Rhodes University and the South African Network for Coastal and Oceanic Researchers (Sancor) recently hosted 45 post-graduate students from institutions in the province for workshops to encourage the study of marine science in the Eastern Cape.
Rhodes University and the South African Network for Coastal and Oceanic Researchers (Sancor) recently hosted 45 post-graduate students from institutions in the province for workshops to encourage the study of marine science in the Eastern Cape.
Under the workshop theme “The Future of Marine Science” students showcased their research interests and had the opportunity to collaborate with their peers in other institutions and gain encouragement and new insights.
Sancor student representative Paula Pattrick from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) zoology department and EC representative Dr Anusha Rajkaran from the Rhodes botany department hosted the event for Fort Hare, NMMU, Rhodes and Walter Sisulu University post grads.
Researchers from the South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity and the South African Environmental Observation Network's (SAEON) Elwandle Node institutions were also present.
Dr Tommy Bornman, manager of the SAEON Elwandle Node, opened the workshop with a presentation highlighting SAEON's activities in Algoa and St Francis Bay and the role that long-term physical and biological monitoring plays in understanding the interactions between land, coast and sea.
Students presented on a wide range of topics.
NMMU's Eric van Onselen spoke about surf zone diatoms, Fort Hare's Oyama Siqwepu explained the ichthyofaunal composition of an estuary and Lwazi Nombembe from Walter Sisulu shared research findings on how sediment characteristics influence associated in-fauna in the Mngazana Estuary.
Caroline Bell from Rhodes discussed the interactions between barnacles and local and alien mussels.
Asked where marine science is going in the future, the students highlighted climate change, fisheries management and ecosystem services and functioning as important themes to look out for.
It was very encouraging to see the level of transformation, dedication to knowledge creation and institutional interaction already taking place in the Eastern Cape.
This is aligned with the core principles of the National Research Foundation, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Department of Environmental Affairs, which are Sancor investors.
Sancor student workshops are held between South African Marine Science Symposiums (SAMSS) which take place every three years, the last of which was hosted at Rhodes.
The next Symposium will be hosted by the University of Stellenbosch in January 2014.
Sancor aims to provide a forum for interaction, collaboration and communication about marine science in the marine and coastal environment.
Dr Anusha Rajkaran is a lecturer in the Rhodes University botany department.
