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Science chose me

11 February 2021 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Ané van der Merwe

Dr van der Merwe_web read more — Dr Ismari van der Merwe was instrumental in establishing the new Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development.

Dr Ismari van der Merwe believes that by forging strong relationships, women can affect virtually every aspect of their students' lives, teaching them vital life lessons that will help them succeed beyond term papers and standardised tests.

She states that it is not always easy to change a student's life, so it takes a great teacher to do so. “You, as a teacher, have a very significant, lifelong impact on all your students. This impact involves not only the teaching of particular academic skills, but as importantly, the fostering of student self-esteem.”

“Reinforcing self-esteem in the classroom is associated with increased motivation and learning,” she says.

Dr Van der Merwe is Lecturer and Programme Director in the Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development at the University of the Free State (UFS).

On 11 February – International Day of Women and Girls in Science – the UFS is celebrating her not only for the impact she has on her students, but also for being instrumental in establishing the new Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development, putting the UFS on the international forefront.

A sustainable food system

“We want our students to be part of a sustainable food system that provides healthy food that meets food needs, while maintaining healthy ecosystems that can also provide food for generations to come, with minimal negative impact to the environment,” she says.

“The right to food is a fundamental human right.”

Dr Van der Merwe believes that a healthy personal food system and how it is managed is now more critical than ever before.

Her current work involves managing the five main food-related values of taste, health, cost, time, and social relationships, as well as other less prominent values of symbolism, ethics, variety, safety, waste, and quality within these personal food systems. She feels the prominence of these values varies among us as well as across our eating situations. “More research on this will be fascinating,” says Dr Van der Merwe.

A male-dominated field

On the role of women in science, Dr Van der Merwe says it is often considered a male-dominated field. “According to United Nations data, less than 30% of scientific researchers worldwide are women,” she states.

Telling her story about becoming a scientist, she says that science chose her. “Many scientists have reported that their interest and curiosity in science or the natural world started in early childhood.”

We want our students to be part of a sustainable food system that provides healthy food that meets food needs, while maintaining healthy ecosystems that can also provide food for generations to come, with minimal negative impact to the environment. – Dr Ismari van der Merwe

“I started as a teacher and ended up working for the Agricultural Research Council, where I was responsible for a research programme on dry beans and started a small-scale research factory.”

“Later when we moved to Bloemfontein, I joined the UFS. Here I am privileged to be able to do research and teach. Science chose me as part of my life journey, and I never looked back.”

News Archive

Meet the person behind the title – your new FaceOfFacebook

2015-04-29

Kovsies #FaceOfFacebook was born three years ago out of a need to engage with students, and become a virtual friend. Auditions are held every year to choose the new ‘face’ representing the UFS on Facebook. The successful candidate holds the title as #FaceOfFacebook for the next 12 months, attending events, and filming short video clips to post on our Facebook page.

The votes have been counted, and we have a winner. After much excitement and a close contest, Nompumelelo Maseko (whose name, fittingly, means ‘success’) emerged victorious from the top six contestants selected by our panel of judges. We sat down with the soft-spoken Mpumi – as her friends call her – to get a sense of the person who will be our ambassador for the next year.

What is your field of study, and how far along are you?

I am studying for a BSc degree in Genetics, and I’m currently in my second year. I have a particular interest in the forensic sciences, which fascinate me!

Are you originally from Bloemfontein?

No, I am originally from Pretoria.

How is it that you ended up here, studying at the UFS?

Before leaving school, I applied to various universities, but my desires and ambitions brought me here.

How do you find your residence?

Akasia ladies are big on sisterhood, very supportive. Res life is very enjoyable.

What do you hope to accomplish during your term as the #FaceOfFacebook?

I would like to help people become aware of what is taking place on campus. There are many opportunities to be more engaged with what is happening at the varsity. For instance, there are still many people who don’t really know what the #FaceOfFacebook is, and I would like to help inform them about it.

What is your motivation in your studies, in taking part in this contest, and in life?

I am intrigued by the function of life forms, the differences that exist at a cellular level.
For this competition, I fed off my love of people, even though I am shy. I also enjoy presenting.

I have my parents to thank as my motivation, as well as meeting and engaging with people. I find that I achieve a broader perspective when I don’t restrict myself to my own opinions, but strive to be open to differing views.

Nompumelelo will be appearing in one of her first Facebook videos shortly, so be sure to keep an eye on our Facebook page.

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