Congratulations to PCU Graduates July 2017

Graduation is a highlight for any student and Plant Conservation Unit (PCU) students Elelwani Nenzhelele (MSc Conservation Biology) and Liesl Eichenberger (MSc Biological Sciences), both supervised by Simon Todd (PCU Honorary Research Associate) and Prof Timm Hoffman, were among 800 students to graduate at the formal ceremony held in Jameson Hall on Friday evening (14 July 2017). Elelwani’s thesis investigated the long-term impacts of heavy grazing in the communal area of Paulshoek, Namaqualand while Liesl’s research concerned the effect of indigenous ungulates on the vegetation of Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in the Little Karoo. In addition, PCU research assistant, Yolanda Chirango (MSc Biological Sciences) also graduated on Friday; her project investigated the reproductive biology and functional floral traits of selected Cape Asclepiads supervised by Dr. Sandy-Lynn Steenhuisen from the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town (UCT). Yolanda’s main role at the PCU has been to assist A/Prof Lindsey Gillson with an exciting new project, involving the digitisation of the PCU pollen collection to create an open access pollen database.

We would like to congratulate these students on their hard work and dedication to their projects. You have all worked so hard and we wish you every success for the future. Many thanks to colleagues and their institutions (especially the South African Environmental Observation Network or SAEON), who helped to co-supervise these projects.

Below are some pictures of the evening supplied by Elelwani Nenzhelele.