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Dr Yolandi Schoeman: ‘Humanity holds the pen that can rewrite our future’

20 December 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied

Dr Yolandi Schoeman, a Senior Lecturer in Ecological Engineering in the Centre for Mineral Biogeochemistry at the University of the Free State (UFS) and the Ecological Engineering Institute of Africa, was fascinated by the synergy between engineering and the natural sciences from a young age.

She said that the potential within ecological engineering to regenerate ecosystems at all scales, from the microscopic to vast landscapes, really drew her in. “This field offers solutions not only for daily sustainability challenges but also for the threats to planetary health and human well-being. However, when I was starting out, ecological engineering wasn't recognised as a formal career path in South Africa, and studying it in the United States wasn't feasible for me at the time. So, I explored various educational paths in civil engineering and natural sciences, aiming to merge these disciplines in my projects and research. My ultimate goal has been to establish and develop the field of ecological engineering both in South Africa and across Africa,” she explained.

Conventional and extreme ecological engineering

Dr Schoeman’s work in ecological engineering spans two main areas: conventional and extreme ecological engineering. On the conventional side, she says she is focusing on projects like designing constructed wetlands to naturally treat water, implementing urban greening initiatives to cool cities and manage stormwater, and regenerating various habitats to strengthen biodiversity. In terms of extreme ecological engineering, she focuses on developing innovative solutions for ecosystems that have been severely impacted by disasters like industrial accidents or natural calamities.

Additionally, she is leading efforts in astro-ecological engineering, applying these principles to rehabilitate severely damaged terrestrial environments while exploring their potential for extraterrestrial applications, advancing both sustainability and ecological restoration.

There are two moments in her journey that Dr Schoeman recalled helped shape her career. One was being invited to participate in the 2006 Brightest Young Minds initiative, hosted by the University of Stellenbosch. She said that it was the first platform where she could really develop and share her ideas and vision in ecological engineering. “I contributed to a publication titled Engineering Engineering, which focused on integrating nature into every facet of development and operations. That experience validated my vision of combining engineering and natural systems.”

The other experience came during her studies in Executive Leadership at the Skolkovo School of Management in Moscow. “I was tasked with leading a multidisciplinary, international team that had to create a sustainability strategy for a major international iron, steel and vanadium company. The project pushed me to defend sustainability solutions that would alter the way this industrial giant operated. It was a deeply challenging process that changed my perception of true sustainability and what it means to deliver solutions that are both impactful and make business sense. That moment forced me to step out of the comfort zone of conventional sustainability and reorient my path toward pursuing solutions that seemed almost impossible, but necessary.”

Advancing ecological engineering across Africa

Two of the most important research projects she has been involved in include advancing ecological engineering across Africa and restoring and managing ecosystems that are considered beyond conventional repair. The first project involved establishing an international institution that spearheads various innovative research areas, including exploring floating treatment wetlands, different types of constructed wetlands, and technologies for smarter ecosystem management in urban and rural contexts. “This comprehensive project has substantially elevated the global understanding and application of ecological engineering, addressing a spectrum of sustainability challenges,” she said.

In the second project she worked with a team that tackled severely degraded environments like post-mining landscapes, heavily polluted industrial sites, and areas where ecosystem functionality has been drastically compromised. She also aims to develop the projects further and to collaborate with agencies like NASA to design life-support systems for future space habitats. “These systems are not limited to space applications, but are also designed to address complex planetary health issues in extreme environments on Earth, such as war zones, nuclear disaster areas, and sites affected by climatic catastrophes,” she remarked.

Dr Schoeman is also responsible for the "Astroecological Engineering System" (AES). “This system uniquely integrates terrestrial ecological engineering principles with astro-ecological technologies to deal with some of the most challenging environmental restoration projects on Earth and potentially in future space habitats,” she stated, adding that AES is specifically designed for restoring heavily degraded or contaminated ecosystems – situations where traditional restoration methods are inadequate.

Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible

She believes AES is a versatile tool for addressing some of the most daunting environmental challenges we currently face. This passion for handling seemingly insurmountable problems is what drives her work.

“These are the issues that often push the boundaries of what's possible in ecological engineering. Each project that seems 'impossible' provides an opportunity not just to solve a problem, but to innovate and create methods that can be applied globally. It's about turning what was once thought unachievable into tangible, impactful realities that improve our environment and our relationship with the natural world. I truly believe that humanity holds the pen that can rewrite our future.”

About the future, she says that over the next 15 years she would like to see extreme ecological engineering, supported by astro-ecological insights, evolve into a foundational strategy in global environmental management. This approach will be key in scenarios where traditional restoration methods are inadequate. “My goal is to integrate these advanced, resilient techniques into mainstream disaster response and urban planning processes worldwide, preparing ecosystems and communities to withstand and adapt to future ecological stresses,” she said.

She also envisions a future where the principles of extreme and astro-ecological engineering are routinely taught in academic institutions and incorporated into public policy. “By raising awareness and building expertise on a global scale, I aim to cultivate a new generation of engineers – those who are not only equipped to take on severe environmental crises on Earth but are also prepared for the ecological challenges we may face in space. This ambitious vision drives a shift towards more resilient and adaptive management of Earth's ecosystems, ensuring they thrive amidst the challenges of the 21st century.”

News Archive

Conference: Expanded ARV treatment

2005-03-02

VENUE: University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
DATE: 30 March 2005 - 1 April 2005

ARV Programme as on 24Feb Download Word document
Programme Special events Download Word document

Official web site www.fshealth.gov.za/subsites/arvc

Rationale for the Conference
At the time of the planned Conference, much ground would have been covered, both in the Free State and in South Africa, in respect of the expanded public sector ARV treatment programme in respect of research, experiences in practice, training of staff, treatment of patients, lessons learned, successes and failures, etc. The time would then be quite opportune to share these in a systematic manner with other provinces and countries, as well as with the large variety of stakeholders and role players in the ARV and related domains, be they academics and researchers, policy makers and service/facility managers, the variety of caregivers, and the community organisations and affected patients.

The Conference and current research
The proposed Conference is, firstly, directly linked to the current research on the public sector roll-out of ARV treatment in the Free State conducted by several research institutions (e.g. CIET, CHSR&D, UCT Lung Institute). Secondly, the Conference could and would serve as a forum for other research groups in the country and further a field to report and share knowledge and experiences on ARV treatment and related initiatives. Lastly, the Conference will stage a golden opportunity for researchers and scientists, on the one hand, and policy makers, managers, and caregivers (as knowledge users), on the other hand, to engage in cross-disciplinary discourse on this mutual and topical theme.

Theme of Conference
Expanded ARV treatment in the Free State: sharing experiences

Focus
The focus is primarily on public sector ARV treatment in the Free State, but also initiatives/activities/perspectives of relevance to the Free State elsewhere in the country at large and further a field, as well as relevant ARV initiatives in the public, private, NGO and FBO sectors. Bear in mind, however, that ARV treatment is but part of a much more comprehensive approach to HIV and AIDS. The Conference will, therefore, not narrowly focus on the ARV treatment programme only. The broader context, other relevant dimensions, and a comprehensive approach to the challenges of HIV, AIDS and TB are of equal importance.

The purpose of the Conference
Enhance meaningful exchange, mutual understanding and collaboration among researchers, scientists, policy makers, managers and practitioners in the field of ARV treatment and related fields.

Share experiences in the various spheres of ARV treatment and related spheres (policy, management, practice, research, training, public-private-civil society sectors).

Record, reflect and report on the establishment of the ARV treatment programme in the Free State, and in within the context of the comprehensive HIV/AIDS programme.

Disseminate important research results on ARV treatment and related themes to health policy makers, managers, practitioners, communities and to the research community.

Stimulate discourse among various disciplines and various stakeholders/role players involved in ARV treatment and related programmes.

Sensitise and acquaint researchers to the requirements of policy makers, managers and practitioners in respect of ARV treatment and related fields.

Facilitate the implementation of research results in ARV treatment policy, programmes and practice.

Dissemination of Conference-related information
Information generated during the Conference could feed into policy, management and practice of ARV treatment, the training accompanying such programme, and the existing body of knowledge. After the Conference the information will be disseminated via the Internet and by scientific and popular publications.

Date and duration
Set for 30 & 31 March & 1 April 2005; to commence at 09:00 on the first day (30 March) and to end at 16:30 (1 April) the third day.

Format and scope of Conference
Alternating plenary, parallel sessions and debates focused on topical issues and interest groups. The Conference will strive to be maximally interactive and participative.

Themes and topics to cover:

Policy, management and health services/practice (various levels and contexts – clinical treatment, information, IT systems, pharmacy, laboratories, nutrition)
Research covering all relevant disciplines and diverse dimensions of ARV treatment and related themes
Training and evaluation of training
Patients, communities and civil society organisations
Public, private, NGO, FBO initiatives and partnerships

Emphasis will be on the Free State, however, with of significant involvement from other provinces, SADC countries, and countries further a field. The thrust will be to export lessons and experiences from the Free State, but also to import lessons and experiences from other provinces, countries and sectors.

Presenters
Key presenters from the Free State, other provinces, South Africa, from the private, FBO and NGO sectors, and from several other countries

Delegates
About half of the delegates will be Free State stakeholders and role players (all levels and all contexts). The other half will be role players and stakeholders in the ARV and related fields from other provinces, the national level, and other countries, as well as from the private, public and non-governmental sectors.

Focused workshops
Provision will be made for half-a-day or one-day workshop initiatives on the third day (1 April 2005).

Enquiries
For more information please contact:

Prof Dingie van Rensburg
Centre for Health Systems Research & Development
University of the Free State
PO Box 339
Bloenfontein
SOUTH AFRICA
9300

Contact:
Carin van Vuuren
Conference Organiser
Centre for Health Systems Research & Development
University of the Free State
P.O.Box 339
Bloemfontein
South Africa
9300
Tel +27 (0) 51 401 2181
Fax +27 (0) 51 4480370
Cell 0832932890
e-mail: arvconference.hum@mail.uovs.ac.za

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