Table of Contents
Scientific Steering Committee
The Scientific Steering Committee oversees all research endeavors within the Knysna Estuary Research Foundation. Our aim is to promote research collaborations and to assist and support visiting researchers.
Prof Alan Whitfield
Professor Alan Whitfield joined the JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology (precursor to NRF-SAIAB) in 1978 and retired from the NRF-SAIAB in 2018. He has strong interests in estuarine ecological research, with particular emphasis on the ichthyofauna. His early work focused on the feeding ecology of estuary-associated fish species, and this evolved into gaining an understanding of the use of fishes as indicators of ecological and environmental change within estuaries. In recent decades, he has also focused on the classification of estuaries, fish larval ecology, stable isotopes in estuaries, fish nursery areas in estuaries, conservation of fishes in estuaries, fish population dynamics, and the importance of river flow to estuarine functioning. These research areas coincided with a growing interest in global change, in particular the influence of climate change on the distribution patterns and ecology of fishes in southern African estuaries. Since his retirement, Alan has focused on global reviews, including books, dealing with the biology and ecology of fishes in estuaries. Further information can be obtained at https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1452-7367
Prof Janine Adams
Janine Adams is a professor in the Botany Department at the Nelson Mandela University, Director of the Institute for Coastal and Marine Research and a member of the Sustainability Research Unit. Her specialist research field is on estuaries; their functioning, conservation and management. She has published over 110 articles in rated journals and made a significant contribution to global knowledge on estuary ecology, aquatic botany and environmental water requirements. Janine is committed to research excellence and passionate about research training and capacity building. She has successfully supervised 30 MSc and 16 PhD students. Eleven postgraduate students are currently registered.
Janine is past president of the Southern African Society of Aquatic Scientists, she served as Chairperson of the Water Research Commission and is a fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa. In 2013, she received the Nelson Mandela University researcher of the year award and in 2015 the silver medal from the Southern African Society of Aquatic Scientists. Current research focus areas are blue carbon ecosystems and response to climate change, mangrove and salt marsh ecology and water quality management of estuaries. Past research has successfully linked science, policy and management through extensive collaboration and networking with different universities, institutes and government departments.
Prof Charles Breen
Charles Breen is an Emeritus Professor and Fellow of the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. He lectured at Rhodes University and the University of Natal (now University of KwaZulu-Natal) before being appointed Director of the Institute of Natural Resources where he served for twelve years. He served as Chairman of the Board of the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research for ten years and chaired the Board of the Midlands Community College for Further Education and Training. Breen holds a PhD in plant physiology from Rhodes University and has been a Visiting Professor at a number of institutions in the United States of America. He has devoted much of his life to research on aquatic ecosystems, including estuaries, and their relationships with society. His contribution has been recognized through award of a gold medal by the Southern African Association of Aquatic Scientists, a KwaZulu-Natal Conservation Award and the Mondi Wetlands Award for Wetland Science and Research.
Board of Trustees
- Charles Breen (Chairman)
- Alan Whitfield
- Mike Davies
- Craig Tingle
