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
Riesna R. Audh
Research Coordinator: SAPRI Polar Lab Integrated Facility
My research focuses on sea ice biogeochemistry in the Antarctic Marginal Ice Zone (AMIZ) within the broader field of polar oceanography. I have a strong background in the development and implementation of protocols for sea ice sampling, processing, and analysis, ensuring high-quality data collection under challenging conditions – I am particularly skilled at sea ice coring, with over 250 sea ice cores collected during my postgraduate research.
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 Sandy Thomalla
Research Group Leader of the SOCCO
My current and future research has expanded into the development and application of ecosystem-appropriate, well-characterised products that translate ocean colour (and in situ bio-optical measurements) into carbon biogeochemistry (phytoplankton biomass, community structure and physiology) allowing new insight into ecosystem function. A key focus of my work is on assessing event, seasonal and inter-annual variability in ecosystem physical drivers and their biogeochemical response, in order to better understand the potential for carbon sequestration at a regional scale.
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.
Dr Fannie Shabangu
Marine Biologist
My research focus is mainly on marine mammal acoustic occurrence, behaviour and interaction with environmental conditions. Large marine mammals of interest are Antarctic blue whales, fin whales, Madagascan pygmy blue whales, Antarctic minke whales, humpback whales, sei whales, southern right whales, sperm whales and killer whales. And smaller marine mammals of interest are crabeater seals, leopard seals and Ross seals.
