Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The mission of the Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences is to provide an integrated, meaningful and sustainable higher education to all our students in the field of Biology which is shaped and characterized by principles that encompasses amongst other things – student centred learning, professionalism and best practices thus placing our students on a path which will ensure their sustainable growth and development. The department also strives to provide practical application and training in the field of Biology that will assist in understanding the complexity of life from cells and organisms to understanding of the ecosystem.
Biology skills are applied in ecology, tourism, environmental monitoring, environmental resource development, impact of industries on the environment, water purity, sanitation, food production, food processing, animal and plant health, parasite control and many more aspects that are of importance to society.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
- Museum: Research scientists; Laboratory technicians, etc.
- Zoos: Research scientists; Laboratory technicians, etc.
- Water Affairs: Research scientists; technologists, etc.
- Fisheries: Research scientists; Laboratory technicians, etc.
- Veterinary Services: Research scientists; technologists, etc.
- Pathology Labs: Research scientists; technologists, etc.
- Private Sector: Technologists (e.g. Sasol, SA Breweries, Fertilizer Industry, Bayer, etc.)
- Educators: primary and secondary schools; colleges and universities; science museums, zoos, aquariums, parks, and nature centers.
- Healthcare: Public health campaigns.
- Environmental management and conservation: conservation careers; park rangers; zoo biologists; management and conservation biologists; eco-tourism officers.
NEW DIRECTIONS IN BIOLOGICAL CAREERS
- Biotechnology: application of scientific ideologies in the enhancement and development of tools and products in fields such as medicine, food science, etc.
- Business and industry: researchers in manufacturing companies (e.g. drug companies); marketing and sales consultants (e.g. testing, marketing and selling scientific products).
- Scientific writing and communication: scientific writers and journalists with a science background on relevant and emerging biological issues.
- Forensic science: application of scientific methods to present evidence that can be employed in solving crimes.
- Policy and Politics: policy-makers (e.g. environmental protection and biomedical research).
- Art: creating schematic representations in publications such as science articles, biology textbooks, etc.
- Mathematics: fields such as computational biology, bioimformatics, etc, to solve many biological mysteries such as proteomics and modelling ecosystem processes.
BIOLOGY CONTACT DETAILS
Physical Address
Biology Department
Molotlegi Street, Ga-Rankuwa, 0208
Postal Address
PO BOX 139, MEDUNSA, 0204
Telephone: 012 521 5660/4375 | Fax: 012 521 4246
Email: piet.king@smu.ac.za