09 April 2019
Volume: 7
Issue: 22
The College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science graduated a total of 101 PhDs in April 2019.

A PhD “Century” Plus One for UKZN’s College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science

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UKZN’s College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science (CAES) once again made a significant contribution to South Africa’s much-needed brain pool of highly-qualified science, technology and engineering specialists, awarding an impressive 101 PhDs out of a university total of 276 during this year’s April Graduation ceremonies.

Ms Sayuri Srikissan graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Hard Work and Passion Overcame Adversity for Cum Laude Graduate

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Consistent hard work and a passion for Hydrology and Soil Science led to Ms Sayuri Srikissan graduating with a BSc degree cum laude while still mourning the death of her father.

Mr Lindokuhle Mhlongo received a Master of Science in Agriculture degree cum laude.

Use of Ethnomedical Plants for Animal Health Explored in Cum Laude MSc

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Mr Lindokuhle Christopher Mhlongo used scientific methods to explore medicinal plants as an alternative to chemical products used in the treatment of intestinal worms in sheep and goats, earning a Master of Science in Agriculture degree cum laude.

Master plant breeders, Mr Sbongeleni Duma (left) and Mr Kwame Shamuyarira, conducted innovative research on sugarcane and wheat crops respectively.

Cum Laude Master’s Graduates Conduct Novel Research on Wheat and Sugarcane

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Cum laude graduates Mr Sbongeleni Duma and Mr Kwame Shamuyarira received their Master of Science in Agriculture and Master of Science degrees respectively in the Discipline of Plant Breeding after undertaking innovative research on sugarcane and wheat.

Dr Khayelihle Ncama who graduated with a PhD in Horticultural Science.

Managing Fruit Quality Focus of PhD Research

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Research into techniques to improve the maintenance of citrus fruit and avocado pear quality from the time of harvesting to the final consumer resulted in Dr Khayelihle Ncama graduating with a PhD in Horticultural Science.

PhD plant breeders Drs Admire Shayanowako (left) and Isack Mathew.

PhD Graduates Investigate Threats to Staple Crops

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Novel research investigating how to combat the threats of environmental stress and parasites on wheat and maize led to Dr Isack Mathew and Dr Admire Shayanowako receiving PhDs in Plant Breeding.

Dr Eliud Kongola graduated with a PhD for his research on breeding for durable resistance to Cercospora leaf spot diseases in groundnuts.

PhD for Investigations into Groundnut Disease

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Dr Eliud Kongola graduated with a PhD through the African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI) at UKZN after doing research on breeding for durable resistance to Cercospora leaf spot diseases in groundnuts (Arachis hypogeae L) in Tanzania.
Mr George Ilangila was awarded a Master of Science in Human Nutrition.

Exiled DRC Army Officer Sold Sweets and Chips to make Ends Meet before Graduating

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From an army officer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the streets of South Africa where he was a security guard and a street vendor, to the proud recipient of a UKZN postgraduate degree – Mr George Richard Ilangila has climbed the academic ladder the hard way.

Dr Nkosinomusa Dube researched indigenous soil knowledge to earn a PhD in Soil Science.

The Answer Lies in the Soil for PhD Graduate

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Dr Nkosinomusa Dube, a lecturer in the Discipline of Soil Science at UKZN, has graduated with a PhD after investigating soil indigenous knowledge related to agricultural and non-agricultural uses in four villages in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and the Eastern Cape.

BSc Agriculture cum laude graduate, Ms Fortunate Hlongwana pictured with her winning steer and at her graduation.

Glamorous Graduate Not Afraid to Rough it on the Farm

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Agriculture is not a career usually associated with glamorous young women but in the case of Ms Fortunate Yenziwe Hlongwana it is!  She was awarded her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Animal and Poultry Science) degree cum laude.

PhD in Agrometeorology graduate, Dr Nicholas Mbangiwa.

Agrometeorology PhD for Botswanan Academic

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A lecturer at the University of Botswana (UB), Dr Nicholas Mbangiwa, graduated with a PhD in Agrometeorology following research on the evapotranspiration over rainfed/dryland maize and soybean, quantifying their water use by means of micrometeorological methods, the AquaCrop model and remote sensing.

Mr Ryshan Ramlall and Ms Kimera Sahadave were the only two students to graduate cum laude with BSc Honours degrees in Hydrology.

Cum Laude Hydrology Graduates Set to Make Waves

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The saying: 'A drop of water is worth more than a sack of gold to a thirsty man' is highly relevant to two students who understand the scarcity of water as a natural resource and chose to pursue their honours degrees in the field of Hydrology.

Ms Simphiwe Hlatshwayo graduated with a Master’s degree in Agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges to Master Agriculture

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Ms Simphiwe Hlatshwayo has harvested a Master’s degree in Agriculture (Food Security) after assessing local economic sustainability under smallholder subsistence farming as part of the Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems (SHEFS) project – an inter-institutional venture focused on the intersection of the environment, food systems and health.