Geography Students on Atlantic Research Cruise

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Three Master’s candidates from the Discipline of Geography in UKZN’s School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences (SAEES) spent 10 days navigating the icy waters of the Atlantic on a research cruise.

Ms Camelot Radloff, Ms Amanda Khuzwayo and Ms Samiksha Singh, are completing their Master’s degrees in Paleoecology and aquatic systems bio-monitoring.

The cruise, for which the trio was selected from students throughout the country, involved daily lectures, skills training and deck work, exposing the students to what life as an environmental researcher on these vessels is like. The three students were part of a larger group including students from other universities and institutes.

The cruise specifically involved investigating climate change and its effects on ocean temperatures and wildlife.

Radloff, whose research is focused on a Holocene record of climate and environmental change from Lake St Lucia said: ‘I was eager to learn new concepts and techniques to better understand the interconnected dynamics of the ocean and atmosphere as these two driving forces shape global patterns across multiple scales.’

Singh, who is also an intern at the Institute for Natural Resources (INR), was happy to have broadened her skills from river bio-monitoring to encompass oceanographic research.

Khuzwayo, who plans to go on to PhD research, enjoyed exposure to a new field of research. Both her and Radloff’s research has involved considerable laboratory work, which made the extended time on a practical research trip exciting.

The three enjoyed interacting with new people with similar interests as well as seeing first-hand how climate change is affecting vulnerable, isolated areas in the Atlantic.

Christine Cuénod