About the NSCF
The NSCF is a virtual Facility, comprised of a network of institutions that hold natural science collections that are accessible to external researchers.
The NSCF was established as part of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)’s Research Infrastructure Roadmap and co-ordinated by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).
More information about the NSCF is provided in the brochure, overview and plan documents.
NSCF Overview and Plan
An overview of the structure, purpose, principles and 3 year plan is provided here
NSCF HUB TEAM
Dr Anthony Magee
NSCF Lead
a.magee@sanbi.org.za
Ms Usisipho Sotshangane
Administrative Officer
012 843 5183
usisipho@nscf.org.za
Usisipho graduated with a B-Tech Degree in Office Management and Technology from the Durban University of Technology and has more than 4 years’ experience in the field of Administration.
She has fallen in love with the frogs – which she was terrified of in the beginning when she joined the NSCF. She loves nature and the outdoors. If she could no longer be part of the network for whatever reason, she will live in water permanently.
Mr Shaun Pieterse
Senior Specialist: Curation and Collections Management
Shaun is a warm, friendly individual, with a penchant for learning. Shaun holds an Honours degree in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, obtained at the University of the Western Cape, majoring in Botany and Taxonomy. He also has over ten years of experience in collections management and curation, obtained during his tenure at the SANBI’s Compton Herbarium, contributing to the development of policies, standards and workflows.
As the senior specialist for curation and collections management, Shaun coordinates collections and curation management activities across the network of partner institutions by facilitating the sharing of knowledge and experience across the network, providing guidance to staff at institutions and monitoring the status of collections management and curation.
When not working, Shaun enjoys spending time with family and friends. He also loves hiking, trying new foods and drinks and experiencing all that mother nature has to offer.
Ms Margaret Bartkowiak
Museum Specimen Photographer
margaret@nscf.org.za
Before joining the NSCF, Margaret worked with various NGO’s, publishers and corporate companies in Gauteng, Cape Town and London. She also loves sushi, travelling, camping, hiking and is slightly obsessed with bird watching.
Ms Bronwynne Petersen
Data Quality Specialist
bronwynne@nscf.org.za
With over 10 years’ experience in working with and managing data and data systems, Bronwynne offers a unique blend of leadership, vision as well as knowledge in research, writing and plant taxonomy, which encompasses her love for data and learning of new data systems. Bronwynne has graduated from the University of the Western Cape with a Bachelors in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology and then continued to earn an honours degree in Plant Taxonomy at the University of Pretoria. She has been involved in various important taxonomic projects and data outputs working with different research scientists who specialise in different plant families.
In her spare time there is nothing that makes her happier than spending time with her husband and kids.
Ms Zinzi Sinazo Somana
Curation Technician
zinzi@nscf.org.za
Zinzi Sinazo Somana was born and raised in a small rural town called Flagstaff in the Eastern Cape. She works as a Curation Technician based at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) in Makhanda. She obtained her undergraduate and Honors degrees from Walter Sisulu University in Mthatha. Before joining the NSCF, Zinzi worked for various companies as a Marine Conservation Intern, where she gained interest for marine biodiversity, which led her to do her MSc at Rhodes University, where her research focus was on the taxonomy and systematics of marine larval fishes. When she is not at work, she enjoys hiking and taking random pictures of nature.
Mr Siphamandla Mceleli
Curation Technician
siphamandla@nscf.org.za
Siphamandla is a curation technician. He studied BSc Biological sciences and did his honors in Zoology at WSU. He has about four years of work experience in national collections and working with Specify databases.
On his spare time, he enjoys translating and transcribing scientific research work, and he also does radio presenting and event planning.
Ms Shanelle Ribeiro
Project Manager
012 843 5183
shanelle@nscf.org.za
Shanelle has been involved in project coordination and management in the environmental sector for over 12 years, and has been part of the Foundational Biodiversity Science Directorate at SANBI for 14 years. She holds a degree in International Relations, an Honours degree in Business Administration, as well as Prince2 and Agile Practitioner certifications in project management.
As the NSCF Project Manager she is responsible for the development and implementation of various project policies and standards, management of partner collaboration agreements and service provider contracts, staff management and mentoring and budget management.
Through the NSCF project she has discovered a new found love and curiosity for all things pressed and preserved, and is always looking to expand her knowledge about the old and peculiar specimens in the collections.
Ms Fulufhelo TambaniFulufhelo is a rural Muvenda who believes in learning from everyone she comes across and enjoys engaging with people from all walks of life. Fulufhelo obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology at the University of Venda, completed two short courses in Science Communication at Stellenbosch University and Community Journalism at UNISA and is currently registered for the MPhil Science and Technology Studies at Stellenbosch University.
Fulufhelo joined the NSCF Hub Team on 1 July 2019. She considers her science communication career as an accidental dream come true because she had never imagine a career in Science Communication, nor did she know about it growing up.
What she loves most about her job is establishing genuine relationships with the people in the network and working towards having the value of natural science collections known and understood throughout South Africa.
Fulufhelo has experience in outreach, media liaison, social media management, science and general communication and administration, which she gained during her time with her previous employer, National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF).
Ms Jana Heyns
Museum Specimen Photographer
jana@nscf.org.za
Jana‘s journey began at the top of her class, earning distinctions and accolades that propelled her into a diverse array of creative endeavors. From advertising studios to publishing, she ventured into multimedia content creation, serving varied clients and fostering inspired collaborations. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Jana reignited her teenage fascination with sound design, joining a start-up audiobook company as a sound engineer. In her free time, Jana creates short documentary films and experimental soundscapes, reflecting her dynamic exploration of life.
Christiaan SteenkampChristiaan is responsible for the data coordination in the development of the NSCF virtual museum. He has worked in various industries including conservation, tourism and risk management as an applied herpetologist. He is currently completing his masters in environmental science and aims to shed more light on the effect future climate change will have on the endemic common crag lizard.
When he seemingly has nothing to do he likes to indulge in a bit of R programming where he is developing an online analysis tool in Shiny.
NSCF Data Technician Team:
Ms Given Leballo
Given holds a Bachelor of Science Honours in Environmental Management. Before joining the NSCF, she spent two years as a Geo-refencer for the Bio-gaps project, this is where she gained skills in working with biodiversity data. As a data technician, she is assigned to transcribing, capturing, and cleaning data from historical documents to make it digitally accessible for scientific research. She also works with various databases such as BRAHMS and SPECIFY to store and manage data.
Ms Fezile Mathenjwa
Ms Ketelo Dinala
Ketelo is a highly motivated individual and always eager to learn. She holds a BSc Degree Honours in Geology from the University of Limpopo and a BSc Life and Environmental Sciences from the University of Johannesburg. She enjoys working in a group, because she always has an opportunity to pick the other team member’s brains. Working for the NSCF has opened many opportunities for her and has taught her self and work discipline, not being afraid to make mistakes, to learn faster and to improve focus.
Apart from work, she is a mother and a wife and enjoys spending quality time with family.
Ms Ayanda Mnikathi
Ayanda‘s work entails capturing type and hand written specimen labels into Brahms database and Digivol Trancribe, data quality control as well georeferencing localities on specimen labels. This position teaches a lot about the value of preserving research data. Ayanda holds a BSC. Honours Grassland Science and almost at the end of her Masters degree with the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) research looking at the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) in assessing the impacts of alien infestations on veld grazing capacity. When not devoted to work or school work, she enjoys taking her daughters out to a park or to the mall.