The Scribe - Fortunate Phaka
Dr Fortunate Phaka - Environmental Scientist, Post Doctoral fellow at North-West University; 2020 Ecologic Award Winner; 100 Young Mandelas of the Future Award; Mail and Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans; Board Member Youth 4 African Wildlife; Founder WildVernac, #SciComm #Sustainability #WildVernac
His Research: I research the relationship between people's cultures and wildlife, and how it can be used to include more people in environmental science. In urban areas wildlife can be far away, but for people who live in rural areas or near the bush, it’s part of everyday life sometimes for generations. They have stories and knowledge that is important but scientists haven’t paid enough attention. My research helps produce science educational materials that is easy to understand for everyone. It also shows how different cultural traditions are helping protect wildlife.
Share what you know about wildlife in your South African mother tongue at WildVernac
How did you get into science? Growing up in a rural area I got to see different wildlife and hear folktales about them. I wanted to learn more. The local knowledge that I gained from growing up in a rural area wasn’t represented in the science I learned in school and I wanted to find out why not. This is how I started researching the relationship between people's cultures and wildlife.
His Book: Fortunate cowrote a book in isiZulu and English about the frogs of Zululand titled, “A Bilingual Field Guide to the Frogs of Zululand”.
His Heroes: My mother and my late uncle. They have always been supportive of me and helped me believe in my dreams.
His Top Tip: Your uniqueness gives you an advantage. Believe in yourself and your dreams instead of trying to fit in.
What else do you need besides curiosity, hard work, communication, and creativity? Team work!
His Superpowers! Of course he can communicate with animals. He speaks the vernacular, of frogs, reptiles and other wildlife, helping them become friends with people and ensuring that they for the next generation to learn their secrets.
His Strengths as a Scientist: Making science easy to understand for people that are not scientists. Communicating science is almost as important as doing science in the first place. Expressing your ideas and make convincing arguments, is a critical skill to learn.
Scientists are People Too! Do you love watching cartoons? So does Fortunate! We’ll have to find out what his favourites are. With his love for wildlife, I’m sure he knows about The Wild Kratts.
Connect: Twitter @Green_Darkie Instagram @green_darkie
Funda ngesiZulu
uDkt Fortunate Phaka: we-Environmental Science oneziqu azithola efunda e-North-West University nase-Hasselt University (e-Belgium); 2020 Ecologic Award Winner; 100 Young Mandelas of the Future Award; Mail and Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans; Board Memberr Youth 4 African Wildlife; Founder WildVernac, #SciComm #Sustainability #WildVernac
Ucwaningo lwakhe: Ngicwaninga ubudlelwane phakathi kwamasiko abantu nempilo yasendle, nokuthi ingasetshinziswa kanjani ukubandakanya abantu abaningi kwi-Environmental Science.Ezindaweni ezingamadolobha, impilo yasendle ikude kakhulu nabantu kodwa ezindaweni zasemakhaya noma ezikeduze namahlathi, izilwane nempilo yasendle yinto abantu abayibona njalo, kwesinye isikhathi lempilo iphilwa yizizukwane. Banezindaba nolwazi olubalulekile kodwa ososayensi ababanaki. Ucwaningo lwami lusiza ngokukhiqiza izinto zokufunda isayensi futhi ezilula ukuze izingane zikwazi ukuqonda into abazama ukufundiswa yona. Lokhu kukhombisa ukuthi abantu bayafuna ukuvikela impilo yasendle.
Wangena kanjani kwisayensi?: Ngenkathi ngisakhulela emakhaya ngathola ukubona izilwane eziningi futhi ngezwa izinganekwane ngazo. Ngafuna ukwazi kabanzi. Ulwazi engaluthola ngisasemakhaya alufananga nolwazi engaluthola sengifunda emabangeni aphezulu. Ngafuna ukwazi ukuthi kungani lungafani. Yilapho ngaqala ukucwaninga ubudlelwane phakathi kwamasiko abantu nempilo yasendle.
Ibhuku lakhe: U-Fortunate ungomunye wababhali bebhuku elitholakala libhalwe ngesiZulu nangesiNgisi elimayela namaxoxo ase-Zululand elibizwa ngokuthi, “A Bilingual Field Guide to the Frogs of Zululand”.
Amaqhawe akhe: UMama wakhe nomalume wakhe. Uthi kusukela emncane babemugqugquzela ukuthi akalandele amaphupho akhe.
Ithiphu yakhe: Ukwenza into ehlukile yikhona okukwenza umuntu abonakale, enza into oyifunayo ungafuni ukufana nabanye abantu.
Yikuphi okunye okudingayo ngaphandle kwelukuluku, ukusebenza kanzima, ukuxhumana kanye nobuhlakani?
Ukusebenzisana nabanye abantu njengeqembu!
Ama-superpowers akhe: Ukwazi ukukhuluma nezilwane ikakhulukazi amaxoxo noxamu nezinye izilwane zasehlathini. Uzisiza ukuthi zibe abangani nabantu ukuze sizofunda kabanzi ngazo.
Amandla akhe njengososayensi: Ukwenza isayensi iqondakale kalula kulabo abasayifunda. Isayensi yokuxhumana nabantu ibaluleke njenge sayensi uqobo lwayo.
Xhumana no-Fortunate: Twitter @Green_Darkie Instagram @green_darkie