DUT’s Food and Nutrition Consumer Science Department recently held its annual Post Graduate Research Day and Annual Awards ceremony.

Research presentations were done by the Department’s BTech and Master’s Students. The BTech students exhibited posters on their research outcomes, while the Master’s students presented on their chosen designations. Professor Carin Napier said, “The Masters programme commenced in 2008 and the students have been dedicated to their research as reflected in their presentations today. We are very proud that we have two Masters students who graduated during 2011.”

The focus area titled “Community Research” was created in 2008 in order to contribute to the Department of Health’s programmes and to fall in line with Government initiatives. The four student’s research titles were:

– Development of nutrition education material for caregivers of immune compromised children’s homes in Durban
– Nutritional status and dietary intake of students attending an FET Collage in Durban
– Nutritional adequacy of menus offered to children two to five years old at registered child care facilities in Inanda
– Analysis of the nutritional status and dietary intake of adult diabetic in Hillcrest, South Africa.

Roxanne Watson, who scooped more than five awards at the awards ceremony, said, “I am excited, I couldn’t believe my ears when my name was called so many times.” The awards also featured the Jean Brydone Memorial Awards, given to students who had performed well throughout the National Diploma and BTech and the Clarise King Memorial Awards.

– Andile Dube