About My Role

I have always had a love for nature. As someone who has lived in Cape Town her whole life, Table Mountain and the surrounding natural habitats has never lost its awe and wonder. This passion for nature as well as my curiosity about the ways that humans are intricately linked with their natural environments drew me to completing my Bachelor’s degree at the University of Cape Town, majoring in Biology & Environmental and Geographical Sciences.

I began as a volunteer in the SEER lab in 2022 and became more familiar with sample sorting and insect preservation. Under the supervision of Dr Charlene Janion-Scheepers, I was afforded the wonderful opportunity to be a part of Abusisiwe Ndaba’s work in the Cederberg. Throughout my time as an undergraduate, I discovered a love for science communication, and the sharing of research and knowledge to wider audiences, so that through these experiences, individuals may spark their own curiosity toward the incredible biodiversity that South Africa has to offer.

It was through my combined interests of science communication & my knowledge of the Biological Sciences, that I landed a role at the Two Oceans Aquarium as a Floor Guide. Here, I was able to interact with visitors from all strokes of life, and was able to facilitate meaningful connections between the ocean, marine life and people of all ages. In my time there, I was able to increase awareness about the plight of our Critically Endangered African penguins and showcase how our lifestyle choices influence our ocean health and the marine life that lives in our oceans, such as the five sea turtle species found along our coastline.

While the experiences were incredibly valuable, I wanted to return to topics of terrestrial biology and entomology. As a Research Assistant, I am able to be a part of multiple research projects across various topics of soil ecology and entomology. Through this opportunity I am able to discover topics that interest me as I pursue postgraduate studies in the future.

The information and experiences I gain through my time in the SEER lab is incredible, so much so that it inspires me to create science-based content and share it with a wider public audience. Through the content I create on my Youtube channel, @TaffiTalks (www.youtube.com/@TaffiTalks), I hope to inspire people of all ages to become curious and intrigued about our natural environments and the amazing organisms we share this Earth with.

What I do at SEER

Currently I am involved in a long-term study on the impact of cover crops on soil fauna in a citrus orchard, in collaboration with Citrus Research INternational, ARC, and Stellenbosch University. Additionally, I am assisting a PhD student conducting research in the Cederberg region who is looking at the physiology & behavioural properties of Neuropteran hearing. In the past month that I have been working in the SEER lab, my knowledge and skills have developed tremendously, and I am excited for what’s to come!

Watch the Taffi Talks below