Dr Catherine (Cathy) Dzerefos is known for her engagement with communities and developers at the juncture of socio-economic and environmental concerns, with the aim of fostering sustainable livelihoods. Her multi(trans)disciplinary research has centred on the sustainable utilization of natural resources to support viable livelihoods. To this end she has investigated edible insects and beneficial plants in the northern provinces of South Africa. Dr Dzerefos' influence extends into advocacy and recognition within the environmental arena. Her involvement with the Limpopo Province Environmental Advisory Body for a four-year term underscores her dedication to practical impact. In acknowledgment of her contributions, she received the Green Globe Award from Miss Earth SA and a vocational award from the Haenertsburg Rotary Club in 2011, followed by the CEO's Special Award from PETCO for her environmental education efforts in 2018. Dr Dzerefos obtained her PhD in 2014 from the University of the Witwatersrand. During a post-doctoral fellowship at the North-West University she was involved in an international study to build community resilience against climate change and was the lead investigator on a collaborative research study comparing the use and promotion of edible insects in Japan and South Africa. Currently Dr Dzerefos lectures at the Tshwane University of Technology and serves as a board director on the Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve.
Research Discipline(s)
Brief Biography (English)