Dr. Nishani Harinarain, a senior lecturer in the Construction Studies Discipline, was the first PhD graduate in the discipline from The University of KwaZulu-Natal. She was awarded the University’s highest award for an academic, the Distinguished Teacher’s Award in the School of Engineering in 2015, and more recently scooped the Best Lecturer and Top Researcher awards in construction studies. She was also awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Engineering and Technology in Academia: Teaching and Learning, from Women in Engineering and the Built Environment (WiEBE) in partnership with the Department of Public Works, the University of Johannesburg, and construction company Group Five. While women remain underrepresented within the STEM sector, Dr. Harinarain stands as an extraordinary woman in science who continues to rise and be an inspiration for other women.
