Ocean scientist awarded PhD position to research marine protected areas in Norway
Marine scientist Hannah Truter, a former researcher at Nelson Mandela University, is diving headfirst into a three-year PhD placement at Nord University in Norway.
MARINE MATTERS: Hannah Truter on a field trip for her ocean science studies; FROM SUN TO SNOW: Former Mandela University researcher Hannah Truter is now at Nord University in Norway
Truter’s work in seabed ecology and marine spatial planning (MSP) in Algoa Bay led to her being selected as a doctoral student at the coastal university in Bodø, in the Arctic Circle.
The MSc graduate helped to develop South Africa’s MSP pilot study in Algoa Bay while working at the University's Institute for Coastal and Marine Research (CMR) in Gqeberha.
“The idea was to gather as much data as possible, not just about the environment but also human use, so we could develop an inclusive marine spatial plan for the bay,” Truter explained.
Mandela University PhD student accepted for Mandela Washington Fellowship
Reino Erasmus, a PhD student in ICT, has been accepted for the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship programme of the US Government's Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).
Through this fellowship, he aims to enhance his leadership and business skills while expanding his professional network across Africa and the US.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship, established by President Barack Obama in 2010, has supported over 7,200 young leaders from 49 African countries, empowering them to become transformative leaders who drive meaningful change.
Each year, the programme receives thousands of applications, which undergo a rigorous selection and shortlisting process.
Finalists are then invited for interviews by the US Embassy’s Minister Counsellor for Public Affairs.
Sculptors take fine art into the future with sports trophy
A trio of fine art graduates from Nelson Mandela University has designed a futuristic resin trophy for the national Schools SA20 cricket tournament.
Sculptors Jeffrey Allan, left, Sarah Walmsley and Jonathan Van der Walt unveiled the Schools SA20 trophy at St George’s Park cricket ground in Gqeberha in February 2025; The futuristic clear resin trophy for the national Schools SA20 cricket tournament
The sculptural piece, commissioned by Cricket South Africa, went to the winning boys’ and girls’ teams in the finals in Tshwane, this past weekend.
Gqeberha-based sculptors Sarah Walmsley, Jeffrey Allan and Jonathan Van der Walt created the work, featuring three raised right hands cast in clear resin, infused with colour.