Current degree:                PhD Water Resource Science

Type of mobility:              PhD degree seeking mobility

Host university:                Rhodes University

Home university:              University of Zambia

Summary:

I am a passionate Molecular Biologist with interest in Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and how it affects public health. As a scientist I delight in learning new ideas; being creative and innovative in addressing pollution, WASH and public health problems at large. I have leadership skills, thrives in teamwork and collaboration with other professions. I effectively utilise my scientific knowledge and communication skills in disseminating scientific information tailored to a specific audience.

My current degree is a sum total of passion, academic qualifications and career aspiration. It perfectly knits my biological, chemistry, water resources and public health background and enables me to use these competencies in ensuring that I contribute to efforts being made in ensuring that water in the environment is not a threat to public health. After this PhD, I see myself as an academician and researcher who disseminates scientific information within and beyond the scientific community

Research:

My PhD research project is on source attribution and human health risk assessment of antibiotic resistant Campylobacter species. Rivers serve as source water for drinking, irrigation, a place for recreation, and interaction for spiritual and cultural purposes but microbial pollution of rivers is a growing problem. Rivers are majorly polluted with human and animal pathogens of enteric origin. Polluted rivers play a critical role as transmission route and reservoir for many pathogenic microorganisms including the antibiotic resistant ones. The occurrence of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria (ARB) and Antibiotic Resistant Genes (ARGs) in environment water is a public health concern. These ARB can be transmitted to humans upon exposure to contaminated water while ARGs can be acquired from the environment and by clinically relevant pathogens. Antibiotic resistance leads to increased hospitalization and mortality rates of infected patients as infection caused by ARB are becoming difficult to treat.

Campylobacter species cause gastroenteritis especially in children and immunocompromised individuals. In different parts of the world, isolates of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli have shown resistance to the recommended antibiotics for treating campylobacteriosis. This project is assessing the human health risks posed by the presence of antibiotic resistant Campylobacter species in selected urban rivers in the Eastern Cape, South Africa and attributing it to specific sources.

Prior to my PhD, I have conducted research on Water quality improvement, Municipal wastewater treatment and management, and solar inactivation of milk pathogens.

Projects:

1. Mentorship: In my home country, I am involved in mentorship programmes aimed at mentoring girls and women in schools, colleges and Universities in the field of science. Notably among my mentees is Mwangala Maunga who at the age of 12 in 2018, won the Buttercup Award in the Pan-African Powerpuff Girls Awards, for her solar water purifier project.
2. Back in my home country Zambia, I initiated a waste recycling project. This is an on-going project and is student- led. It involves raising awareness on environmental issues and collecting plastics and paper waste and recycling it. Money generated is used to help vulnerable students with basic requirements while in college.
3. Water Stories: In collaboration with some professional journalists I am involved in writing media articles/news content on water and sanitation in a language that is suitable for the general public. The idea is to communicate scientific information to the general public.

Organisations and Awards:

1. Member of the Zambia Association of Biological Scientists
2. Mentor and advocate for girls and women education in Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) under the organisation Stirring Steam for STEM.
3. Matron for Environment Savers Zambia (E-Savers) a Youth- led Organisation addressing climate change and pollution in the community. 
4. Member of Society for Freshwater Sciences

Skills and Expertise:

Courses:

1. R course

2. Environmental Course Management

3. Water Security

4. Media Skills for Scientists

5. Science Communication

Connections:

LinkedIn: Mary Chibwe

Twitter: @MaryChibwe4   

Last Modified: Fri, 25 Feb 2022 11:29:24 SAST