Bridging the gap between being a student and becoming a fully flagged researcher in the marine and polar research community. 

by Nelisiwe Manukuza  
Curator : Natural Science (Malacology)

Named in honour of the late Dr. Precious Mahlalela, Mahlalela Mentorship Programme (MMP) hosted its cohort 3 mentor-mentee workshop yesterday (31 March 2026) in Cape Town. The main aim of the programme is to foster professional development by matching students and early career researchers with experienced industry mentors. The programme is co-designed by South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI), APECS SA and SANCOR. The workshop emphasized that this program is meant to complement, not replace, formal academic supervision. Instead, it provides a 'third space' to navigate career development and personal growth. An essential takeaway from the session was that being a researcher requires more than just mastering data. It requires confidence, leadership and emotional intelligence.

#kznmuseum #SAPRI #APECSSA #SANCOR
#MahlalelaMentorshipProgramme