MALHERBE, Wynand (Dr)
Institution:
North-West University
Department/Unit:
Water Research Group
Country:
South Africa
Field of study:
Qualifications:
PhD Aquatic Health Pri Sci Nat (Zoological Science)
PhD Institution:
University of Johannesburg
PhD country:
South Africa
PhD dissertation title:
The Validation of an Ecological Risk Assessment framework for pesticides in the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme, South Africa
Current research interests and projects:

Aquatic ecology Freshwater molluscs Ecotoxicology Fish Macro-invertebrates Wetland Ecology

ORCID ID:
0000-0003-1852-5641
Selected publication 1:
Malherbe, W., 2018. Ramsar wetlands in South Africa: historic and current aquatic research. S. Afr. J. Sci. Technol, 38(1), pp.1-13.
Selected publication 2:
de Necker, L., Ferreira, M., van Vuren, J.H.J. and Malherbe, W., 2016. Aquatic invertebrate community structure of selected endorheic wetlands (pans) in South Africa. Inland Waters, 6(3), pp.303-313.
Selected publication 3:
Acosta, A.A., Netherlands, E.C., Retief, F., de Necker, L., du Preez, L., Truter, M., Alberts, R., Gerber, R., Wepener, V., Malherbe, W. and Smit, N.J., 2020. Conserving freshwater biodiversity in an African subtropical wetland: South Africa’s lower Phongolo river and floodplain. In Managing wildlife in a changing world. London, UK: IntechOpen.
Selected publication 4:
Erasmus, J.H., Malherbe, W., Zimmermann, S., Lorenz, A.W., Nachev, M., Wepener, V., Sures, B. and Smit, N.J., 2020. Metal accumulation in riverine macroinvertebrates from a platinum mining region. Science of the Total Environment, 703, p.134738.
Selected publication 5:
Erasmus, J.H., Lorenz, A.W., Zimmermann, S., Wepener, V., Sures, B., Smit, N.J. and Malherbe, W., 2021. A diversity and functional approach to evaluate the macroinvertebrate responses to multiple stressors in a small subtropical austral river. Ecological Indicators, 131, p.108206.
Selected publication 6:
Malherbe, W., Van Vuren, J.H.J. and Wepener, V., 2013. Preliminary risk assessment of common-use pesticides using PRIMET and PERPEST pesticide risk models in a semi-arid subtropical region. Water Sa, 39(5), pp.599-610.
Selected publication 7:
Kock, A., Taylor, J.C. and Malherbe, W., 2019. Diatom community structure and relationship with water quality in Lake Sibaya, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany, 123, pp.161-169.
Selected publication 8:
Malherbe, W., Wepener, V. and Van Vuren, J.H., 2015. The contribution of physical and chemical sediment characteristics to environmental risk from an irrigation scheme in South Africa. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 15(4), pp.1005-1018.
Capstone assignment title:
UESM – A Roadmap to a PhD programme
Capstone assignment abstract:

The decision to embark on a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) study is always a very personal decision to make and what everyone wants out of the process differs from person to person. This name for the highest university degree is derived from the original Greek meaning of the word philosophy, which is “love of wisdom”. As such the PhD is usually earned through the production of an original research project that is able to build on the knowledge base of the specific discipline. In South Africa the policy position regarding the future of PhDs are that PhDs should increase in volume (quantity), there should be transformation initiatives, efficiency should be high, the quality of PhDs should be high and there is a need to internationalise PhD programs. The National Development Plan 2030 has specified that higher education institutions should target 5000 PhD graduates per year by 2030. The North-West University is situated on three campuses within the North-West Province namely Mafikeng, Vereeniging and Potchefstroom. The mission of the Unit for Environmental Science and Management is to generate research that safeguards nature while promoting the social and economic development of South Africa’s people. The UESM has around 350 postgraduate students registered of which 114 are registered for a doctorate. The aim of this written essay was to provide the North-West University Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management a preliminary Roadmap to implement a PhD support programme to improve the quantity, quality and efficiency of the PhD programme. The essay highlighted key aspects that would need to be included within the programme based on the literature as well as surveys completed on doctoral candidates in South Africa, Africa and world-wide. The challenge for South African institutions is to implement programmes and measures to ensure this push for PhD students will not overwhelm the facilities but actually improve on the quality of the PhD programme. Ultimately, the UESM wants to create a world-class PhD programme with increased numbers of students while also increasing the quality of the students. This can only be achieved by employing newer methods and encouraging PhD candidates to finish and complete their thesis on time. These endeavours presented here will allow PhD supervisors to employ more PhDs as a centralisation of some key aspects will free up time for the PhD Supervisor.