16 April 2014
Volume: 2
Issue: 24
Doctoral graduate Peter Calverley (centre right) has spent the last five years studying the ecology of the Nile crocodile – a threatened species in South Africa.

Crocodile Man Graduates

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Doctoral graduate Peter Calverley has spent the last five years studying the ecology of the Nile crocodile – a threatened species in South Africa.

Three students from different African countries graduated together with PhDs in Agricultural Extension and Rural Resource Management. They are Dr Tsion Kidane of Ethiopia, Dr Kessawa Payandi (Gopal) Pillay of Mauritius, and Dr Kamal-Abdu-Raheem of Nigeria.

Three African Agriculturists Graduate Together with PhDs

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Three students from different African countries graduated together with PhDs in Agricultural Extension and Resource Management (AERRM).

MSc graduate Ms Linda Luvuno is fired up to make a difference to the environment.

This Girl is on Fire!

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Ms Linda Luvuno has spent the past two years investigating the influence of fire on wetlands vegetation structure and composition as part of her MSc study.

Ms Robyn Khoury graduated with an MSc in Zoology cum laude, her research focused on whether vervet monkeys eaves-drop on bird alarm calls.

Monkeys helped MSc Graduate with her Thesis

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A love for animals is what spurred Ms Robyn Khoury to pursue a Masters degree in Zoology … she made it her business to study monkeys.

Sisters and Physics boffs, Ms Charlotte and Ms Philippa Hillebrand, both graduated summa cum laude with a BSc Honours and BSc degree in Physics respectively.

Sisters do it Together!

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Sisters Ms Charlotte (BSc Honours) and Ms Philippa Hillebrand (BSc Physics) graduated together summa cum laude from the School of Chemistry and Physics. 

UKZN’s African Centre for Food Security (ACFS) graduated a healthy cohort of Masters in Agriculture students, who are ready to contribute to food security in Africa.

Ten New Masters of Agriculture Ready to Tackle Food Security Challenges

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Ten new Masters of Agriculture are ready to contribute to food security in Africa. The graduates from the African Centre for Food Security (ACFS) received their Master of Agriculture degrees at the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science’s Pietermaritzburg Graduation ceremony.

PhD graduate Dr Kate Akerman is at the forefront of cutting edge research in Chemistry with her focus being on the synthesis and characterization of gold (III) macrocyclic complexes as targeted anti-cancer agents.

Phd Graduate Involved in Cutting Edge Research

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PhD graduate Dr Kate Akerman is at the forefront of cutting edge research in Chemistry with her focus being on the “synthesis and characterisation of gold (III) macrocyclic complexes as targeted anti-cancer agents”.

PhD graduate Dr Douglas Zeka hopes the information in his thesis will assist decision-makers to speed up the process of land restitution in South Africa.

Thesis Examines Land Restitution in SA

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PhD graduate Mr Douglas Zeka hopes the information in his thesis will assist decision-makers to speed up the process of land restitution in South Africa and convince them to adopt a different approach when ceding land back to the rightful owners.

Newly capped Drs Sibusiso Mthembu and Siphamandla Sithebe, who are Lecturers within UKZN’s School of Chemistry and Phsyics, both earned their PhDs during the 2014 Graduation ceremonies.

Graduates Benefit Through Development Sabbatical Programme

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The School of Chemistry and Physics has assisted two of its Lecturers to graduate with their PhDs through its “development sabbatical” programme which lessens the teaching load on candidates in order to give them the time to complete their research and submit their PhDs. 

Graduate, Mr Sonwabile Mafunda graduated in traditional attire.

Graduate Celebrates his Zulu Heritage

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Looking splendid in traditional Zulu attire, Mr Sonwabile Mafunda graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Mathematics and Statistics at the final UKZN Graduation ceremony in Pietermaritzburg.
Summa cum laude BSc graduate Candice de Boer boasts an exemplary academic record, achieving certificates of merit for every module she completed in her undergraduate degree and receiving Dean’s Commendations for each semester of study.

UKZN Biochemistry and Genetics Student Graduates Summa Cum Laude

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Ms Candice De Boer of the School of Life Sciences graduated with a BSc summa cum laude degree, majoring in Biochemistry and Genetics.

Ms Mbalenhle Gwacela graduated with a Masters degree in Food Security, highlighting issues surrounding the effect of food insecurity on the success of students in their academic studies.

Food Insecurity among Students

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Ms Mbalenhle Gwacela graduated with a Masters degree in Food Security after completing her thesis titled: “Exploring Food Insecurity and Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Academic Performance:  A Case Study of First Year Students on Probation and At-risk of Academic Exclusion”.

The African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI) within UKZN’s School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences has produced a crop of new PhD graduates and plant breeders for Africa.

ACCI Produces New Crop of PhD Graduates

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The African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI) within UKZN’s School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences (SAEES), has produced 10 new PhD graduates. 

Tanzanian student Ms Claire Ijumba (left), who was supervised by Professor Henry Mwambi, graduated with her Masters degree cum laude in Statistics using novel statistical methods to evaluate the presence of interdependence between the markets of BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).

Another Brick in Her Wall

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Tanzanian student Ms Claire Ijumba graduated with her Masters degree cum laude in Statistics at this year’s Graduation ceremony in Pietermaritzburg. 

A desire to make a significant difference to people’s lives is what motivated Ms Laurencia Govender to receive her Master of Science degree in Dietetics summa cum laude.

Master of Science Graduate gets her Study Diet Right in Every Respect

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A desire to make a significant difference to peoples’ lives is what motivated Ms Laurencia Govender to pursue Dietetics for her degree.

Mr Andre Mpiana, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has graduated with his Masters degree in Food Security, assessing household food security in situations where malnutrition is prevalent.

DRC Refugee Awarded Masters Degree From UKZN

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Mr Andre Mpiana, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has graduated with his Masters degree in Food Security from the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences (SAEES).

Senior Professor Michael Savage, who already holds a Doctor of Philosophy and a Doctor of Science, was awarded his Masters in Agriculture degree cum laude, proving the maxim that one is never too old to learn.

Never too Old to Learn

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Professor Michael Savage, a Senior Professor in the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, who has been an academic member of staff at the University of KwaZulu-Natal since 1977, has received his Masters in Agriculture cum laude.

Mr Derrick Beckedahl, son of UKZN Academic Professor Heinz Beckedahl, graduated summa cum laude with a BSc Honours degree in Physics.

Like Father Like Son

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Following in the giant footsteps of his father, a highly acclaimed Professor in Geography at UKZN, Derrick Beckedahl has achieved academic excellence, qualifying summa cum laude for a BSc Honours degree in Physics.