Wyebank e-waste guru graduates summa cum laude
Mayuren Govender's study intends to analyse UKZN's current electronic waste management strategy and expose the shortcomings and deficiencies currently experienced.
A STUDY focused on improving electronic waste (e-waste) management at University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) secured Mayuren Govender a summa cum laude MSc Degree in Engineering.
The Wyebank resident said his study focused on improving the electronic waste (e-waste) management of the university.
He said UKZN was selected because universities are considered the frontier for research and development, and they often establish higher standards for social responsibility and environmental conservancy than other institutions.
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When asked what motivated his interest in this area of research, Govender stated that during his final year as an undergrad (Civil Engineering), in a waste management lecture, his lecturer was listing all the waste streams, and e-waste was not on the list of common waste streams.
“I spoke to my lecturer after class, and he told me there was not much research on e-waste, and in particular, e-waste in the South African context. I thought this was a very interesting niche to research into, and the results of which would be useful for future researchers and society. I thought the best place to start with this was at home, so I began at UKZN,” he said.
The 26-year-old said he believes his research is important because a study of this nature has not been undertaken at the University of KwaZulu-Natal before, and the research will provide valuable information.
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“The study intends to analyse UKZN’s current electronic waste management strategy and expose the shortcomings and deficiencies currently experienced. The study will also serve as a guide for better e-waste management practices,” said the waste guru.
He is currently working for Fountain Green Energy (FGE), an EPCM (Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management) company in the renewable energy sector.
“We are currently working on the first landfill gas-to-energy plant in the Western Cape. My future career plans are strongly footed in renewable energy, and in waste valorisation,” said Govender.
Later this year, he will begin his PhD journey, and the direction of his research will be the ‘e-waste footprint from rapid urban digitalisation’ – basically how much e-waste do we produce as we adopt more and more technological solutions in our society?
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He thanked his parents for all the support and guidance they provided him throughout his life, especially to his mother whose dream it was for him to become an engineer.
“I would like to thank Professor Christina Trois, for firstly giving so many people just like me the opportunity to be a part of her wonderful research group (family), and introducing us to some of the best researchers in the world through the WARM Programme,” he said.
In his spare time, Govender said he was a big advocate of physical activity. “I also partake in combat sports. From my early days at UKZN, I began taking boxing lessons, and now, every weekend, I attend lessons.”
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At the time of going to press, the contents of this feature mirrored South Africa’s lockdown regulations.
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