Dr. Nkabeng Maruping-Mzileni | Ecology and Conservation | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Nkabeng Maruping-Mzileni | Ecology and Conservation | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Nkabeng Maruping-Mzileni, General Manager: Scientifc Services, South African National Parks, South Africa

Dr. Nkabeng Maruping-Mzileni, renowned for her expertise in Ecology and Conservation, has been honored with the prestigious Women Researcher Award. Serving as the General Manager of Scientific Services at South African National Parks, she exemplifies dedication to biodiversity preservation and sustainable practices. Dr. Maruping-Mzileni’s leadership underscores her commitment to advancing ecological research and fostering conservation initiatives. Her contributions are pivotal in shaping environmental stewardship in South Africa and beyond. 🌿🏆

Profile

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Academic Record

Dr. Nkabeng Maruping-Mzileni has a rich academic background spanning over a decade, culminating in a DTech in Nature Conservation from Tshwane University of Technology. Her research journey began with a BSc in Zoology and Ecology from St. Francis Xavier University, Canada, followed by an Honors BSc in Wildlife Management and an MSc in Wildlife Management from the University of Pretoria. Her doctoral work focused on the emergence of bovine tuberculosis in lions at Kruger National Park, South Africa, from 2011 to 2015. 🦁 Her expertise extends to reintroducing captive-bred cheetahs into the wild, demonstrating a deep commitment to wildlife conservation and management.

Work Experience

Dr. Nkabeng Maruping-Mzileni brings a wealth of expertise to her role as General Manager of the Cape and Arid Research Units at South African National Parks. With a career spanning from ecological consulting to regional ecology, she excels in coordinating biodiversity conservation research across national parks. Her leadership emphasizes adaptive management principles, ensuring effective science-management interfaces. Previously a lecturer and research manager, she has nurtured future conservationists through training and mentoring. Dr. Maruping-Mzileni’s contributions extend globally, shaping conservation strategies and fostering a deep understanding of wildlife management. 🌿🔬

Teaching Experience

Dr. Nkabeng Maruping-Mzileni offers a range of specialized diploma and BTech courses focused on environmental conservation and wildlife management. The curriculum includes diverse programs such as Nature Conservation, Ecotourism Management, and Wildlife/Game Ranch Management. These courses are designed to equip students with practical skills and knowledge essential for preserving biodiversity and managing natural resources sustainably. Dr. Nkabeng Maruping-Mzileni’s dedication to education in these fields ensures that graduates are prepared to tackle current and future challenges in conservation and ecotourism 🌿🦒.

Research Achievements

Dr. Nkabeng Thato Maruping-Mzileni’s research illuminates critical insights into the dynamics of African wildlife. 🦁 Her recent study explores the impact of ecological factors on Roan Antelope populations in Mokala National Park, South Africa, highlighting the intricate balance between environmental drivers and species survival. Previous works delve into diverse aspects of wildlife ecology, including disease transmission in lions, spatial patterns of large cats, and shifts in lion prey selection. 🌍 Through her comprehensive approach, Dr. Maruping-Mzileni contributes significantly to our understanding of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management in African savannas.

Relevant Field skills

Dr. Nkabeng Maruping-Mzileni brings a wealth of experience in Conservation Biology, spanning diverse regions like Canada, Namibia, and South Africa. 🌍 Her expertise includes telemetry, Cybertracker, CMore, and extensive surveys—both aerial and ground-based—focusing on various animal and vegetation surveying techniques. She specializes in the capture and monitoring of large, free-roaming mammals such as cheetahs, leopards, lions, rhinos, and various African ungulates. 🦁🦏 Dr. Maruping-Mzileni also excels in vegetation surveys, encompassing woody and herbaceous plants, plant taxonomy, classification, dynamics, and phenology. Additionally, her skills extend to captive animal care and handling, including species like vervet monkeys, chacma baboons, spotted hyenas, and more. 🌿

Community Engagement and Outreach

Dr. Nkabeng Maruping-Mzileni brings a wealth of experience and passion to her roles across various platforms. As a former board member of the International Wildlife Fellowship Foundation 🌍, her focus on promoting sustainable wildlife use for biodiversity conservation is evident. She also actively engages with the Next Einstein Forum, advocating for science and inspiring Lesotho’s youth since 2015 🧬. At the National University of Lesotho, she shares her expertise, emphasizing science as a catalyst for development 🎓. Her contributions to The Conversation Africa from 2014 to 2019 highlight her commitment to bridging scientific research with public awareness on conservation 📚.

Publications Top Notes

Livestock predation and its management in South Africa: A scientific assessment

Spatio-temporal separation between lions and leopards in the Kruger National Park and the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, South Africa

State-shifts of lion prey selection in the Kruger National Park

Uncovering hidden states in African lion movement data using hidden Markov models

Ecological drivers of female lion (Panthera leo) reproduction in the Kruger National Park

Effects of the number of people on efficient capture and sample collection: A lion case study

Spatial patterns of large African cats: a large‐scale study on density, home range size, and home range overlap of lions Panthera leo and leopards Panthera pardus

The implications of large home range size in a solitary felid, the Leopard (Panthera pardus)

Horizontal disease transmission in lions from behavioural interfaces via social network analysis

The ephemeral pans of Gras-Holpan: Mokala National Park, Northern Cape, South Africa

The re-introduction of captive bred cheetah into a wild environment, Makulu Makete Wildlife Reserve, Limpopo province, South Africa

Dr. Krystyna Koziol | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award-1175

Dr. Krystyna Koziol | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Poland

Dr. Krystyna Koziol, renowned for her groundbreaking contributions in Environmental Science, has been honored with the prestigious Best Researcher Award. At Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Poland, her work stands as a beacon of innovation and dedication to understanding and preserving our planet’s delicate ecosystems 🌍. Through rigorous study and innovative methodologies, Dr. Koziol continues to inspire the next generation of environmental scientists, emphasizing the critical importance of sustainable practices in safeguarding our natural world. Her achievements highlight a commitment to excellence in research and a profound impact on environmental conservation efforts globally 🌱.

PROFILE

 

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EDUCATION

Dr. Krystyna Koziol is an accomplished researcher specializing in Arctic environmental studies 🏔️. She earned her PhD from the University of Sheffield in 2015, focusing on the organic carbon dynamics of Foxfonna glacier in Svalbard 📚. Her pioneering work combined glaciology and environmental chemistry, leading field expeditions to investigate organic matter fluxes and conducting detailed analyses of snow, water, and sediment samples ❄️. Previously, she completed her MSc at the University of Silesia, where her research on atmospheric precipitation in Hornsund highlighted environmental pollution indicators 🌍. Dr. Koziol’s academic journey underscores her commitment to understanding and preserving polar environments 🌿.

PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT

Dr. Krystyna Koziol is a dedicated academic at Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Poland, where she serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Change and Geochemistry. Her expertise spans teaching and research, focusing on environmental chemistry, water management, and soil degradation, among other geographical aspects. Currently involved in the PER2Water project on permafrost thaw’s chemical impacts and leading the HarSval project, she also completed a research stay at UC Berkeley on urban aerosol patterns. Previously, she led projects on Arctic pollution, collaborating internationally and overwintering at the Polish Polar Station in Svalbard. Her career reflects a deep commitment to environmental research and education. 🌍

RESEARCH COMPETENCES

Dr. Krystyna Koziol possesses a diverse range of skills essential for chemical analysis and environmental research. With expertise in techniques such as TOC analysis, ion chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, she excels in assessing water and sediment quality. Her proficiency extends to IT tools like GIS (ESRI ArcMap) and statistical software (STATISTICA, R), enhancing her ability to analyze and visualize data effectively. Fluent in English, Dr. Koziol’s communication skills are honed from her PhD studies conducted in English. Her use of atmospheric models like HySPLIT and FLEXTRA underscores her capability in interpreting atmospheric pollution dynamics. 🌊🔬📊

RESEARCH AREAS

Dr. Krystyna Koziol specializes in Polar science, focusing on the Arctic environment. Her research delves into the impacts of pollution, examining environmental chemistry and changes in rivers, rainwater, snow, and glaciers. She is particularly interested in organic carbon dynamics and the presence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in these delicate ecosystems. 🌍 Her work aims to understand how human activities affect these remote regions, crucial for informing sustainable environmental policies and practices worldwide.

AWARDS

Dr. Krystyna Koziol has been recognized with several prestigious awards throughout her career, including the Vice-Chancellor Award for Early-Career Researchers at the Gdansk University of Technology in 2020 🏆. Her research endeavors have been extensively funded, such as leading a team in the HarSval project aimed at harmonizing Polish-Norwegian cooperation. Her contributions span diverse environmental studies, from aerosol deposition in Glasgow to the dynamics of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Arctic environments. Dr. Koziol’s dedication is underscored by grants from institutions like the National Science Centre in Poland and international recognitions, exemplifying her commitment to advancing scientific understanding globally 🌍.

ORGANISATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES

Dr. Krystyna Koziol has been actively engaged in polar research, notably through her involvement in the HERMOSA Project led by Prof. Roland Kallenborn since April 2021 🌍. Her contributions include co-organising scientific workshops that address critical gaps in aerosol science specific to Svalbard. In October 2021, she facilitated an online workshop in Warsaw focusing on identifying these gaps, followed by a pivotal role in organizing a field experiment workshop in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, in September 2022 🛠️. Dr. Koziol’s earlier experience as a scientific expedition co-leader at the Polish Polar Station, Hornsund, further underscores her commitment to environmental research and operational logistics in challenging Arctic environments ❄️.

PUBLICATIONS TOP NOTES

Organic pollution in surface waters from the Fuglebekken basin in Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic

Analytical studies on the environmental state of the Svalbard Archipelago provide a critical source of information about anthropogenic global impact

The role of atmospheric precipitation in introducing contaminants to the surface waters of the Fuglebekken catchment, Spitsbergen

Occurrences, sources, and transport of organochlorine pesticides in the aquatic environment of Antarctica

Chemical hazard in glacial melt? The glacial system as a secondary source of POPs (in the Northern Hemisphere). A systematic review

The interaction between bacterial abundance and selected pollutants concentration levels in an arctic catchment (southwest Spitsbergen, Svalbard)

Pollutants present in different components of the Svalbard archipelago environment/Zanieczyszczenia obecne w różnych komponentach środowiska archipelagu Svalbard

Arctic catchment as a sensitive indicator of the environmental changes: distribution and migration of metals (Svalbard)

Environmental characteristics of a tundra river system in Svalbard. Part 1: Bacterial abundance, community structure and nutrient levels

Investigation on the sources and impact of trace elements in the annual snowpack and the Firn in the Hansbreen (Southwest Spitsbergen)