Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Professor Megandhren Govender from the Faculty of Applied Sciences is one of the DUT community members who works hard and dedicates himself to his craft.
Prof Govender is one of the top ranked researchers and has received number of accolades for his research. He has published over 100 research papers which are related to relativistic astrophysics in some of the top ranked journals in mathematical physics including Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Physics Letter B, Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, Physical Review D, Classical and Quantum Gravity, European Physical Journal C, to name just a few.
He also serves as reviewer for many of these top-tiered journals. Other than being a Mathematics lecturer at DUT, he is also involved in curriculum development.
Prof Govender shared that he has various goals and aspirations both personally and professionally for the year 2024. Firstly, he would really like to introduce the concept of popular presentations along similar lines as TED talks. “DUT has talented academics whom are rarely seen in their natural habitat. These people are only seen by their fellow academics at teaching, learning and research conferences/workshops and inaugural lectures. The goal is to get staff and postgraduate students to present popular talks (not lectures) in a dynamic and soul-hitting manner to the wider DUT community,” he indicated.
Prof Govender urges the DUT community to watch this space for more details. The topics will be exciting and controversial, ranging from conspiracy theories, live demonstrations and cutting-edge research ideas. Secondly, he added that there will be an engagement in an amazing Collaboration Online International Learning (COIL) project with MOTTS Community College, Michigan. He explained that the DUT students will be collaborating with Prof Jjenna Andrews and her students from the Fine Arts and Social Sciences Division on a project entitled ‘WATER’. “It is the year 2024: we have put man on the moon, we are preparing to colonise Mars yet millions of people have no access to clean water. This is indeed a tragedy. Our COIL project hopes to draw attention to this world-wide problem,” emphasised Prof Govender.
Thirdly, his next aim is to encourage inter-departmental teaching within a faculty and across faculties. “The idea is to expose students to the wide spectrum of academics at DUT. It will be amazing for mathematicians to present invited or guest lectures in the faculty of Health Sciences, for example. This cross-pollination in terms of teaching will really allow academics to display their teaching strengths,” stressed Prof Govender.
In terms of research, Prof Govender wants to learn more about the end-states of gravitational collapse especially in modified gravity. His goal is to encourage the younger generation of mathematicians and physicists to pursue new research interests and create and extend their collaborations abroad. He will be representing the DUT research community at various local conferences and at least two international conferences on gravitational physics, differential equations and astrophysics.
“On the personal front, I would like to give more attention to my health. The six-pack is almost ethereal but I would to continue dancing with ease and finesse. Of all my goals, the most important is spending quality time with my family for they always remind me that I am a human being. There is nothing more rewarding than sharing one’s thoughts, love and joy with family,” said Prof Govender.
Prof Govender concluded by saying he sees 2024 as a dynamic year with less meetings and strategy planning. He wants to collaborate with people who are the movers, shakers and doers who inspire and motivate through real action.
Pictured: Professor Megandhren Govender
Sibahle Ngcobo
