Research Report 2016
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RRR Cover Final 11/9/17 5:23 PM Page 1 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Composite RRR 2017 | Intro pages 11/10/17 11:59 AM Page 1 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K A publication of the Rhodes University Research Office, compiled and edited by: Tarryn Gillitt, Thumeka Mantolo, Jill Macgregor and Jaine Roberts. Cover: Rhodes University researchers Visiting Professor Research Office Thembela Kepe (top left), Associate Professor Dion Nkomo Director: Jaine Roberts (top right), Professor Sioux McKenna (below left) and [email protected] Associate Professor Sam Naidu (below right). Tel: +27 (46) 603 8756/7572 Cover photos: Snow Cindy Harris www.ru.ac.za Composite RRR 2017 | Intro pages 11/10/17 10:10 AM Page 2 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Rhodes University Research Report | 2016 03 FOREWORD Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Vice-Chancellor 05 INTRODUCTION Dr Peter Clayton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research & Development 07 TOP 30 RESEARCHERS 08 PHD GRADUATES AT THE 2016 GRADUATION CEREMONIES 13 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S DISTINGUISHED SENIOR RESEARCH AWARD Professor Heila Lotz-Sisitka 15 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH AWARD Associate Professor Dion Nkomo 18 VICE-CHANCELLOR’S DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH AWARD Associate Professor Julie Coetzee 20 RESEARCH FOCUS Associate Professor Sam Naidu 22 HUMAN GEOGRAPHY Professor Thembela Kepe 24 THE CENTRE FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDIES Professor Sioux McKenna 26 RETRIEVING & RE-PUBLISHING ISIXHOSA WRITINGS 01 Composite RRR 2017 | Intro pages 11/10/17 10:10 AM Page 3 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Rhodes University Research Report | 2016 30 Publications from the Vice-Chancellorate 195 Albany Museum and Administration 199 Dictionary Unit for South 31 Centre for Higher Education Research, African English (DSEA) Teaching and Learning (CHERTL) 200 Electron Microscopy Unit 35 Community Engagement Division (EMU) 38 Library Services 202 Institute for Environmental 43 Department of Accounting Biotechnology (EBRU) 45 Department of Anthropology 204 Institute for the Study of English in Africa (ISEA) 48 Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology 208 Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) 55 Department of Biotechnology and the Biotechnology Innovation Centre (RUBIC) 211 Institute for Water Research Departments (IWR) 59 Department of Botany 214 Public Service Accountability 62 Department of Chemistry Monitor (PSAM) 71 Department of Computer Science 218 Rhodes University 76 Department of Drama Mathematics Education Project 80 Department of Economics and Economic (RUMEP) History 220 South African Institute for 83 Faculty of Education Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) 94 Department of English 227 Unit for the Humanities at 97 Department of English Language and Rhodes University (UHURU) Linguistics 99 Department of Environmental Science 105 Department of Fine Art 110 Department of Geography 116 Department of Geology 121 Department of History Institutes and Units Affiliates, 123 Department of Human Kinetics and Ergonomics 127 Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science 132 Department of Information Systems 135 School of Journalism and Media Studies 139 Faculty of Law 142 Department of Management 145 Department of Mathematics 148 Department of Music and Musicology 152 International Library of African Music (ILAM) 154 Faculty of Pharmacy 159 Department of Philosophy 161 Department of Physics and Electronics 167 Department of Political and International Studies 171 Department of Psychology 176 Rhodes Business School 178 School of Languages and Literatures 181 Department of Sociology 185 Department of Statistics 187 Department of Zoology and Entomology 02 Composite RRR 2017 | Intro pages 11/10/17 10:10 AM Page 4 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Rhodes University Research Report | 2016 FOREWORD Photo: Snow Cindy Harris Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Vice-Chancellor Our country is in desperate need of quality imagine a better society and a better world than the leadership; good leadership, caring one which we pray we inhabit temporarily. Indeed, leadership, compassionate leadership, the research conducted by Valerie Møller, Professor Emeritus of Quality of Life Studies, shows that South bold and courageous leadership, moral Africans remain amongst the most hopeful nations and ethical leadership; a leadership which, about the future, despite widespread dissatisfaction in the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, does with current circumstances. not only inspire confidence in people but Our University is very fortunate to have outstanding, one that inspires people to have confidence loyal, dedicated and committed academic and in themselves; the kind of leadership which, support staff who take a deep and keen interest in the growth, development and academic success of “is not a function of material wealth, each and every one of our students. As Vice- high office or status, or bestowed by Chancellor, I could not ask for more! Our graduates a degree or qualification, but one are all future leaders, an important component of that must be earned through ethical our country’s hope for a better world, and we entrust conduct, impeccable integrity, them to use their knowledge, skills and ingenuity to improve the human condition, and to be voices of visionary endeavour, selfless public reason, truth, justice and hope in our society. service and commitment to people and responsibilities.” The results of the 2016 academic year (Dr Saleem Badat, Graduation Ceremony were celebrated during a bumper Address, 2012) graduation weekend in April 2017, in which Given our South African history, we, of all peoples a record 2 464 graduates were capped at cannot afford to lose the hope that sustained us in 6 graduation ceremonies, 46% of whom the dark days of apartheid; we cannot afford not to were Postgraduates, 59% were women, 03 Composite RRR 2017 | Intro pages 11/10/17 10:10 AM Page 5 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Rhodes University Research Report | 2016 and 21% were international students. Associate Professor Nkomo’s research has A record number of 88 PhD degrees yielded a lexicography framework for the were awarded (up from 67 of 2016). development of glossaries, and he has published widely in the fields of lexicography and language We celebrated a new record of 29 PhD planning, making theoretical and practical degrees for the Faculty of Humanities, contributions to the lexicon of African up from the previous record of 19 Languages. Associate Professor Coetzee’s achieved last year. The Faculty of research in the biological control of alien invasive Science produced 38 PhD graduates, weeds has reunited many rampant pest the Faculty of Commerce 6, the Faculty organisms in Southern Africa and further afield with their natural enemies, to restore some of Education 13, and the Faculty of balance in nature. Also with a strong engaged Pharmacy 2. All Faculties have done research emphasis, Associate Professor Coetzee exceedingly well. Our warm is a member of the Biological Control Research Dr Sizwe Mabizela congratulations go to all our Faculty Group, which received the group Community Deans, Heads of Department and the Engagement Award in 2013. academic and support staff who made Another engaged research group, the this possible. Recreational Fisheries Research Group from the Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Engaged research has become a strong feature Science led by Professor Warren Potts, were of Rhodes University, and once again recipients the second recipients of the Vice-Chancellor’s of the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards in Research Distinguished Community Engagement Award were also acknowledged in the Vice-Chancellor’s for 2016. Members of the project include Mr Awards for Community Engagement - an Matthew Parkinson, Dr Amber Childs, Mr David example of how outstanding research and Drennan, Mr Alexander Winkler, Mr Edward meaningful community engagement should co- Butler and Ms Samantha Mannheim. exist. The Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Senior Research Award for 2016 was awarded Many other individual academics received FOREWORD: to Professor Heila Lotz-Sisitka, SARChI Chair widespread national and international in Global Change and Social Learning Systems, acknowledgement of their work. Their fine within the Environmental Learning Research accomplishments are contained within the pages Centre, for extending the boundaries of new of this report. knowledge in transformative social learning and critical realist analyses of environmental I extend my congratulations and thanks to all education research, and for rethinking education of our researchers, collaborators, funders, in a post-sustainability paradigm. She also donors, and partners who contributed to making featured as a recipient of the Vice-Chancellor’s 2016 a year in which research at Rhodes Distinguished Community Engagement Award University flourished. Your expertise, integrity, for 2016, for a related role in the WRC Amanzi dedication, rigour and generosity make Rhodes for Food Research Programme from the University the rich and distinctive intellectual Environmental Learning Research Centre - led space that it is. by Professor Heila Lotz-Sisitka, the award also Dr Sizwe Mabizela included Mr Tichaona Pesanayi, Ms Kim Weaver, Mr Chisala Lupele, Mr Lawrence Sisitka, Vice-Chancellor Professor Rob O’Donoghue, Ms Phindile Sithole, Ms Wilma van Staden, Mr Chris Mabeza, Mr Jonathan Denison and Ms Katrina Phillips. The Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award (in the age group 40 and below) for 2016 had two recipients, Associate Professor Dion Nkomo and Associate Professor Julie Coetzee. 04 Composite RRR 2017 | Intro pages 11/10/17 10:10 AM Page 6 C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Rhodes