In 2021, as energy markets struggled to keep up with the world’s rapid rebound from the pandemic. Then, in 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent shockwaves to global supply chains, turning a growing concern into a full-blown crisis. Amidst this uncertainty, researchers worldwide are striving to find cleaner, more reliable energy sources.
Among them is Madeleine Badenhorst from Nelson Mandela University, whose research “helps us to understand how the radiation induced damage heals when the material is being heated, to ensure the safety, as well as improving the performance of radiation-tolerant materials,” she says.
Her work has earned her several awards, including the Best Student Flash Talk Award at Microscience Microscopy Congress (MMC) 2025 and the Most Promising Microscopist and Best Student Oral Presentation awards at the Microscopy Society of Southern Africa (MSSA) Conference 2024.
Nelson Mandela University’s Faculty of Science was key in shaping Badenhorst’s growth as a researcher. Its transdisciplinary approach and commitment to tackling real-world problems, equipped her with the creativity, critical thinking, and resilience needed to excel.
In June 2024, Badenhorst won her first Best Student Poster award at the 22nd International Conference on Radiation Effects on Insulators (REI21) in Madrid, Spain. Source: Nelson Mandela University
Advancing knowledge, inspiring change
Teaching and research go hand in hand at Nelson Mandela University. Its Faculty of Science offers a mix of programmes, from master’s in biochemistry, industrial chemistry, and zoology to research opportunities that encourage students to think critically and embrace discovery.
You will learn from globally recognised researchers like Adjunct Professor Lorien Pichegru, a leading voice in marine conservation. Her research on how industrial fishing, climate change, and plastic pollution affect seabirds and other marine predators has helped establish fishing exclusion zones around African penguin breeding colonies to support their recovery.
That same spirit of curiosity and impact drives the university’s students. In one project, MSc student Dietre Stols and Dr. Lucie Thel from the Department of Conservation Management investigated how elephant communities influence the architecture of trees in the fenced Madikwe Game Reserve. “As elephant populations increase in fenced reserves, managers face difficult choices to maintain ecological balance, hence this study was undertaken to provide the rigorous, long-term data needed to guide sustainable conservation actions,” explains Stols.
To support its thriving research community, the department gives students and academics access to some of the most advanced facilities in the region. Badenhorst conducts her research at the Centre for High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (CHRTEM).
The centre is a hub for scientists across the country, offering the tools and support needed for world-class materials research. “Studying at the CHRTEM isn’t just about pushing boundaries in radiation science; it’s about growing as a scientist and as part of a community that believes in the beauty and power of discovery,” she says.
The CHRTEM is home to four state-of-the-art electron microscopes, one of which is the only one of its kind in Africa. Source: Nelson Mandela University
Building transdisciplinary scientists for a changing world
Outside the classroom, science students have plenty of opportunities to gain practical experience.
Badenhorst got to work with scientists at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Russia, CHRTEM’s global research partner. In 2024, eight students joined a Dragon’s Den-type event at InnoVenton, a research institute that incorporates the Downstream Chemicals Technology Station, where they developed business plans and pitched their ideas to potential investors. Crystal de Kock invented Iso-Oraldispers tablets for tuberculosis patients who do not have access to clean water. The tablets dissolve on the tongue in seconds and do not need to be taken with water. Meanwhile, Anathi Vava developed an anti-fungal cream to treat a skin condition called Tinea Versicolour.
It’s all part of the university’s mission to help you become engaged and transdisciplinary scientists who can tackle real-world social, economic, and environmental issues. The Office of Research Development provides statistical training, has a support system in place for researchers and consultations via the Unit for Statistical Consultation, manages human and animal ethics, and facilitates professional growth through year-long face-to-face or virtual workshops.
Many graduates have gone on to make their mark in the world, including Ruby Davies. She graduated Cum Laude in both her Honours in Natural Resource Management and Advanced Diploma in Nature Conservation, and her research “investigates how nectar robbing affects pollinator behaviour, pollen limitation, and the reproductive success of Erica discolour (two-colour heath) in the fynbos biome of the Cape Floristic Region,” she explains. “I also examine how plant community composition shapes these interactions. This work deepens our understanding of pollination ecology in a threatened biodiversity hotspot.”
For her efforts, she was one of seven master’s degree students countrywide to receive the DSTI–Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri Fellowship at the South African Women in Science Awards.
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