The CBC's 2021 graduates

In 2021, the CBC has had a number of students graduate in the different virtual graduation ceremonies. Five Honours, two Masters of Commerce, ten Masters of Science and six PhD graduates walked across the virtual stage! Huge congrats to you all, we are proud of your achievements.

DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE WITH HONOURS

• DAMBUZA, Khalipha, in Entomology
• RICHARDSON, Perryn Heather, in Entomology, with distinction
• WEBB, Caitlin Jeanne, in Zoology
• YELL, Liam Dougal, in Zoology
• MASOLE, Patricia, in Botany at UFS

 

DEGREE OF MASTER OF COMMERCE

• MASON, Brett Anthony, BEcoHons (Rhodes), in Economics, in the Department of Economics and Economic History. Degree by thesis. Thesis: An evaluation of the socio-economic costs & benefits of the invasive Rubus (Blackberry/Bramble) genus species at selected sites in South Africa. Supervisor: Professor GCG Fraser. Co-supervisors: Dr GD Martin and Dr C Zachariades (ARC).
• WESTWOOD, Timothy Paul, BSocSciHons (Rhodes), in Economics, in the Department of Economics and Economic History. Degree by thesis. Thesis: The potential conflict of interest associated with the management of Rosa rubiginosa L. (Rosehip) in South Africa. Supervisor: Professor GCG Fraser. Co-supervisor: Dr GD Martin.

DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE

• ADAMS, Lehlohonolo Donald, MSc in Botany at UFS. Degree by thesis. Title:
  Reproductive Ecology of Pyracantha species in the Afromontane Grasslands of the Eastern Free State. Supervisor: Dr S Steenhuisen. Co-supervisors: Dr VR Clark and Dr GD Martin (RU).
• IITA, Petrus Paulus, MSc in Microbiology, with distinction, in the Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: Selection for improved virulence of Cryptophlebia peltastica nucleopolyhedrovirus (CrpeNPV) to False Codling Moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta, by serial passage through a heterologous host. Supervisor: Professor CM Knox. Co-supervisors: Distinguished Professor MP Hill and Dr S Moore (CRI).
• MNCIVA, Siyasanga Tracy, BSc (WSU), BScHons (UFH), in Entomology, with distinction, in the Department of Zoology and Entomology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: Enhancement of Megamelus scutellaris Berg (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) by naturally occurring phytopathogens for biological control of Pontederia crassipes (C. Mart) Solms (Pontederiaceae) in South Africa. Supervisor: Professor JA Coetzee. Co-supervisor: Dr C Coombes.
• MUSHORE, Tapiwa Gift, MSc in Entomology, in the Department of Zoology and Entomology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: Biology, ecology and management of the keurboom moth, L. venus Cramer and the leafhopper Molopopterus sp. Jacobi in cultivated Honeybush (Cyclopia spp.). Supervisor: Distinguished Professor MP Hill. Co-supervisor: Dr C Coombes.
• PRINSLOO, Samantha Lee, BScHons (Rhodes), in Entomology, with distinction, in the Department of Zoology & Entomology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: Potential synergism between entomopathogenic fungi and entomopathogenic nematodes for the control of false codling moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta). Supervisor: Distinguished Professor MP Hill.
• ROGERS, Daniel James, BScHons (Rhodes), in Entomology, with distinction, in the Department of Zoology & Entomology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: The tuber-feeding weevil Listronotus frontalis as a candidate biological control agent for the invasive semi-aquatic plant Sagittaria platyphylla within South Africa. Supervisor: Dr GD Martin. Co-supervisor: Professor JA Coetzee.
• SALGADO ASTUDILLO, Sara Elizabeth, BSc (Zamorano), in Entomology, with distinction, in the Department of Zoology & Entomology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: Evaluation of Megabruchidius tonkineus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae), a candidate biological control agent for Gleditsia triacanthos L. (Fabaceae) in South Africa. Supervisor: Dr GD Martin. Co-supervisor: Distinguished Professor MP Hill.
• TAYLOR, David Graham, MSc in Entomology, with distinction, in the Department of Zoology and Entomology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: Improvement of baculovirus – based management options for Thaumatotibia leucotreta Meyr. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) by exploiting synergistic relationships among different baculoviruses. Supervisor: Distinguished Professor MP Hill. Co-supervisors: Professor CM Knox and Dr S Moore (CRI).
• TOWNSEND, Garyn Ross, MSc in Microbiology, in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: Initial assessment of the polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) in indigenous Afrotemperate forests. Supervisor: Professor ZW de Beer. Co-supervisors: Professor MP Hill, Professor F Roets. 
• WANSELL, Sage Nora Lee, MSc in Botany, in the Department of Botany. Degree by thesis. Thesis: The invasion ecology of Pontederia cordata L. (Pontederiaceae) in South Africa. Supervisor: Professor JA Coetzee. Co-supervisor: Professor S Geerts.

DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

• AIGBEDION-ATALOR, Pascal Osabhahiemen, Doctorate in Entomology, in the Department of Zoology and Entomology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: Unravelling and ameliorating the impacts of Tuta 19 absoluta (Meyrick) invasion in eastern Africa: spread, socio-ecological impacts, and potential of a newly imported parasitoid for classical biological control. Supervisor: Distinguished Professor MP Hill. Co-supervisor: Dr M Samira.
• FAURE, Sariana, MScAgric (Stell), in Entomology, in the Department of Zoology & Entomology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: Systematics of the Afrotropical Chalcididae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Supervisor: Dr S van Noort. Co-supervisor: Professor S Crompton. (Leeds).
• LEHAVANA, Adolphe, MSc (Antananarivo), in Entomology, in the Department of Zoology and Entomology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: Distribution, and ecological and economic impact, of the invasive alien aquatic weeds Pontederia crassipes, Salvinia molesta, Azolla filiculoides and Pistia stratiotes in Madagascar. Supervisor: Distinguished Professor MP Hill. Co-supervisor: Dr C Zachariades (ARC) and Dr C Birkinshaw
• SMITH, Rosali, MSc (Rhodes), in Entomology, in the Department of Zoology & Entomology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: The biological control of Egeria densa Planchon (Hydrocharitaceae) in South Africa. Supervisor: Distinguished Professor MP Hill. Co-supervisor: Professor JA Coetzee.
• SUTTON, Guy Frederick, Doctorate in Entomology, in the Department of Zoology and Entomology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: Prioritisation of biological control agents for Giant Rat's Tail Grass. Supervisor: Professor I Paterson. Co-supervisor: Dr K Canavan.
• VAN DER MERWE, Marcel, MSc (Rhodes), in Microbiology, in the Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: An investigation into yeast-baculovirus synergism for the improved control of Thaumatotibia leucotreta, an economically important pest of citrus. Supervisor: Professor C Knox.  Co-supervisors: Distinguished Professor MP Hill and Dr S Moore (CRI).