by Ria Olivier | Oct 15, 2024 | Announcement, APECSSA
Invitation to the third lecture in our 2024 Lecture Series. In this session, we will explore the development and communication of your personal brand, highlighting its critical importance for postgraduate students entering the competitive job market (more details below). The lecture will take place via Zoom (please note that the session will be recorded) and anyone interested in attending should please register via the link below. Date: Thursday, 17 October 2024 Time: Starts at 15:00 (GMT+2) Title: Personal Branding & CV Fundamentals Speaker: Annabel Eggeling (Leading Trends in People Management – Wits Business School 2010) Zoom registration link: https://eu01web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PzOKgJwLReWQJg7kYNRH0w
Description: This presentation explores the development and communication of your personal brand, emphasizing its critical importance for postgraduate students entering the competitive job market. In an era where AI and matching algorithms now play a pivotal role in CV selection, it’s essential to master the art of crafting a CV that makes it to the “short-list”. We will discuss strategies for optimizing your CV to stand out in Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), including best practices for format and content. This session will also serve as a foundation for preparing for interviews, ensuring you are well-equipped to showcase your skills and experience effectively.
Bio: Annabel, who recently retired after a distinguished 30-year career with Accenture, brings a wealth of experience from her roles in Human Resources and Talent Supply Chain. Her career spanned multiple locations, including Johannesburg, Qatar, and Cape Town, where she led recruitment teams and interviewed candidates ranging from recent postgraduates to Managing Directors. Now retired from the corporate world, Annabel shares her expertise through various forums like SEAmester and APECS. In addition to offering literacy support to young students and raising guide dogs, she engages in knitting, crocheting for charitable organizations, and enjoys a range of personal interests such as hiking, swimming, and crafting.
If you have any questions or need further information, visit our website or contact apecssa@gmail.com.
We look forward to seeing you on Thursday!
Best regards,
APECS South Africa National Committee
by Ria Olivier | Aug 9, 2024 | Antarctica, APECSSA, Commemorative Days, Gough Island, Legacy, Marion Island, Overwintering Team, Research, SANAE IV, SANAP
Theme of the National Women’s Day Commemoration:
“Celebrating 30 Years of Freedom Towards Women’s Development”
In the SANAP community we are celebrating all those involved as Researchers, Scientists, and Students at tertiary and research institutions and infrastructures, and personnel within the National Research Foundation, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the Department of Public works and Infrastructure, the South African Weather Services, the South African National Space Agency, the South African Polar Research Infrastructure and all the women serving as part of the crew of the S.A. Agulhas II.
Celebrating our women overwintering team members at our stations: Antarctica (SANAEIV), Marion Island and Gough Island.
2024 women’s day commemoration is a reminder of the important contributions that are made by women to society, as well as a time to reflect on the advances in women’s rights. During 30 years of democracy, South Africa has made significant strides in advancing gender equality in all domains of society, including economic empowerment of women.
Women’s Day 2024 is the first national day led by the Government of National Unity (GNU) and takes place in a rural community as part of including all South Africans in national events, and placing a focus on the achievements and needs of women in all corners of the country. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to officiate the national Women’s Day commemoration in Pofadder in the Namakwa District, Northern Cape. – SAnews.gov.za
by Ria Olivier | Mar 6, 2024 | APECSSA, Research, SANAP, SANAP Student
The Early Career Event at the SANAP symposium was a first for Early Career Researchers(ECR), but also for the first time during a SANAP symposium recognition was given for oral and poster presentations done by ECR’s. (above9l-r): Awardees – Joshua Tsamba, Saffiyah Moos, Ben Steyn, Stephni van der Merwe, Lillina Ruiters, Morgan Raath-Kruger)
(l-r): Joshua Tsamba, Saffiyah Moos, Ben Steyn receiving their certificates
Oral Presentations:
- 1st Joshua Tsamba: The first record of fungal endophytes associated with the sub-Antarctic cushion plant, Azorella selago (Apiaceae) on Marion Island. PI – Dr Michele Greve (Abstract)
- 2nd Safiyyah Moos: Investigating the dynamics and exchanges across the ice-ocean interface in artificial sea ice. PI – Dr Tokoloho Rampai (Abstract)
- 3rd Ben Steyn: A Longitudinal Study of the Open-Water Performance of an Ice-Class Vessel. PI- Prof Annie Bekker (Abstract)
(l-r) Certificates handed to Stephni van der Merwe, Lillina Ruiters, Morgan Raath Kruger( had to leave before ceremony)
Poster Presentations:
- 1st Stephni van der Merwe: Long-term vegetation change (1965-2020) in response to rapid warming and drying in a sub-Antarctic tundra: evidence from repeat photography. PI – Dr Michelle Greve (Abstract)
- 2nd Lillina Ruiters: Variability of phytoplankton photo physiology in the Southern Ocean: an analysis of assumptions and uncertainties . PI- Dr Sandy Thomalla (Abstract)
- 3rd Morgan Raath- Kruger: Do anisotropic processes influence fine-scale spatial genetic structure of a keystone sub-Antarctic plant species? PI – Prof Peter Le Roux (Abstract)
The symposium was an opportunity for human capital development. It is supported by the government and a peer-reviewed research programme that will provide future opportunities for all young, early career and established researchers working in the Southern Ocean, Antarctica and Islands. The students had the opportunity to present their work to a wider audience either in an oral or poster presentation. The SANAP symposium gave the students planning to present on international a ‘practice run’ with feedback.
Awards for oral and poster presentations were given to early-career scientists. These awards were to give recognition to Early career researchers and the effort they did in preparing and presenting their research. Principal Investigators made themselves available to mark presentations of ECR’s via a marksheet and we appreciate their time and comments. We congratulate the awardees and their Principal investigators and hope this recognition will motivate them in their career development. (above: Michelle Greve, Sandy Thomalla, Annie Bekker, Tokoloho Rampai, Peter le Roux)
Certificates signed by Dr Gilbert Siko of the Department of Science and innovation and Ms Tracy Klarenbeek form the National Research Foundation were handed to the recipients. There were a few Honours students that participate in the symposium and there presentations were of high standard and although they do not qualify for the ECR awards we would like to mention Sarah du Preez and Amber Sneddon for their Presentations. (above (l-R): Dr Gilbert Siko, Honour students with Annie Bekker and Tracy Klarenbeek, Tracy Klarenbeek)
Images of ceremony credit: Anche Louw (SA Polar Research Infrastructure and Antarctic Legacy of SA)
by Ria Olivier | Mar 4, 2024 | APECSSA, Fellowship, Research, SANAP, SANAP Student
For the first time ever at a SANAP Symposium an Early Career Event was organised by APECS-South Africa. The event was an opportunity to encourage ECRs to become members and to socialise with current members, in fact it was the first time that the current committee had all managed to meet in person and not over zoom. (Above group photo of APECSSA committee members 2024 that were able to attend the Symposium)
APECS-South Africa also wanted to use this time to engage in a community survey with ECRs to discuss important topics around career development and community inclusion. This survey was being conducted anonymously in real time and so provided a safe space for ECRs to raise any concerns they felt within the SANAP community. Most importantly, APECS-South Africa was able to then relay the results of this survey to the PIs and senior leadership of the SANAP community. (Above words used by ECRs to describe their journey, skills they need and what is missing in the organisation)

APECS-South Africa plans to continue running this survey going forward at future SANAP Symposiums so that ECRs feel like their voice is being heard and help the SANAP Community become better and more inclusive for everyone. During the workshop ECRs were able to respond to many questions (above ex). If you as an ECR has not yet responded click on the QR Code.
Meet APECSSA 2024 Committee
Full feedback presentation available
(Text, Slides and Group Photo by Tommy Ryan-Keogh.)