Stellenbosch University's Department of Forestry and Wood Science's Scovia Akello, a PhD student supervised by Prof Brand Wessels since 2021, won the 2024 She is Forestry Postgraduate Award.

Brand nominated Scovia for being "an integral part of the department's social fabric," for her initiative, tenacity in facing challenges, and academic excellence.

"One example relates to the equipment required for her research project. Scovia needed six imported anemometers generally used in scientific field experiments that we could not afford. After nearly six months and some engineering help, she successfully produced solar-powered anemometers with automated data back-up at less than R5000 per unit," he explained.

"There is a good chance of bumping into Scovia in the institute for a witty chat almost any time of day or night and almost any day of the week or weekend. She is an extremely diligent and focused individual who values excellence in her work. Her PhD is well on track for completion in December 2024".

Scovia hails from Agago, a district in the northern part of Uganda. She achieved excellent results at school, earned a first-class honours degree at Makerere University Kampala, and won the Overall Best Contribution to the Program, MSc Environment and Development prize at the University of Edinburgh.

Scovia is researching how different factors, including fertilisation, irrigation, and wind (the reason she needed the anemometers), influence the density, microfibril angle and Modulus of Elasticity properties of five South African pine species and hybrids:

• Pinus radiata var. radiata D. Don.
• Pinus elliottii Engelm.
• Pinus elliottii × Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis.
• Pinus patula × Pinus tecunumanii (low elevation), and
• Pinus patula × Pinus tecunumanii (high elevation).

She is conducting the research on very young (less than three years) trees and "treenagers" in a 13-year-old plantation.

"The award is an honour and a humbling privilege’," Scovia said in her acceptance address. "Thank you, Prof Brand, for taking me as one of your postgraduate students. Your guidance, support, and encouragement have been pivotal to my journey. Thank you to the department for creating a conducive environment for postgrad students and being consistent accountability partners for us".