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09 October 2020 | Story Nonsindiso Qwabe
Agnes Mkotywa
MSc Zoology graduate, Agnes Mkotywa

The love for the scientific study of the behaviour, structure, physiology, classification, and distribution of animals, bit MSc Zoology graduate Agnes Mkotywa during her final year as an undergraduate student on the Qwaqwa Campus.

Mkotywa said this love also led to her discovering that vultures, which are regarded as one of the most endangered bird species, had found a home in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park in Clarens, just 40 km from Phuthaditjhaba. The title of her MSc is: The impact of vulture restaurants on scavenger dynamics in Golden Gate Highlands National Park, South Africa.  She received her qualification during the virtual October graduation ceremony hosted from 6-9 October 2020.

“I truly hope the research will open doors for more research in this regard; research that will have a positive impact on the future of our species, the park, and the people from surrounding areas. A part of my study looked at people’s perceptions about the park. Often, we find that positive perceptions towards anything can, in turn, influence positive reaction and feelings towards that thing. It is important that we take care of or at least behave in a manner that brings no harm to our animals. We have amazing stories to tell through and about this beautiful place.”

Mkotywa said her academic journey was not always a smooth ride. She remembers having to learn how to plait hair in order to make money while waiting for her bursary to pay out during her undergraduate years.

“The journey wasn’t always a smooth ride. I graduated with a BSc degree in Plant Sciences in 2015, and immediately enrolled for my Honours in Zoology. My love for Zoology was greatly influenced by my academic supervisors, Prof Aliza le Roux and Mrs Michelle van As, who both supervised my MSc study. And truly, my time as a postgraduate student was filled with so much adventure and fieldwork, the best time of my life.”

“When I finally submitted my dissertation in November 2019, I still remember every single emotion I experienced. Excitement, gratitude, a sense of worth, all of them,” she said.

News Archive

3rd tri-annual Nursing Odyssey international conference
2007-05-29

 The School of Nursing at the University of the Free State (UFS) is hosting its 3rd tri-annual Nursing Odyssey international conference from 9-11 July 2007 on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein. Odyssey means an exciting journey. In a dynamic profession such as nursing, the Odyssey is never ending or boring.

This year the focus is on caring. Although the conference addresses a wide variety of topics, special areas such as midwifery and wound care have been accentuated. Speakers from the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK) will be deriving papers and workshops like:

  • Foetal monitoring - technology from clinic to consultant. A live demonstration will be given where a pregnant woman situated in a clinic will be linked to a system that sends information directly to a consultant who can then advise the clinic staff on the best treatment.
  • NVIVO is a computer based program that assists qualitative researchers to analyze their data. This two day hands-on workshop will enable researchers to implement the NVIVO program.
  • The role of hand washing in infection control is well known. A practical participatory demonstration will illustrate to nurses how they unwittingly spread germs.

Although there is a lot of focus on midwifery and wound care there will something for everyone like workshops and papers on ethics, evidence based practice as well as student papers. With 17 workshops and more than 70 papers the delegates will spoiled for choice.

 Enquiries can be directed to Ms Desiré Smuts at 051 401 2965.
 

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