Playing her part in building South Africa’s scientific reputation

Pinkie Ntola is on a mission to elevate South Africa’s scientific reputation. With multiple roles in teaching and administration previously dominating her career, this scientist from the Durban University of Technology is now determined for her research to gain attention on a global stage.

‘I like to say that I am an emerging-materials scientist, because I’m very much interested in working on material design and characterising,’ says Ntola. Her PhD focused on heterogenous catalysis for converting low value chemicals such as paraffins to high value chemicals like octane using supported metal oxides. Today, she is still making supported metal oxides, but her primary intention has shifted to reducing carbon dioxide emissions.