At the Faculty of Science Postgraduate Day, students from multiple departments transformed their research findings into captivating three-minute lightning presentations, followed by an engaging Q&A session alongside vibrant academic posters that brought their discoveries to life. This annual event is organized by a subcommittee within the broader Science Faculty Research Committee. The purpose of the event is to showcase the exceptional postgraduate talent within the faculty and to foster opportunities for collaboration.

The Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Hussein Suleman, offered insights into the motivations behind pursuing postgraduate studies. He recalled his own experience as a PhD student, spending significant time in a coffee shop with other PhD peers from different disciplines. They discussed global challenges and potential solutions, which he deemed one of the most valuable aspects of his postgraduate life. He highlighted how the Faculty of Science Postgraduate Day provides an opportunity for students to deeply engage with their own disciplines while also learning from others, fostering relationships that last a lifetime and engaging with peers to create positive outcomes.

The six students who presented were all recipients of a fellowship from the faculty, awarded on merit to the most outstanding applicants. This programme is highly regarded in the faculty, and there are plans to evaluate its current format to potentially expand the number of recipients in the future.

The following students presented their research:

• Bedone Mugabe: Metallurgy at Great Zimbabwe: Rethinking Copper-bronze Provenance and Circulation in Pre-Colonial Southern Africa (cal 1000- 1650CE)
• Williams Benjamin Darko: Cyperaceae in Africa - Biogeography, Evolution and Taxonomic revision with a focus on Ficinia Schrad.
• Caroline Robertson: Taxonomic rearrangement of the genera Planomonospora and Planobispora and proposal of Thiemannella venezuelensis gen. nov. comb. nov.
• Hana Petersen: Understanding observed climate change impacts on plant communities in Mediterranean-type ecosystems
• Nirvashi D. Autar: Redox-mediated Interactions of Dansyl-imidazolium Diruthenium Metallodrugs Promote their Anti-cancer Properties in Breast Cancer
• Victoria Chama: Designing Defeasible Ontologies

Addressing the students, Deputy Dean for Postgraduate Matters, Associate Professor Deena Pillay, said, "it is a great privilege to be here with you today. The postgraduate portfolio holds significant meaning for me, and I want to acknowledge several of you whom I had the pleasure of teaching during your undergraduate studies. Congratulations on your academic excellence in receiving these fellowships.”

As the day wrapped up, it was clear that the Postgraduate Day is more than just presentations - it’s a celebration of hard work and the connections that make research meaningful. These students are not only shaping their fields but also building a community that will support them long after their studies end.