PEOPLE
EXPERT DATABASE
We are establishing a database of South African marine and polar researchers to provide a platform where experts in the various specialisations can be found by, for example, potential collaborators, students looking for supervisors, organisers of speaking events, media reps, etc.
Finding experts in the field of polar and offshore marine research, within South Africa
ATTENTION: Polar & Offshore Marine Researchers
Want to add your details to this page? Simply follow the link below to complete the sign-up form.
SIGN UPAlternatively, contact Rabia Mathakutha for more information.
r.mathakutha@saeon.nrf.ac.za
Prof. Peter le Roux
Professor
Ecologist with experience working in the sub-Antarctic, the sub-Arctic and montane grasslands. My broad research interest is community ecology, with particular attention to interspecific interactions, the impacts of global environmental change, and how the former mediates the impacts of the latter.
Dr David Walker
Acting HOD of Conservation and Marine Sciences
My broad research interests are marine and estuarine ecology, in particular the links between phytoplankton (plant plankton) growth and food webs. I have carried out this research off the west coast of South Africa, off Antarctica, around Marion Island and, more recently, in the Indian Ocean south of Madagascar.
Dr Tokoloho Rampai
Senior Lecturer
Dr Tokoloho Rampai's research focus is mainly Materials Engineering, this is applied both in Antarctic sea ice research and advanced ceramic materials development for application in catalytic processes. Under the sea ice research; she focuses on improving the understanding of the dynamics of sea ice growth and how these give rise to the material properties (microstructure and mechanics) of Antarctic Sea ice. This is predominately carried out through artificial sea ice growth experiments in temperature-controlled laboratory conditions and nominally through field testing in the Marginal Ice Zone in the Southern Ocean.
Prof. David William Hedding
Professor
My primary research focuses on landscape responses to climate change, landscape evolution over geological timescales, and periglacial processes and landforms in the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic. I also conduct research on soil erosion by wind and water as well as rock decay.
Dr Tshoanelo Miya
Researcher and Lecturer
My main research interests are in the field of molecular analyses of aquatic biodiversity, focusing on the use of DNA sequences to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships, the phylogeography structure of different species and populations, and the environmental DNA to detect fish species that might have been missed by traditional fish collection methods.
Dr Elizabeth Rudolph
Senior Lecturer
My research interests include cold climate geomorphology, geochronology, and landscape reconstruction. I am currently involved with research on sub-Antarctic Marion Island and Gough Island, reconstructing Southern Hemisphere landscape-climate interactions of the Quaternary. I also dabble in geoheritage and the use of immersive technologies (like virtual reality) in geo-education.
