Maxine Manikum is the first in her immediate family to graduate with a Master's degree, which she attained in biological science last week from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
The 33-year-old assessed tree diversity in urban parks in the eThekwini Municipality, aimed at looking at the critical need for green spaces in residential areas.
Manikum attended Sastri College and pursued a degree in environmental science at UKZN.
"I then decided to branch off into biology for my postgraduate studies, doing my honours, and now my Master's in biological science.”
She said according to her research, low-income households and low-income residential areas were likely to have less access to urban green spaces. This, she said, had a detrimental effect on communities already impacted by discriminatory apartheid-era urban planning and poor land conditions.
“Additionally, poor soil conditions and limited urban green spaces result in disproportionate suffering for poorer areas from the urban heat island effect, storm runoffs, degraded air quality, groundwater depletion and more.
"In South Africa, these challenges are exacerbated by the lack of management plans, inadequate tree planting, management and maintenance policies, and the absence of systematic monitoring of urban trees and green spaces. National environmental policies and legislation do not always translate to implementation at the local level.”
For her research she visited 13 urban parks in the eThekwini Municipality.
"Twelve of the 13 urban parks contained invasive alien plants (IAPs). Some of the IAPs found in parks were Cascabela thevetia, Spathodea campanulata and Solanum mauritianum."
Manikum, who works full-time for the Natural Science Collection Facility hosted by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), said it was demanding to juggle her studies, while prioritising work.
“The most challenging thing was that there were not many past papers and it was difficult to speak to people from the eThekwini Municipality while working in other provinces. I also tried doing analysis at a 14th park in eThekwini but I was hijacked at the park and that brought more challenges. But I loved how everything came together in the end."
She credited her faith in Jesus Christ for providing her with the strength to succeed in her studies; as well as her parents, sister, and friends for their support.
“I also thank my supervisors, Dr Syd Ramdhani and Professor Serban Proches, for the advice and guidance that shaped my research aptitude; as well as Teddy Govender for his support, and the South African National Biodiversity Institute for funding my research."
Manikum advised those who want to advance in life to never limit themselves.
“Take a chance on yourself. There are things we can learn from venturing into the unknown,” she said.