Prof Shivani Bhardwaj (Unisa’s Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability Research Unit) was elected this year a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, United Kingdom.

Prof Shivani Bhardwaj (Mishra) is proving that her contribution to nanotechnology and water sustainability is more than a drop in the ocean. Currently doing excellent work in Unisa’s Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (NanoWS) Research Unit, Bhardwaj was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, United Kingdom, in 2016.

The Fellow of Royal Society is a recognition endorsed to outstanding academicians who have performed well as a researcher. To achieve this, one must have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the chemical sciences, or to the advancement of the chemical sciences as a profession, or have been distinguished in the management of a chemical sciences organisation. There is no doubt that Bhardwaj has ticked these boxes, and then some. “As an academician, I had to balance out teaching and learning and my research profile. I tried my best to work towards advancement of chemical science contributing through my fundamental knowledge in teaching and learning as well as innovate in research simultaneously,” she said.

Her credentials speaks volumes about the work Bhardwaj has done and the strides she’s made in chemical science over the years.

Part of the foundation of her success is her academic qualifications which include: PhD (Chemistry), Jamia Millia Islamia, MSc (Organic Chemistry) Madras University, BSc (Chemistry) Madras University. Her fields of specialization are sol gel science and technology, nanotechnology, ceramics, and water research.

Over 2.5 million rands of funding

When it comes to her scientific expertise, funding has been good. For past six years Bhardwaj has received over 2.5 million rands from different funding agencies with respect to research grants, postdoctoral and postgraduate research fellowships such as the National Research Foundation, Eskom and internal university grants.

When it comes to her scientific expertise, funding has been good. For past six years Bhardwaj has received over 2.5 million rands from different funding agencies with respect to research grants, postdoctoral and postgraduate research fellowships such as the National Research Foundation, Eskom and internal university grants.

For Bhardwaj, her career highlights are many and, no doubt, there’s more to come. “From being a PhD student when I started research in 1998 till today, I made a long term investment of hard work, dedication despite countless failures towards each step to make my dream come true.  Some of my career highlight includes scoring first class throughout my academic record, accomplishing my doctoral degree despite all odds, learning newer techniques and research ideas and implementing them onto my basic research during my seven years of postdoctoral experience. My teaching experience at all stages gave me a kick start to be inducted as a senior lecturer. I received an excellent teaching evaluation, high pass rate and throughput rate gave which gave me encouragement me towards the dissemination of tough concepts with a simplistic approach.  It was important to perform well in order to achieve an outstanding research contribution and to move to the next level of Associate Professor and Professorial positions at Unisa,” she shared.

Unisa has been shaping futures in the service of humanity for the past 143 years. Bhardwaj explained why she thinks this is so and how she plans to execute her role in such a way that it fits right in with the institutions mandate: “To be a researcher is my chosen career and I believe it to be a noble profession which allows you to grow as a person, as a scientist and an intellect that builds the future with and of young minds. The more the society of a country gets educated, the less shortage of skills there will be and a stronger economy will be the result . A small effort towards the right direction at the right time is the key to successfully building up a strong country,” she said.

*By Kirosha Naicker

Save