Women@Mandela: One such example is Marishka Govender, a PhD candidate working in the Palaeoecology Lab at the Department of Botany.
Supported by a special grant, Marishka’s research connects ancient southern African landscapes with today’s big questions about climate, nature, and human creativity.
Her focus is on phytoliths — tiny silica bits that plants produce and that stick around in soils for thousands of years.
These little structures pack a lot of info about what plants grew, what the climate was like, and how ecosystems worked back then.
Marishka explains, “Phytoliths are super reliable but often overlooked clues in studying ancient environments. Since they come straight from plants, they help us identify specific plant types from long ago.”
Marishka’s PhD project looks at how people innovated in dry southern Africa during the late Pleistocene era, focusing on a site called Varsche Rivier 003 in the Succulent Karoo, a unique and under-studied dry biodiversity hotspot.
Unlike other more famous coastal sites, this one gives a rare glimpse into how early humans adapted to life inland, where two special plant regions meet. They found cool evidence of tech and social advances from over 80,000 years ago, like using ostrich eggshells for flasks and beads.
By studying phytoliths alongside other clues, Marishka can piece together what the climate and vegetation looked like back then and compare it with the way humans behaved.
“Knowing how ecosystems reacted to past climate changes helps us predict what might happen next, and that’s key for protecting our environment,” she says.
She’s also working on creating southern Africa’s first modern phytolith reference collection — basically a guidebook that will help scientists better understand fossil plant clues in the future. This will be a big help for anyone studying ancient environments or archaeology in the region.
On top of her research, Marishka teaches second-year education students, showing future science teachers how botany and environmental science work in the real world. “It’s rewarding to bring my research into the classroom and watch students get excited about real science,” she says.
Marishka knows how important representation is, especially in a field mostly dominated by men. She draws strength from mentors, family, and peers, and credits women scientists who have helped guide her, like her supervisors Dr Lynne Quick and Dr Irene Esteban.
“When young women see others like them thriving in science, it opens up a world of possibilities,” she shares.
Her advice for other young women at Nelson Mandela University this Women’s Month?
“You’ve got what it takes, you’re needed, and your voice matters. Don’t be shy about claiming your space. Ask questions, find mentors, and believe in yourself.”