Women@Mandela: Through her work at Nelson Mandela University’s Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, where she served as Acting Director until 2023, Prof Pichegru has become a leading voice in the fight to protect South Africa’s marine ecosystems.
Her research focuses on how industrial fishing, climate change and pollution – especially plastic waste – impact top marine predators, with a particular focus on seabirds.
Since earning her PhD from the University of Strasbourg in 2008, Prof Pichegru has built a formidable body of work blending rigorous science with passionate advocacy.
She has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed papers and supervised over 50 postgraduate students, earning her a C1 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF).
In 2014, she received the South African Network for Coastal and Oceanic Research (SANCOR) award for Best Emerging Marine Scientist. Internationally, she was honoured with France’s Knight of the Order of Merit for her contributions to marine science and conservation.
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Prof Pichegru’s work has had real-world impact. Her research contributed to the establishment of fishing exclusion zones around African penguin breeding colonies – a lifeline for this Critically Endangered species. More recently, she’s turned her attention to the threat of ship-to-ship bunkering in Algoa Bay and its underwater noise pollution, which disrupts penguin communication and breeding.
Beyond academia, she serves as Honorary Consul for France in Gqeberha and sits on multiple national and international conservation bodies, including the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa and the World Seabird Union.
Her advocacy blends scientific insight with strategic policy input – a combination she believes is essential for effective conservation.
At the heart of her work is a philosophy grounded in empathy and education.
“We will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught,” she says, quoting Baba Dioum.
For her, conservation isn’t just about science – it’s about human connection and mutual understanding.
She is a vocal advocate for women in science, urging young researchers to remain curious and courageous.
“Be willing to work in difficult conditions. Science needs voices that are compassionate and unafraid to challenge the status quo,” she says. Women, she adds, often bring a more inclusive and empathetic approach to conservation, helping foster trust and dialogue among stakeholders.
Prof Pichegru is also campaigning for Algoa Bay to be declared a World Heritage Site – an international recognition she believes is long overdue for a region teeming with marine life but underappreciated locally.
Through her research, teaching, and public engagement, Prof Lorien Pichegru exemplifies the kind of science that not only advances knowledge but also drives meaningful change. She is helping shape a future where the ocean is no longer seen as a resource to exploit, but a living system to protect – for the planet, and for generations to come.