Bianke Fouche

Bianke spent her first school year in the United Kingdom, where the forests and heaths ignited her love and appreciation for the natural world. Since coming back to South Africa, she grew up mostly in Kimberley and Bloemfontein. She frequently disappeared into the grassveld and bush whenever she had the chance. During one high school holiday she collected tadpoles in Kwa-Zulu-Natal, and having identified the adult frogs in Bloemfontein, sent them back by aeroplane to where they were collected. The love for ‘all things nature’ led Bianke to pursue a BSc degree in Environmental Science at Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in 2017. It was during this time that Bianke’s interest and fascination with botany, restoration and conservation ecology took deep root. She completed her Honours in Botany at NMU in 2020.

After her Honours degree, Bianke decided to gain experience. She was elated when she was offered an internship at the Grootbos Foundation in May 2021. During her time at Grootbos, Bianke had the privilege of working with a vibrant and diverse conservation team. Frequent guest visits to the conservation office taught Bianke that all aspects of conservation can be shared effectively with people from all backgrounds. In May and October 2021, Bianke also had the opportunity to participate in controlled fynbos fires in the Overstrand. The most important thing she learned was that a broad set of skills is essential to make a success of any conservation related career.

The Conservation Biology MSc course will allow Bianke to gain knowledge and experience under the supervision of highly qualified academics and project leaders. She hopes to hone her skills and confidence within the ecological and botanical spheres, and to appreciate more deeply the complexity and interconnectedness of the natural world.  She believes this will be essential for the success of her career and thinking going ahead. If Bianke is not in class, she is most likely out in nature crouching over a plant, uploading photos to iNaturalist, or reading a book.

Thesis: Testing Alternative Stable State theory at Afromontane and Milkwood forest-fynbos ecotones. (Supervisor: Michael Cramer).