Dr Ambrosé Du Plessis is a distinguished lecturer in the Department of Public Administration and Management at the University of the Free State in South Africa. Before his current role, he served as a junior lecturer in the Department of Political Studies and Governance at UFS, specialising in Political Science, African Politics, International Relations, and Cooperative Governance and Constitutionalism. He holds a Master’s degree in Political Science, a BA (Hons) in International Relations, and a BA in Governance and Political Transformation, all from the University of the Free State. Ambrosé Du Plessis obtained his PhD in Public Administration and Management.

His research interests span international relations, organizational analysis, public policy, coalition politics, and the political-administrative interface. Dr Du Plessis has presented his research at numerous local and international conferences and has published in various national and international journals. In 2024, he was nominated as one of the top 100 most-read authors in the International Journal of Public Administration, published in the United States. Additionally, his co-authored article titled “Staffing and Retention Challenges of Teachers in Rural Schools of Eswatini: The Case of the Lubombo Region” is ranked as the most-read article in the International Journal of Rural Management, published in India.

In 2024, he received the prize as the top research fellow for the Researcher Excellence Accelerator Programme (REAP) at the University of the Free State. In 2025, he was nominated as one of the top emerging researchers in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

Dr Werner Henk Otto was born on the 12th of October in Bloemfontein, South Africa. He matriculated from Sand du Plessis High School in 2005 after which he completed his B.Com (Financial Management) degree at UFS in 2008. In continuing his postgraduate education, he expanded his studies from the University of the Free state where he obtained his B.Com Honours Business Management (specialisation in Finance) in 2010 followed by the attainment of this M.Com Business Management degree, also with specialisation in Finance by 2014. In further expanding his studies, he enrolled for a PhD degree in Finance from the University of Johannesburg as this was the only University offering this specialised PhD qualification at that time. In 2022, he obtained his PhD in Finance, with a thesis titled “The impact of the business environment in South Africa on small and medium-sized enterprises trade credit management”. To date, Dr Otto has published a variety of accredited articles, mostly sole author publications, all of which resonates from a similar central focus namely, trade credit management in SMEs. His research aims to enhance SMEs financial viability specific to working capital and liquidity management by providing insight into the various challenges constraining their business sustainability related to their solvability and liquidity. Aligned to this is the national importance of his research as SMEs creation is of immense economic importance to developing countries, especially South Africa, placing his research focus at the heart of knowledge creation assigned to make a difference to national and other developing economies. His articles to date have contributed extensively to existing knowledge and practically through the provision of actionable recommendations and managerial implications to SMEs and various SME sector stakeholders.

Dr Angela Stott is a science education lecturer in the Department of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology Education. Angela obtained BSc (Hons), MEd and PhD (Sci Ed) degrees while teaching the sciences at a rural school in Kwa Zulu Natal. She then moved to the University of Cape Town for a postdoctoral fellowship before joining UFS in 2014. Before 2023, Angela was part of the South Campus Social Responsibilities Projects, mentoring sciences teachers and conducting learner interventions in township schools. She also presented in-service teacher workshops and short learning programmes for science teachers throughout the Free State province. Angela’s research into teaching for deep learning has resulted in over 30 peer-reviewed publications and a C2 NRF rating. Angela is also the Editor-in-Chief of an international, developmental, Q2 journal, the African Journal of Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (AJRMSTE). Angela also loves creating learning and teaching resources and using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). She has contributed to two university textbooks, self-published two science workbooks, and developed learning and teaching materials currently used by the University of Pretoria and the Free State Department of Education. She also has a website, LearnScience.co.za, and an associated YouTube channel with over 600 teaching videos and over 4k subscribers.

Dr Brian Shambare is a Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of the Free State, Qwaqwa campus. Before joining academia, he worked as a secondary school teacher, departmental head, and subject advisor. His teaching philosophy emphasizes active learning, collaboration, and real-world applications, integrating technology to foster critical thinking and engagement. Dr Shambare’s research focuses on Science Education and integrating innovative educational technologies, particularly in rural and marginalized communities. He has published in book chapters, local and international conference proceedings, and peer-reviewed journals. As a committed scholar, he peer-reviews articles for high-impact journals (Education and Information Technologies, Journal of Computer-Assisted Learning, African Journal of Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, and Journal of African Development Studies), assesses master’s and PhD proposals for NRF funding applications, and evaluates conference abstracts for SAAMSTE, SAERA, and NARST. Dr Shambare supervises honours, master’s, and doctoral students in Science and Technology Education. He joined the Emerging Scholar Accelerator Programme in 2025, further strengthening his academic footprint.

Dr Johannes Buthelezi was appointed as a Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of the Free State in October 2024. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students and supervises BEd Honours and Master’s students. He considers himself an emerging scholar with a research focus on gender inequalities in higher education.

He holds a Master of Education degree (Inclusive Education with distinction, 2020) and a PhD (Inclusive Education, 2023) from the University of Johannesburg. His research explores how teaching pedagogies, such as love pedagogy and humanizing pedagogy, are applied in higher education institutions to promote inclusive learning environments. His ultimate goal is to examine classroom practices that foster inclusivity by evaluating the experiences of lecturers and students in adopting diverse teaching pedagogies to create more equitable academic spaces.  He is also interested in working with other disciplines internally and externally conducting research studies using conventional methods and unconventional methods.

Dr Buthelezi has published three peer-reviewed journal articles and two book chapters, with more manuscripts under review. He is a member of the South African Education Research Association (SAERA) and serves as an external examiner for Nelson Mandela University.

Dr Glen Legodu holds a PhD in Education and specializes in Agriculture Science Education. He is a lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of the Free State (UFS), where he teaches Science Education modules. He is also the Acting Programme Director for Intermediate Mathematics and Natural Science Education as well as the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Dr Glen Legodu holds a PhD in Education and specializes in Agriculture Science Education. He has published eight peer-reviewed articles in agriculture education and extension services. He has successfully supervised one Master's student to completion and currently oversees four Master's students who are submitting in 2025. Additionally, he has supervised 10 Honours students to completion. Dr Legodu has attended and presented full papers and abstracts at both national and international conferences. He remains actively involved in bridging gaps between agricultural education, curriculum innovation, and sustainable farming practices. He was a research assistant in the Free State province’s Motheo District for a pilot study on understanding teacher pedagogy, prepared by the Teaching, Teacher, and Teacher Education for Equitable and Quality Learning (TTTEQL) Consortium 1 in partnership with the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT). Dr Legodu played a key role in the curriculum review process at Glen Agriculture College as a subject specialist. He has also been actively involved in community engagement, where he consistently assists in training teachers in the Eastern Cape and Free State provinces. He has contributed to monitoring Grade 12 camps and has actively taught Life Sciences and Agricultural Science to Grade 12 learners in the Free State and Eastern Cape for basic education. Additionally, he was part of a Short Learning Programme for the Lesotho Ministry of Education, where he was responsible for delivering Biology enrichment. He also participated in the University of the Free State’s SOTL (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning) Fellowship and is currently a member of ESAP (Emerging Scholars Acceleration Programme), which supports the growth of emerging scholars.  Beyond his academic and professional commitments, Dr Legodu is passionate about running. He has successfully completed the Comrades Marathon twice (90 km) and is actively training to participate in more Comrades Marathons in the future.

Dr Sithembele Goodman Ndovela is an Accounting lecturer at the University of the Free State (UFS), Bloemfontein campus. He joined the UFS’s Faculty of Education on the 1st of August 2024. Before joining the UFS, he was an Accounting lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) where he spent 8 years and three months. Dr Ndovela have been an Accounting teacher for 6 years and 3 months before joining the UKZN School of Education on the 1st of May 2016. He was responsible for teaching Accounting at Ingwemabala Comprehensive High School and became the Head of the Department for Business, Commerce, and Management (BCM) department at Margate Middle School. He was later appointed as HOD for BCM at Ingwemabala Comprehensive High School before joining the UKZN. In 2022, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Sciences specialising in Accounting Education with the UKZN. He successfully supervised 3 Master of Education (MEd) students to completion. Dr Ndovela has 8 articles published in accredited journals. He is currently responsible for lecturing undergraduate and postgraduate students, and also provide research supervision to BEd (honours) and MEd students. He did his primary education at Emthini Primary and Mgawulane Primary School. He also did his secondary education at Khandalesizwe Secondary School and completed grade 12 at Ingwemabala Comprehensive High School.

Dr Sboniso Praisegod Zondi is a lecturer in the Education Faculty and the Languages in Education Department. Before joining academia, he contributed immensely to teacher training and English First Additional language content development for Grade 12 learners. He joined academia on May 1^st, 2023. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of KwaZulu Natal, Edgewood campus. His study focused on high school teacher’s experiences and approaches to teaching literature in English as a Second Language classrooms in KwaZulu Natal.  His interest is mainly in Second Language teaching, with the current focus on multilingual pedagogies. He is currently a lecturer in English education. He also teaches isiZulu methodology modules to the 3^rd and 4^th year Education students at the University of the Free State. He has started publishing his work in academic journals and presented papers at conferences.

Dr Khathutshelo Muluvhu-Malanga is a Lecturer at the University of the Free State with the research niche in Psychology of Education in the faculty of Education.

 She was born in South Africa, Limpopo Province on the 18th of February 1988. She Graduated her BED FET degree at the University of Venda in 2011, Honors in Psychology of Education in 2015, master’s in psychology of education (Guidance and counselling) in 2018. She currently holds a Doctoral degree from the University of Zululand, specializing in Psychology of Education (Guidance and counselling).

She is a guidance and counselling Model developer, who is passionate and highly driven to improve the current state of Education in South Africa through her newly developed Effective Guidance and counselling Model that intends to promote Excellent Academic performance of learners. She has leadership experience as one of the main leaders of an NGO named Khuliso Youth Development Organization. She has experience as a Marker at the university of South Africa, was also a part-time Lecturer of the University of Limpopo and a teacher at PP. Hlungwani high.

Many people know her for her passion and excellence in equipping and mentoring many people on academic-career, social and economic empowerment in Limpopo and beyond. She has published 3 articles with international journals and her master’s thesis with the University and presented them in the national and international conference

Dr Gaofetoge Lenetha is not just a Senior Lecturer and Academic Advisor in the Division of Student Learning and Development (DSLD) within the Office of the Dean at the Faculty of Health Sciences; she is a transformative force in academia. With a PhD in Environmental Health and over five years of distinguished experience as a Lecturer and Researcher, Dr Lenetha has demonstrated exceptional academic leadership that is pivotal to shaping the educational framework at her institution. Her unwavering commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive academic environment has profoundly influenced both students and faculty, making her a vital contributor to their success. The evidence of Dr Lenetha’s passion for research and mentorship is undeniable, as shown by the countless hours she dedicates to supervising her students through their Master’s programs. So far, more than three Master’s students completed their qualification under her supervision with one graduating with Cum-Laude. By 2022, she had not only completed a Post-Doctoral fellowship but also published over ten scholarly articles, presented at national and international conferences, and secured critical NRF funding. Her ongoing contributions were further recognised with prestigious awards such as the SASSCAL Research Award and an Emerging Researcher grant. In 2023, Dr Lenetha took a bold step by joining the DSLD Division, seeking to expand her teaching and research horizons while actively contributing to the “Academic Support and Development” initiative. Her role as an academic advisor is crucial; she aids students in devising personalised academic strategies, showcasing the importance of tailored support that empowers each one to recognise and harness their individual strengths and weaknesses. This personalised approach not only catalyses cognitive advancement but also boosts students' self-esteem. Currently, she is delving into the broader research area of "Metacognitive Strategies for the Success of Undergraduate Health Sciences Students." Her exceptional self-awareness, conflict resolution abilities, and leadership qualities earned her the role of acting Head of Department in 2024. Now, in 2025, she is actively participating in the Emerging Scholar Accelerator Programme, aimed at enhancing research outputs through collaborative writing and partnerships. Dr Lenetha’s unique blend of academic rigour and innovative thinking in the Health Sciences field makes her valuable to both her medical students and the Faculty of Health Sciences academic success. Her influence is not merely academic—it's transformative, paving the way for a brighter future for all involved.

Dr Carla Ellis is a lecturer in the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French at the University of the Free State, where she teaches Afrikaans linguistics at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She obtained her Ph.D. in Afrikaans and Dutch from the UFS in 2022, focusing on Afrikaans forms of address, specifically oom and tannie.

Carla is interested in languages and being able to converse in five, she is intrigued by how social context shapes language use—not just what is said, but what is understood without being explicitly stated. She is particularly interested in how linguistic conventions, such as forms of address, differ across languages and cultures and why something acceptable in Afrikaans, for instance, calling a stranger oom or tannie, may not be appropriate in other languages within the same language family, such as Dutch or German. She has presented her research at national and international conferences and has published on perceptions surrounding (Afrikaans) forms of address.

Currently, Carla is learning South African Sign Language (SASL) as part of her broader interest in sociolinguistics. She hopes to combine her research in sociolinguistics with signed languages in the future, exploring how linguistic structures and social hierarchies manifest in SASL. She aims to contribute to a more inclusive understanding of language variation in South Africa, examining the social, historical, and cultural factors that shape these differences across spoken and signed languages.

Dr Clayton Hazvinei Vhumbunu is a Senior Lecturer in International Relations and Governance within the Department of Political Studies and Governance at the University of Free State (UFS), Bloemfontein Campus; South Africa. He graduated with a PhD in International Relations from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, UKZN) in South Africa in September 2017. Dr Vhumbunu researches in areas of International Relations, Regional Integration, Public Governance, Peace and Security, and China-Africa Relations. He has held academic appointments, non-academic appointments and research fellowships at various universities and institutions in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Ethiopia and Hong Kong. He has also been a Research Fellow at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in the Regional Integration Division based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and has been an Asia Global Institute (AGI) Research Fellow at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) in Hong Kong since 2020. Over and above several journal articles published in the fields of International Relations, Regional Integration, Public Governance, Peace and Security, and China-Africa Relations; Dr Vhumbunu has recently co-edited a Book published in April 2024 by Springer Publishers titled “Engagement of Africa in Conflict Dynamics and Peace Architectures”. He has also presented research papers at several international conferences, including in South Africa (in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Grahamstown, and Richards Bay), Kenya (Nairobi), Ghana (Accra and Tema), Egypt (Sharm el-Sheik and Cairo), Zambia (Lusaka), Eswatini (Mbabane and Manzini), Tanzania (Arusha), Ethiopia (Addis Ababa), Namibia (Windhoek), Senegal (Dakar), Zimbabwe (Harare), Mozambique (Maputo), Senegal (Dakar), Djibouti (Djibouti City); Hong Kong (Hong Kong Island), and China (in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Dalian, Guangzhou and Chengdu). Dr Vhumbunu has also undertaken research consultancies for a number of international organizations, including the Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC) in Zimbabwe, African Union (AU)’s African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) in South Africa, and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) in South Africa.

Dr Alison Gretchen Stander is a lecturer in the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch; German and French at the University of the Free State (UFS), South Africa. She holds a PhD in Afrikaans from UFS, with her research focusing on instructional models for online language acquisition. Additionally, she has an MPhil in Hypermedia for Language Learning from Stellenbosch University, where she investigated the role of mobile technologies in supporting first-year students learning German.

Dr Stander specializes in technologically enhanced language learning, AI in language education, and multilingual approaches to foreign language instruction. She has shared insights on AI in the language classroom, multilingualism in Afrikaans instruction, and the role of peer assessment in language learning. She has also led workshops on language learning facilitation, assessment training, and integrating technology in teaching.

Dr Stander is actively involved in research projects, including the development of an AI chatbot for learning Afrikaans and initiatives to enhance student access to language learning resources.

Dr Doreen Rumbidzai Tivenga has been a lecturer in the Department of English at the University of the Free State since January 2023, where she teaches English Literary and Cultural Studies. She obtained her PhD in English Literary and Cultural Studies from the same university in 2019.

Following her PhD, Dr Tivenga continued her academic journey as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of the Free State on the project South African and Southern African Urban Youth Cultures and Literatures before being appointed as a lecturer. In 2020, she was awarded the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) African Humanities Programme Postdoctoral Fellowship. During this fellowship, she authored the monograph Music and Urban Youth Identities: A Study of Ghetto Youth Identities in Contemporary Culture and Politics in Zimbabwe, published by African Humanities Publishers (AHP) in 2022.

Her research interests include urban youth cultures, performances and identities, youth literatures and development, popular and celebrity cultures, and new media as an expressive form. She is also the co-editor of The Zimdancehall Revolution: Critical Perspectives. To date, she has published one book, edited one book, and authored six journal articles. She is currently working on a project under the UFS Learning and Teaching Fellowship Programme, exploring the role of internet memes as a tool to enhance critical thinking in the study of literature.

Dr Mpho Ramarumo is a lecturer in Department of Psychology. She joined UFS on 1^st September 2023. Before joining UFS she worked at the University of Venda from 2006-2013. She was a young academic who had just completed her PhD when she left academia to clinical practice as an independent Clinical psychologist. She served as a member of Vhembe District Mental Health Review Board and was also a member of Hayani Hospital Board. She was contracted by Carehealth, Momentum health, ICAS, and life assist to offer counselling to Venetia Mine, Department of Agriculture Vhembe District, Shoprite, NPA, Department of Justice and Kruger National Park. She was the director of her own clinical psychology practice until she joined UFS in 2023. She is currently responsible for teaching second year students and honours students. She is a clinical supervisor for master’s applied program. She is a research supervisor for master’s research and PhD students. She is also a co-ordinator for honours community psychology service-learning module project called study buddy. Her research interests are  mental health and substance abuse.

Dr Matthew Cronje is a postgraduate supervisor and senior lecturer in Theoretical Perspectives of Crime and Justice as well as Research Methodology modules in the Department of Criminology at the University of the Free State (UFS). Additionally, he serves on the UFS Social Sciences Scientific Review Committee and the General/Human Research Ethics Committee (GHREC) and is one of five Programme Directors for the Social Sciences Programme in the Faculty of the Humanities. He holds a doctoral degree in Criminology specialising in the psycho-social understanding of recidivism in South Africa. Matthew has also worked as a research consultant, developing and conducting research projects within both the governmental and non-governmental sectors. He has developed numerous evaluation tools for crime prevention initiatives at Khulisa Social Solutions as well as a general programme evaluation tool for the South African National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA). Furthermore, Matthew has conducted research for the South African Department of Social Development on the effectiveness of both youth and adult diversion services, the latter of which contributed towards the development of the minimum norms and standards for adult diversion. His overarching interests lie in the psycho-social understanding of desistance and repeat-offending behaviour and the development, monitoring and evaluation of contextually relevant interventions and criminal justice mechanisms that aim to address criminogenic and victimogenic social challenges on both a micro and macro level.

Dr Anathi Makamane holds a PhD in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of the Free State, obtained in 2023. With a background in agricultural economics, extension, rural development, and policy analysis, she brings a multidisciplinary approach to addressing key challenges in the agricultural sector.

Her current research focuses on climate change adaptation and resilience among smallholder farmers, with a particular emphasis on the role of extension services in fostering sustainable agricultural practices. Her broader research interests include agricultural extension services and knowledge transfer, sustainable food systems and rural livelihoods, youth and gender mainstreaming in agriculture, and policy development.

She actively contributes to capacity-building initiatives, engaging in farmer training programmes to strengthen resilience and sustainability in rural communities. She serves on the board of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA), where she participates in global discussions on sustainable agribusiness. Beyond academia, she is deeply involved in collaborative research and industry partnerships, ensuring her work has a direct impact on smallholder farmers.

Dr Ernestine Atangana obtained his BSc and Honors (Chemistry) from the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, and PhD (Environmental Science) from the Central University of Technology, Free State. She has presented and participated in international and local conferences within Africa and South Africa. She has previously worked at the Central University of Technology Free State. Her PhD research was based on water remediation using natural agricultural waste. She is currently a researcher at the Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State. She has worked on several national projects based on waste management. Her area of interest is ecotoxicology, Waste Management, and water resource management. She has been a reviewer of more than many internationally accredited journals. She has published more than 20 articles in accredited journals related to science and the Environment.

Dr Lucas Erasmus received his M.Sc. degree in 2018 from the University of the Free State for his dissertation “Developing an optical thermometry system for phosphor materials”. The same year he joined the University of the Free State Physics Department, where he is currently a Researcher. In 2024, he completed a joint doctorate between the University of the Free State and Ghent University in Belgium, titled “Luminescent solar concentrators – where Sm²⁺ doped phosphors shine”. His research interests mainly focus on photonic materials, solar cells, and light-emitting diodes. Currently, he is working with Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany on luminescent down-shifting layers for the next generation of solar cells. He has authored and co-authored 19 publications with an h-index of 8. He also teaches honours-level Material Science, Research Techniques, and Electronics modules. He is interested in science communication and is a part-time presenter at the Naval Hill Planetarium, developing and presenting shows on various scientific topics.

Dr Lesia Mokoena is a lecturer and researcher at the University of the Free State, QwaQwa campus, where he presents organic chemistry and polymer science modules at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.  He possesses a BSc in Chemistry and Physics (2017), an Honours (2018), Masters (2021), and PhD (2024) in Polymer Science. His doctoral research focused on the development of biodegradable polymer blends filled with graphene oxide for water purification, and he has published multiple papers in Q1/Q2 journals.

Before securing a permanent position in the Chemistry department in July 2024, Dr Mokoena held multiple lecturing contracts across different faculties, including Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Education, and Economic and Management Sciences, where he taught mathematics and chemistry modules. He also presents short courses and workshops on quantitative research, in conjunction with the Centre for Graduate Support (CGS). This diverse teaching experience has honed Dr Mokoena’s skills in engaging with students across disciplines.

His research interests lie in biodegradable polymeric materials, filled with carbonaceous particles for sustainable water treatment applications. He specializes in developing advanced and environmentally friendly polymer composites for heavy metal ion removal in water and the functionalization of nano- and micro-particles to improve surface and thermal properties of polymer blends. Through the passion of interdisciplinary research and mentorship, he strives to advance research in polymer science while enhancing academic development and innovation.

Dr Lisa Rothmann is a practicing field pathologist (Cert. Sci. Nat) with a PhD in Plant Pathology awarded in 2020. She joined the Department of Plant Sciences, Plant Pathology at the University of the Free State as a Lecturer/Researcher in 2021 and was promoted to Senior Lecturer/Researcher in 2024. Her expertise includes Sclerotinia disease management, and sorghum, dry bean, and wheat pathology, as well as mycotoxin research.

She has designed and present several learning-centred modules in plant pathology and plant disease epidemiology. She has successfully supervised one PhD, four MSc, and six Honours students and is currently supervising one Honours, nine MSc, and two PhD researchers. She is passionate about researcher development and emphasise team-based research by integrating transdisciplinary experts and postgraduate researchers. Her collaborators include plant breeders, sociologists, agricultural economists, engineers, and bioinformaticians. Their groups vision is to inspire and lead meaningful research and extension initiatives that encourages sustainable disease management in a changing climate, promoting food security and safety while empowering agricultural communities.

She communicates her research through multiple platforms, having delivered 10 national oral presentations, six poster presentations, and five international oral presentations, and contributed to 20 conference co-authorships. She has published 10 peer-reviewed articles, authored a book chapter, and written over 40 magazine articles. She has made guest appearances on podcasts, presented at over 20 farmers’ days, and initiated a community of practice for Sclerotinia. In 2025, she was invited to serve as a keynote speaker on Sclerotinia Epidemiology at an international symposium.

Dr Hermias Walter Van Niekerk is passionate about agriculture, he is an agricultural economist with excellent practical and theoretical knowledge of the South African agricultural sector and the linking of economics to agriculture, especially on the farm level.

He is a senior lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of the Free State, where he can fulfil his love of agriculture by engaging with agricultural students and contributing by practically teaching his students. He sees himself as a practical person who is always willing to learn more and broaden his knowledge. 

Dr Van Niekerk attended Boland Agricultural High School, where he obtained his senior certificate (Grade 12), and was doing well in agricultural sciences. Thereafter, he completed his BSc in Animal Science and Agricultural Economics, my BSc in Honours, and my MSc in Agricultural Economics at the UFS. In 2022, he finally completed his PhD in agricultural economics at the UFS. His research concerns livestock economics, farming production systems, and agribusiness management.

Lecturing graduate courses in agricultural economics focusing on farm management, agricultural marketing, and agribusiness. To date, 14 articles in scientific journals. Besides academic writing, he strongly focus on community engagement, linking with various industries in the agricultural sector.

Dr Megan Welman-Purchase is a geologist specializing in environmental geochemistry, with a focus on the behaviour of cyanide, arsenic, and uranium (potentially any contaminant) in mine tailings. She holds a PhD in environmental geochemistry, that focused on the bioremediation of cyanide in goldmine tailings facilities. She has over a decade of experience in analytical techniques, including XRD, XRF, SEM, EPMA, BET, and FTIR. She manages geological laboratories and has contributed to research on mineralogy, geochemistry, and remediation processes. Her work includes understanding element mobility in different environmental systems and exploring sustainable solutions for contamination challenges.

Dr Welman-Purchase has a passion for research, where she is involved in interdisciplinary collaborations, including research on zero-carbon cement, where she investigates methods for separating and reusing aggregates in cement production. Her work integrates geochemical and mineralogical insights to advance sustainable materials and circular economy initiatives.