum...

A ground-breaking national study on the nutritional status and quality of life of HIV-positive transplant recipients who received, or were candidates to receive, kidneys from HIV-positive donors earned Dr Claire Martin her PhD in Dietetics. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) among the HIV positive population, arising largely from HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN),...

Ms Nomfundo Gabuza graduated cum laude with her MSc degree in Applied Mathematics despite confronting numerous obstacles. Gabuza matriculated at Wembezi Secondary School near Escourt, a disadvantaged school with a low pass rate.   During her matric year she was accused of cheating as she achieved excellent results in Mathematics whilst her classmates...