Sipho Sibanda, a full-time PhD student in the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), is flying the DUT flag high, after being announced as the first runner up of BIOAFRICA.
BIOAFRICA is an annual event that facilitates an enriching and collaborative platform for the exchange of ground-breaking ideas and opportunities in the biotechnology industry. Conventions since 2018.
Sibanda, who is under the supervision of Professor Keolebogile Motaung and Dr Razwinani Mapula Sipho. The project that she is currently working on is entitled “Plant-based bioengineered scaffolds for skin regeneration of burn injuries.”
Sibanda was born three decades ago and raised in a small mining town called Redcliff, in Zimbabwe. “I have always been passionate about science from a tender age; fascinated by the colour of quarry water and curious about what made it so. My interest was, and still is captivated by the mysteries that lie within the complexity of living organisms and their mechanisms,” she said.
Through research, she is quenching her interests by merging the science of life with technology for the benefit of mankind. “For this reason, research work is always a pleasure,” she replied ecstatically. Sibanda, who had registered in late May 2023, said as an international student, she has found the institution to be welcoming and looked forward to making it a home away from home for the next coming three years.
“I am also fascinated by the diverse cultures the institution harboured and look forward to learning a thing or two from them,” she added.
In terms of the BIOAFRICA competition, Sibanda was encouraged and assisted by her supervisors, Prof Motaung and Dr Razwinani, to apply for the 2023 Bio-Africa Convention, which she was selected to be one of the 25 students privileged to attend the science communication workshop hosted by the Naked Scientist (which was under the Bio Africa Student Chapter).
“On 3 September 2023, during the workshop we were taught on how to communicate science effectively in a way that layman can understand. We then underwent rigorous three-minute interviews judged by the naked scientist, Dr Chris Smith himself and his assistants. I was selected as one of the three finalists to present at the Bio Africa dinner gala on 4th of September 2023 where we were judged by several other adjudicators,” she remarked.
Sibanda further explained that the pitch was mainly judged on effective communication of science; how well an individual can communicate science in a way everyone else could understand in the least possible time. Also, how fast one can think and respond to scientific questions in the most eloquent and understandable manner.
“We were supposed to talk about the scientific work we were doing in three minutes. Explaining what I am doing, how I am doing it and why it is of importance. In my case, I talked about my work on developing a plant-based hydrocolloid scaffold for burn injury healing and skin tissue regeneration,” she commented.
For Sibanda, what made her to stand out from the rest is the fact that she is passionate and charismatic about communicating her research work.
“Explaining what I do and being given a platform to speak it out was less of a task to me but just an opportunity to express myself. In addition, because I know the scientific work I am doing, I can answer questions promptly and accurately while at ease. For those reasons, I was able to stand out,” she explained.
Sibanda relayed that this achievement gave her a platform to see science communication from a different perspective. Scientists often write journal articles and science communications whereas there is also the need to demystify the science for non-science people. As an individual working on indigenous knowledge systems coupled with tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, the achievement and training equipped her on how to communicate the science back to the community in a way that they understand.
“I was interviewed as a student from Durban University of Technology on the radio station 702 and for the Naked Scientist Podcast. This raised the DUT flag high not just on a national level but on an international level, said a jubilant Sibanda.
Speaking of her amazing accolade, Prof Motaung said: “DUT’s strategy, ENVISION2030 is anchored in how our adaptive students and graduates use creativity and innovation to transform our societies and their economies. Sibanda has ultimately proved that by entering such competitions like BIOAFRICA, she has proved her mettle and aims to live the values and principles of our ENVISION2030 strategy, striving to make a positive impact in our region, in our country and around the world. Congratulations, I wish you well in your future endeavours Sipho,” she added.
Sibanda’s prize was a laptop, and she said that she more grateful for the experience, thanking her mentors, Prof Motaung and Dr Razwinani who not only empowered her but led by example and showed that science has endless possibilities.
Pictured: Sipho Sibanda
Waheeda Peters
