The Durban University of Technology’s Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology recently hosted the 25th Annual Symposium of the South African Society for Microbiology where two students and a Professor from the University (DUT) were awarded for excellence in their field.

Held on Thursday 25 October 2012 at the DUT Hotel School, Ritson Campus, the symposium is aimed at providing a forum for the Honors and BTech Microbiology students in the KZN region to showcase their research in the form of oral presentations to the scientific community. A record of 64 students from DUT, the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and the University of Zululand (UniZulu) presented their research in parallel venues categorised in the fields of Industrial, Environmental, Water, Plant and Food Biotechnology. The symposium was attended by 185 delegates.

Tabonga Mtonga, a DUT Biotechnology student supervised by Dr Feroz Swalaha and Prof Bharti Odhav was placed first in the Industrial, Environmental and Water Biotechnology venue while Pravashnie Naicker, a DUT Food Technology student supervised by Sharlynn Beekrum and Dr Viresh Mohanlall was placed third in the Plant, Food Biotechnology venue.

Mtonga’s research was titled “Impregnation of Silver Nano particles into a filtration system for portable water use” while Naicker’s research was titled “Characterization of fatty acid profile from Amphora coffeaeformis”.

Professors Amanda and Pieter Swart from the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Stellenbosch were assigned as external adjudicators for the symposium. In judging the presentations the professors said, “The level of science and the standard of presentations were outstanding.”

Professor Suren Singh, the Head of Biotechnology and Food Technology at DUT highlighted the need for innovation and application of Biotechnology in his opening address. He further commended the students on a job well done and added that the standard of their work was of high scientific quality.

Special awards were made to Prof Bhart Odhav at the Biotechnology and Food Technology Department at DUT and Prof Bala Pillay from UKZN for their outstanding contribution to Microbiology spanning over almost three decades.

–Nongcebo Khumalo

Caption: Tabonga Mtonga, the DUT Biotechnology student who was placed first in the Industrial, Environmental and Water Biotechnology. Next to her is Dr Feroz Swalaha, one of her research supervisors.