Nokwanda Makunga Explained

Nokwanda Makunga
Workplaces:	Stellenbosch University University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Alma Mater:	University of KwaZulu-Natal

Nokwanda Pearl (Nox) Makunga is a Professor of Biotechnology at Stellenbosch University.

Early life and education

Makunga grew up in Alice in the Eastern Cape, and attended a private boarding school in Grahamstown.^[1] Her father, Oswald, was a botanist who specialised in the Iridaceae. He grew up in rural poverty and won a scholarship to study at University of Fort Hare.^[2] She attended university in Pietermaritzburg. She completed her PhD at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2004, working on the molecular biology of plants.^[3]

Research and career

In 2005 Makunga was offered a position at Stellenbosch University. Her work looks to identify the molecular and genetic regulation of the secondary metabolism in medicinal plants.^{[4] [5]} She often travels to rural areas to talk to traditional healers.^[6] She has a contributed to two books: Protocols for Somatic Embryogenesis in Woody plants and Floriculture, Ornamental and Plant Biotechnology: Advances and Topical Issues.^{[7] [8]} In 2010 she delivered a TED talk on the Potential of a Medicinal Wonderland. She has acted as honorary secretary, Vice President and President of the South African Association of Botanists Council.^[9]

She won the 2011 National Science and Technology Forum Distinguished Young Black Researcher award.^[10] She also won the TW Kambule Award.^[11] In 2017 she was a Fulbright scholar at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.^[12] She worked with Jerry Cohen on medicinal plants from the Eastern Cape.^[13] She studied the Stevia plant.^[14] She holds a patent for vegetative plant propagation.

Makunga is a passionate science communicator. Together with Tanisha Williams and Beronda Montgomery, she leads the annual Black Botanists Week.^[15]

Notes and References

1. Nordling. Linda. 2018-02-08. How decolonization could reshape South African science. Nature. EN. 554. 7691. 159–162. 10.1038/d41586-018-01696-w. 29420501. 2018Natur.554..159N . 0028-0836. free.
2. Makunga . Nokwanda P. . Obituary Professor Oswald Hercules Daluxolo Makunga (1932–2013) . South African Journal of Botany . 2015 . 98 . 161 . 10.1016/j.sajb.2015.03.001 . 6 July 2020. free .
3. Web site: SAASTA getSETgo, May 2015: Meet live wire scientist and innovative science communicator - Prof. Nox Makunga. www.saasta.ac.za. 2018-07-21.
4. Makunga. Nokwanda P.. 2011-09-14. African medicinal flora in the limelight. South African Journal of Science. en. 107. 9/10. 10.4102/sajs.v107i9/10.890 . 1996-7489. free.
5. Web site: Prof. Nox Makunga. www.sun.ac.za. en. 2018-07-21.
6. News: Indigenous traditions get science backing. WHYY. 2018-07-21. en-US.
7. Book: Protocol for somatic embryogenesis in woody plants. Gupta. S. Mohan Jain and Pramod K.. 2005. Springer. 9781402029851. Dordrecht. 262677669.
8. Book: Floriculture, ornamental and plant biotechnology : advances and topical issues. 2006. Global Science Books. Silva, Jaime A. Teixeira da.. 490331300X. Isleworth. 75713050.
9. Web site: CBD Team. www.cbd.org.za. en. 2018-07-21.
10. Web site: NSTF-BHP Billiton Awards. 2011-05-27. NSTF. 2018-07-21.
11. News: Rewarding outstanding research. Supplement. Advertorial. The M&G Online. 2018-07-21. en.
12. Web site: Nokwanda Pearl Makunga Fulbright Scholar Program. www.cies.org. en. 2018-07-21.
13. Freund. Dana M.. Sammons. Katherine A.. Makunga. Nokwanda P.. Cohen. Jerry D.. Hegeman. Adrian D.. 2018-06-21. Leaf Spray Mass Spectrometry: A Rapid Ambient Ionization Technique to Directly Assess Metabolites from Plant Tissues. Journal of Visualized Experiments. 136. 10.3791/57949. 1940-087X. 29985332. 6101983.
14. News: Sweet Surprise - Good Housekeeping. 2013-10-30. Good Housekeeping. 2018-07-21. en-US.
15. Web site:
    1. BLACKBOTANISTSWEEK
    . 2020-07-26.