Linda Harris named as recipient of 2025 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation
Dr Linda Harris, research associate at Nelson Mandela University, was selected by The Pew Charitable Trusts as a recipient of the 2025 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation.
As one of six international researchers awarded the fellowship this year, Dr Harris will receive $150,000 over three years to explore ways to strengthen sandy beach conservation in the Western Indian Ocean.
Dr Harris will produce key information concerning sandy beaches and will identify conservation priorities for these vital ecosystems.
Using a combination of remote sensing and field surveys, she will classify and map sandy beach ecosystems across 10 countries in southern Africa.
Read more: Nelson Mandela University News
Photography lecturer’s film selected for international viewing
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Soul Release, a collaborative film produced by Francois du Plessis, a lecturer in the Media and Communication Department, has been chosen from hundreds of submissions to be featured at the SIEF (International Society for Ethnology and Folklore) conference in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Francois is the film producer for the SARChI Chair of Ocean Cultures and Heritage within the Faculty of Humanities, headed by Prof Rose Boswell.
One of the chair's key goals is to create a series of films through the Blue Values Journey project, where Soul Release is housed.
"During the chair’s research, we encountered a man from Blanco, George, a First Nations healer diviner.
He shared with us a dream he had years ago about souls trapped on Shark Island, located in Lüderitz, Namibia," Francois explained.
"The film follows his journey to Shark Island, the ceremony he performed there, and how he connected with the Lüderitz community."
Francois initially presented Soul Release as part of his Honours coursework, which he completed in 2024 under the supervision of Professor Subeshini Moodley and the guidance of Tarryn Rennie.
He also credits the invaluable contributions of Dr Jessica Thornton, who works for the Ocean Cultures Heritage Chair.
Read more: Nelson Mandela University News
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.
“It is similar to town planning: you need designated areas for different activities, whether it is conservation, fishing, or industrial use. The goal is a healthy ocean that can support sustainable development.”
Read more: Nelson Mandela University News