RRR | Cover 2015 v2 11/9/16 10:17 AM Page 1 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Composite RRR 2015 | Features 11/12/16 1:36 PM Page 1 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K RHODES UNIVERSITY RESEARCH REPORT A publication of the Rhodes University Research Office, compiled and edited by Tarryn Gillitt, Busi Goba, Patricia Jacob, Jill Macgregor and Jaine Roberts Design & Layout: Sally Dore Research Office Director: Jaine Roberts [email protected] Tel: +27 (46) 603 8756/7572 www.ru.ac.za Cover: Rhodes University researchers Pam Maseko, Nomalanga Mkhize, Heila Lotz-Sisitka, Ruth Simbao, Anthea Garman and Catriona Macleod Cover Photos: Paul Greenway/www.3pphotography.com RESEARCH REPORT 2015 Composite RRR 2015 | Features 11/12/16 1:36 PM Page 2 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K CONTENTS 01 FOREWORD Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Vice-Chancellor 03 INTRODUCTION Dr Peter Clayton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research & Development 05 TOP 30 RESEARCHERS 06 PHD GRADUATES 11 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S BOOK AWARD Professor Anthea Garman 13 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S DISTINGUISHED SENIOR RESEARCH AWARD Professor Catriona Macleod 15 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH AWARD Dr Adrienne Edkins 17 SARChI CHAIRS Professor Heila Lotz-Sisitka, Professor Ruth Simbao and Dr Adrienne Edkins 23 AFRICAN LANGUAGES, SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE Associate Professor Pamela Maseko 25 DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY Dr Nomalanga Mkhize RESEARCH REPORT 2015 Composite RRR 2015 | Features 11/12/16 1:34 PM Page 3 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K RHODES RESEARCH 2015 RESEARCH REPORT DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS AFFILIATES, INSTITUTES AND 28 Publications from the Vice-Chancellorate and Administration UNITS 173 Albany Museum 29 Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning (CHERTL) 176 Electron Microscopy Unit (EMU) 177 Institute for Environmental Biotechnology (EBRU) 32 Community Engagement Division 179 Institute for the Study of English in Africa (ISEA) 34 Library Services 182 Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) 38 Department of Accounting 186 Institute for Water Research (IWR) 40 Department of Anthropology 189 Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) 43 Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology 191 Rhodes University Mathematics Education Project 48 Rhodes University Biotechnology Innovation Centre (RUMEP) (RUBIC) 193 South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity 50 Department of Botany (SAIAB) 54 Department of Chemistry 200 Unit for the Humanities at Rhodes University (UHURU) 62 Department of Computer Science 66 Department of Drama 72 Department of Economics and Economic History 75 Faculty of Education 80 Department of English 83 Department of English Language and Linguistics 86 Department of Environmental Science 91 Department of Fine Art 96 Department of Geography 99 Department of Geology 102 Department of History 105 Department of Human Kinetics and Ergonomics 108 Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science 113 Department of Information Systems 116 School of Journalism and Media Studies 119 Faculty of Law 122 Department of Management 124 Department of Mathematics 126 Department of Music and Musicology 128 International Library of African Music (ILAM) 130 Faculty of Pharmacy 135 Department of Philosophy 138 Department of Physics and Electronics 144 Department of Political and International Studies 148 Department of Psychology 154 Rhodes Business School 156 School of Languages and Literature 159 Department of Sociology 163 Department of Statistics 165 Department of Zoology and Entomology RESEARCH REPORT 2015 Composite RRR 2015 | Features 11/15/16 10:37 AM Page 4 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K REARCH REPORT 2015 FOREWORD Dr Sizwe Mazibela, Vice-Chancellor • Grow the number of research focus areas with significant critical mass behind them, for which the university is known as a place of scholarly excellence Every year, Distinguished Professor Tebello Nyokong does something amazing that brings honour to her work, this University, and the reputation of African Scholarship. And year after year, it just gets more impressive. During 2015, Professor Nyokong and her group produced 63 ISI accredited journal papers, a new record and an absolutely astounding achievement. Many respected academics are proud to have achieved this kind of track record across a career. In the April 2015 Science Graduation ceremony, Professor Nyokong set a new all-time record as a supervisor at Rhodes University, graduating 6 PhD candidates in one ceremony. Also during the course of the year, she was appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the new high-level panel exploring the Technology Bank and Science and Technology Innovation Mechanism for Development, was recognised by CEO (Celebrating Excellence in Organizations) as the most influential woman in Education & Training in the SADC (Southern African Development Community) region, and was awarded a Laureate of UNESCO Medal for her contribution to the development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies. Professor Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela Photo: Paul Greenway/3pphotography Nyokong was amongst the the first SARChI Chairs awarded in South Africa in 2006, and has proved what a good research investment Rhodes is a research led university, and, despite the SARChI programme has been for South Africa. We are extremely privileged to have this intellectual voice at Rhodes University. its relatively small size, is one of the pre-eminent research institutions on the continent, which Engaged research is a feature of research at Rhodes University that produces world leading research for the received a special validation in 2015, when the recipient of the Vice- Chancellor’s Distinguished Senior Research Award was also part of betterment of humanity and the natural world. the group which received the Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Community Engagement award - a real example of how outstanding Building on the foundation of intellectual rigour which has research and meaningful community engagement should co-exist. defined Rhodes University for generations, the diverse student The Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Senior Research Award for body, outstanding pass and graduation rates, and amongst 2015 was awarded to Professor Catriona Macleod, SARChI Chair the highest per capita research output of institutions in South Africa, our priorities for the coming years for growing and in the Department of Psychology, for the national and international improving scholarship are to: impact of her research over a sustained period, spanning critical health psychology, feminist psychology, and theoretical psychology. • Protect our intellectual space by ensuring that there is little or no encroachment into the research time and resources The Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award (in the age of our academics; group 40 and below) for 2015 was awarded to Dr Adrienne Edkins, • Increase the percentage of academics with doctoral level SARChI Chair in the Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology, qualifications; whose research has made considerable advances to fundamental understanding, in the fields of cell stress biology and cancer biology, • Raise the total research output for the institution by addressing issues of foundational importance to human health, and encouraging and supporting all academic staff members to breast cancer studies in particular. The Vice-Chancellor’s Book to produce at least one accredited output per year; Award for 2015 went to Professor Anthea Garman of the School of • Grow the Postgraduate proportion of the student body to Journalism and Media Studies, for her book entitled Antjie Krog and 30% whilst, at the same time, ensuring the diversity of the the Post-apartheid Public Sphere: Speaking Poetry to Power (UKZN Postgraduate population; and Press, 2015). RESEARCH REPORT 2015 01 Composite RRR 2015 | Features 11/15/16 10:37 AM Page 5 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K RESEARCH REPORT 2015 A further feature of research at Rhodes University As one of a range of transformation imperatives at Rhodes has long been international collaborations, many University, the institution was part of an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation funded consortium for redressing the skewed of them responsible for raising the international demographics of senior academic levels within the university. competitiveness and voice of scholarship Until now, most of our efforts at improving the demographic involving Rhodes academics and students. In make-up of our academic body has been aimed at the emerging March 2015, Rhodes University became a scholar levels. Our next challenge is to find resources for this kind of initiative to be rolled out within scholarly areas outside founder member of the African Research of the Humanities. Universities’ Alliance (ARUA), launched at the African Higher Education Summit in Senegal. I extend my congratulations and thanks to all of our researchers, collaborators, funders, donors, and partners who contributed Leading universities with strong programmes of to making 2015 a year in which research at Rhodes University research and Postgraduate training formed the flourished. Your expertise, integrity, dedication, rigour and network of 16 institutions, which aim to bring generosity make Rhodes University the rich and distinctive together intersecting and complementary intellectual space that it is. strengths in the interest of building critical mass My commitment is to use my leadership to further our shared in the key development priorities of the African objective of strengthening our university’s position as a distinct continent. and distinctive institution providing outstanding education