A PhD student from the Department of Biological Science at the Mahikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU), Theodora Ekwomadu, was selected as one of the Science Today 2016 candidates.

Science Today, formerly Science Voices, is a science-writing project run by award-winning science journalist, Sarah Wild.  Postgraduate science students from South African universities across a range of fields are selected to produce articles for publication in popular media. The title of Theodora’s article is “Toxic fungi: what’s in your food?” Theodora is currently studying under the supervision of Dr Ramoko Gopane and Prof Mulunda Mwanza.    

According to Ms Wild, by encouraging postgraduates and future scientists to write about their research, they are trying to boost public scientific literacy.  “It is important for scientists to be part of the public discourse, adding their knowledge to important national debates, whether it is drought relief, genetically modified foods, nuclear energy or fracking, vaccinations, public health interventions and many, many others. If our scientists are not weighing in with their specialist knowledge, we are surrendering that space to lobbyists and politicians,” she added. 

She further commented that South Africa needs science literacy as much as it needs scientific and technical skills. “If people are not exposed to science, they are unable to question what they are being told and Science Today gives these postgraduate students the opportunity to open the door into their worlds of science where readers can get a taste of some of the amazing and relevant science happenings in South Africa." 

To read the article written by Theodora, visit http://sciencetoday.co.za/2016/11/14/toxic-fungi-whats-in--your-food/