Fhumulani Ramukhwatho
Nominee's Province:
Gauteng
Project Name/Description:
Fhumulani Ramukhwatho holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Management from Unisa and a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and Biochemistry from the University of Venda. She works for the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) as the deputy director for marine and palaeosciences. Ramukhwatho is responsible for the development of the palaeosciences and marine policies, strategies, guidelines and plans. Her work includes the coordination of funding institutions that aim to transform the marine and palaeosciences field, while ensuring that there is capacity development, research development and innovations derived from the ocean. Ramukhwatho joined the DSI in October 2020 and has already ensured that South Africa is represented in the All-Atlantic Blue Schools Network through NRF-SAEON - an educational programme targeted at schools from the countries in the Atlantic region. The Network seeks to foster an international collaborative programme aimed at improving ocean awareness and action in society by creating responsible and active generations that contribute to the ocean’s sustainability. The network promotes an integrated political strategy for marine education capable of engaging all marine sectors to achieve the goal of improving the level of ocean literacy in all citizens in the Atlantic region. Ramukhwatho believes that the ocean literacy programme will be a legacy project that will live on for many generations to gain knowledge about the Atlantic Ocean. Learners, through the Blue Schools, will be motivated to pursue careers in the marine science fields, regardless of being inland and not in the coastal areas. Her work aims at ensuring that historically disadvantaged institutions, organisations and schools are involved in the marine and palaeosciences field. Her interest is to drive awareness to learners and youth on the importance of the marine and palaeosciences field. Consequently, she has been instrumental in driving programmes such as the Blue Schools and the youth ambassadors (which offers learners and youth opportunities to present their projects in the high-level All-Atlantic Ocean Research Forums).
