Southern girl excels

DR Melissa Jane Lazenby (29) of Meyersdal, Alberton held the South African flag high when she qualified with a doctorate in Climate Science in April 2017 at the University of Sussex in Brighton, United Kingdom.

Melissa, a former learner from Kenton and Brackenhurst Primary schools and a student from the University of Pretoria, was awarded a full scholarship to study at the University of Sussex in Brighton, UK in 2013. This prestigious fully-funded PhD Peter Carpenter Climate Change scholarship is awarded to top academic African citizens to enhance climate change research and related skills, on the continent.

Her four years of study, under the Global Studies umbrella, focused on research about Southern African Climate Change. During this time she travelled to Vietnam, Tanzania, Cape Town and gave guest lectures at Oxford University.

A highlight of her studies was the privilege to present her PhD work at the House of Lords in London. She has published three articles in reputable climate journals and will continue growing her publication list. She was also an associate tutor for the four years, teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. It was during this time she developed a passion for lecturing. Consequently, she accepted a position as a teaching and research fellow at the University of Sussex. Her new, exciting career began on August 1.

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