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
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.
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. Sarah Fawcett
Associate Professor
Prof. Fawcett's is a chemical oceanographer and isotope geochemist whose work is largely laboratory- and field-based. Her research is focused on the cycling of biologically important elements in the marine environment, with a view to addressing questions related to ocean fertility, local and global biogeochemical cycling, ecosystem health, and past and present climate. Sarah has worked, and continues to work extensively in the Southern Ocean, the Benguela upwelling system and greater Agulhas Current region, and the open subtropical ocean. Sarah and the Marine Biogeochemistry Lab that she co-directs are additionally affiliated with BIOGRIP (the Biogeochemistry Research Infrastructure Platform; biogrip.ac.za), another SARIR initiative.
Prof. Sebastian Skatulla
Professor
I have founded and lead the Polar Engineering Research Group of the University of Cape Town since 2016. The group has been studying the impact of global warming on the Antarctic cryosphere, with a particular focus on sea ice and shelf ice dynamics.
