Nqobile Lushozi DST-NRF Intern at the Grasslands-Forests-Wetlands Node (2016/17)

Prior to joining the SAEON team in April (2016), I had completed a Bachelor degree (2014) and an Honours degree (2015) in Environmental sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus). During the year (2015) I worked under the supervision of Prof. Trevor Hill on a project where we assessed the effectiveness of macroinvertebrates as indicators of stream flow changes and nutrient enrichment in rivers. Parallel to that I did vacation work with GroundTruth Environmental Consulting where I was involved in numerous citizen science projects and also gained much exposer with aquatic and riparian health assessment methods. I enjoy field work along with all the challenges that come with it, working with data sets, being part of an enthusiastic team, community outreach programmes and that is why I am grateful to have received the opportunity of being part of the DST-NRF (2016/1017) Internship programme.

My primary reason for joining the SAEON team was the fact that I wanted more exposure to science to help me determine which direction in science will serve my passion best (as advised by my mentor and node coordinator, Sue van Rensburg). The main output of the internship programme will be to increase my skill set and obtain a good perspective and direction for a Masters degree that I intend on starting at the end of the internship year (2017).

I look forward to the work I will be doing at the GFW Node which will involve working with sophisticated weather measuring tools, learning to use new statistical packages, spending long hours in the field and working close to Prof. Colin Everson, Kent Lawrence, Siphiwe Mfeka as well as the rest of the GFW Node team.

Prior to joining the SAEON team in April (2016), I had completed a Bachelor degree (2014) and an Honours degree (2015) in Environmental sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus). During the year (2015) I worked under the supervision of Prof. Trevor Hill on a project where we assessed the effectiveness of macroinvertebrates as indicators of stream flow changes and nutrient enrichment in rivers. Parallel to that I did vacation work with GroundTruth Environmental Consulting where I was involved in numerous citizen science projects and also gained much exposer with aquatic and riparian health assessment methods. I enjoy field work along with all the challenges that come with it, working with data sets, being part of an enthusiastic team, community outreach programmes and that is why I am grateful to have received the opportunity of being part of the DST-NRF (2016/1017) Internship programme.

My primary reason for joining the SAEON team was the fact that I wanted more exposure to science to help me determine which direction in science will serve my passion best (as advised by my mentor and node coordinator, Sue van Rensburg). The main output of the internship programme will be to increase my skill set and obtain a good perspective and direction for a Masters degree that I intend on starting at the end of the internship year (2017).

I look forward to the work I will be doing at the GFW Node which will involve working with sophisticated weather measuring tools, learning to use new statistical packages, spending long hours in the field and working close to Prof. Colin Everson, Kent Lawrence, Siphiwe Mfeka as well as the rest of the GFW Node team.