Ms Nonkululeko Radebe, an MSc student in polymer science at Stellenbosch University (SU), was awarded the prestigious Borealis Poster Award at an international conference on polymer analysis and characterization (ISPAC 2017) which took place in Linz, Austria, recently.

Prof Peter Mallon, head of the Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science at SU , says this is an outstanding achievement and shows that the department’s postgraduate students can compete with the best in the world.

The International Symposium on Polymer Analysis and Characterisation (ISPAC) is an international forum for the presentation of cutting-edge technologies in the field of polymer analysis and characterization.

For her MSc project, Ms Radebe combined two highly specialized techniques, namely thermal field-flow fractionation (ThFFF) and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), to determine the structural properties of complex polymers in terms of their molecular weight distribution and chemical composition distribution.

She explains: “Polymeric materials are used in many industries and understanding the structural properties of these materials is imperative to the development and production of products. Furthermore, the data can be used for quality control purposes, comparison of supplier materials, and design of production lines. The above-mentioned techniques are also used to characterize unknown materials and polymer mixtures.”

The title of her poster was ‘Multidimensional analysis of polymers using thermal field-flow fractionation and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy’.

She says the conference in Linz was an amazing experience: “By attending this conference, I had direct access to people whose work I often reference. It was literally like having the Beyoncé, Erykah Badu, Hugh Masekela and Kanye West of polymer characterization all in one room for four days!”

“It was also motivating to know that the research done at our department is some of the most advanced and unique in the world,” she adds.

Ms Radebe, who matriculated from Brescia House School in Johannesburg, says she landed up studying polymer science completely by chance: “When I was in Grade 9, my Natural Sciences teacher advised me not to pursue science further. But I ignored her advice and took science anyways. It turned out that I had a knack for calculating bond energies, I wanted to know and understand periodic table of elements and I was interested in finding out ‘nerdy’ stuff like why the sky is blue and why salt melts ice.”

After matriculating in 2011, she applied at several universities for programmes ranging from law to Accounting and Engineering.

“I did this because I was only 17 and very few people at that age can decide what they want to do for the rest of their lives. So I took a gamble. The only thing I was 100% sure of was, I was going to be a graduate.”

When she was accepted for a BSc in Chemistry and Polymer Science at SU, she had no idea what polymer science was, “but it sounded like something cool to say I was studying!”

 By her third year of study, she developed an interest in polymer science.“I realized that polymers are a big part of our everyday lives but very few people study them. Polymers are in our face creams, our cars (i.e. tires, faux leather seats, and dashboard), cellphone covers, food packaging, soles of our shoes and so much more.  I took an interest and subsequently worked night and day to get a place in the honors group.”

In her honours year, she approached her current study leader, Prof Harald Pasch, about the possibility of doing an MSc in his research group. “Fortunately,  he had a project for me and I did not hesitate in taking the opportunity,” she continues.

She plans to complete her MSc thesis by the end of the year and then to pursue a PhD in the same field.

But she also wants to inspire young people to use science to explore the challenges facing society today: “One day I want to be in a position where I can put more effort into investing in women to study science and influence deliberate systematic changes that will allow racial and gender diversity in science.”