Students and Young Professionals (SnP)

 

About the SnP:

The students and young professionals (SnP) group was launched in 2020 as a subcommittee within the Society for South African Geographers  (SSAG). The aim of the SnP is to provide a platform for students, young professionals and early career academics who are members of the SSAG to network, collaborate and engage with each other. The SnP also offers a supportive role, focused on research capacity development. Some of the events hosted to date include several masterclasses and workshops focused on academic writing, research conceptualisation and on working in the Google Earth Engine. The SnP in collaboration with the Global Change Emerging Researcher Network (GCERN) has also launched a monthly journal club where members from both groups are invited to present on, topics regarding geography and environmental science, their own research or research from others within their field.

 

Membership Requirements:

• Must be a member of the SSAG
• Open to students, young professionals and early career academics
• Within a 5 year period of completing your PhD

 

SnP Executive Committee:

Name	Role	Bio
Leani van Vuuren – Chairperson	Leani is the elected as chairperson for the SnP group for 2023. The role of the chairperson, through direct liaison with the SSAG council is to engage with the SnP executive committee, set meetings, and be involved in the strategic planning of events and activities hosted by the SnP.	Leani is a lecturer at the University of South Africa and teaches a first-year module which covers all the important basics of Geography and Environmental Science. Leani’s research interests include a range of topics in human and urban geography. More specifically, her research focuses on parks and open space from which she has published a number of articles. For her PhD, she is investigating the role of organised events on park attachment in Johannesburg. She is using parkrun events as her case study.
Mercia Southon – Deputy Chairperson	Mercia Southon was elected as deputy chairperson for the SnP group for 2023. The main role of the deputy chair is to support the chairperson in decision making and liaison with the SSAG council	Mercia Southon is a Tourism Geographer and a Lecturer at the University of the Western Cape. Her research focuses on how socio-political and economic changes in a post-apartheid South Africa, spatio-temporally contributes to rural change and the production and consumption of rural tourism. Previously, she explored how climate variables (excessive rainfall and localised flooding) impacted tourist accommodation establishments, hindering the development of tourism across the Limpopo province. In addition, she teaches tourism and economic development, tourism planning and marketing, issues and debates in global niche tourism, analytical techniques in tourism and managing coastal environments for tourism.
Marige Carstens – Secretary	Marige’s role as the secretary is to support the chairperson in ensuring smooth functioning of the SnP committee and overall group. Above this, Marige is responsible for ensuring SnP meetings are effectively organised and minuted, maintaining effective records and administration, and communication and correspondence to the SnP group.	Marige is currently working as a GIS Technician in the agricultural industry but is a prospective part-time masters student at the University of Stellenbosch for next year. Her interests are based around the principles of Geography and Environmental studies and more specifically include hydrology, climate change, sustainability, agriculture, and GIS.
Njabulo Ntombela – Treasurer	As treasurer, Njabulo oversees all financial administration related to the SnP group and related events.	Njabulo Ntombela is a Geosciences lecturer for the extended programs at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha, South Africa. He teaches geography and geology, he guides first-year students through their foundational coursework. He is also a dedicated learning technologist for the Faculty of Science at Nelson Mandela University. In addition to his teaching duties, Njabulo is also deeply committed to academic research, particularly in the areas of environmental stewardship and water conservation. He has led and supervised various research projects. Above all, Njabulo is driven by a desire to use his skills and expertise to make a positive impact on both the environment and society. Whether he is working in the classroom or in the field, his dedication to his work and his commitment to excellence are always on display.
Sinenhlanhla Memela	IGU liaison Establishing and maintaining relations between SSAG-SnP and IGU	Sinenhlanhla Memela is a lecturer in the Geography Department at Rhodes University, South Africa, whose teaching focuses on human geography. Her research interests include gender, human mobility, land use, and urban issues. She was honored as a wonder woman in Science through her hard work in 2015.

 

Contact: All queries can be directed to Marige Carstens via SSAGSnP@gmail.com