At DSTI-NRF CIMERA, developing globally competitive geoscientists extends beyond the classroom and laboratory. Through international conferences, specialised research training and collaborative partnerships, our students gain invaluable opportunities to expand their expertise, build professional networks and contribute to cutting-edge geoscience research on a global stage.

 

Recently, two CIMERA-supported postgraduate students proudly represented South African geoscience research through international engagements in Australia and Germany, showcasing both the quality of their research and the impact of international collaboration.

 

 

Nthatisi Sandra Makhoba, an MSc student from the University of the Witwatersrand, attended the International Symposium on Mafic-Ultramafic Mineral Systems (ISMUMS) in Perth, Australia, with support from the DSTI-NRF CIMERA Ad Hoc Financial Support programme.

 

During the symposium, Nthatisi presented a research poster titled Paragenesis of Magmatic Sulphide Mineralisation in the Mafic-Ultramafic Phase of the Kunene Complex, Angola. Her work explores the mineralogical characteristics and ore-forming processes responsible for magmatic sulphide mineralisation within the Kunene Complex, contributing to a greater understanding of these important mineral systems.

 

Beyond presenting her research, the symposium provided an excellent platform to receive valuable feedback from leading international experts, exchange ideas with fellow researchers, and build relationships with academics and industry professionals working in mafic-ultramafic systems and associated ore deposits. As part of the conference programme, she also visited Perth’s Core Library and the Chalice-owned Gonneville Platinum Group Metal-Nickel-Copper (PGE-Ni-Cu) drill core facilities, further strengthening her practical understanding of magmatic ore systems.

 

 

While Nthatisi was sharing her research in Australia, Mphanama Thangeni, a PhD candidate from the University of Venda, was undertaking a three-month research and training visit to Germany through long-standing international collaborations between the University of Venda, the University of Göttingen, and Technische Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe (TH OWL).

 

The visit formed an integral part of Mphanama’s doctoral research on the occurrence and distribution of copper sulphide mineralisation within the Mutale Copper Fields in South Africa.

 

At the University of Göttingen, he received specialised training in petrographic investigations, Cathodoluminescence microscopy and Fluid Inclusion analysis using advanced laboratory facilities unavailable locally. These techniques are helping to generate critical datasets that will improve the understanding of hydrothermal processes, ore formation and mineralisation within his study area.

 

The second phase of his visit took place at TH OWL, where he completed advanced training in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing. Working with industry-standard software and satellite datasets, Mphanama developed advanced skills in spatial data analysis, geological mapping, terrain modelling and mineral exploration techniques that will directly strengthen the geospatial component of his PhD research.

 

In addition to enhancing his technical expertise, the visit strengthened international research partnerships and laid the foundation for future scientific publications, conference presentations and ongoing collaboration between South African and German institutions.

 

 

International experiences such as these are central to CIMERA’s mission of developing highly skilled researchers who are equipped to address complex challenges within the minerals and energy sector. Whether presenting research at a leading international conference or gaining specialised training through collaborative research partnerships, these opportunities expose students to new ideas, technologies and global scientific networks that enrich both their research and professional development.

 

DSTI-NRF CIMERA congratulates Nthatisi Sandra Makhoba and Mphanama Thangeni on representing their respective institutions and South African geoscience research with distinction. Their achievements are a testament to the value of international collaboration in advancing research excellence and developing the next generation of geoscientists.