Young scientist chosen for prestigious meeting

AN OPPORTUNITY to pick the brains of a group of Nobel laureates who are some of the world’s most outstanding scientific minds is what awaits Kimberleigh Govender of Chatsworth.

- MERVYN NAIDOO

Govender, 31, was counted among seven exceptional young scientists in South Africa and chosen to represent the country at the 74th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, in Germany, next week.

The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) was responsible for selecting candidates for the German opportunity focused on chemistry, where more than 30 laureates are expected to attend.

The ASSAf, which has backing from the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, is an official partner of the Lindau Foundation.

Representatives from 84 countries are expected to be in attendance at the meeting that runs from June 29 to July 4.

“I feel incredibly blessed, honoured and grateful to have been chosen by the ASSAf. Their recognition is a reminder that hard work and dedication pays off,” said Govender.

She currently works as an ad-hoc University of KwaZulu-Natal lecturer in organic chemistry and is a post-doctoral researcher in their catalysis and peptide unit

Govender recently graduated with a PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry.

She is presently expanding on the research she completed during her PhD, at UKZN.

Previously Govender acquired a Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, BSc Honours in Chemistry and a BSc in Applied Chemistry, all of which were attained summa cum laude (achieved with the highest distinction).