Ceinwen Smith grew up in the sleepy village of Noordhoek where her days were filled with horse riding, surfing and exploring the wild lands and oceans of the South Peninsula. She developed a strong connection with animals and the environment from an early age, this passion and curiosity would fuel her academic journey through BSc, Honours and ending with her Masters of Science(MSc).

Along the way, Ceinwen completed two trips to Antarctica, one as an oceanographic researcher and the second, also in the field of oceanography, but this time collecting data for her MSc and also responsible for the team’s research.

In this episode we will gain some insight into the research she was carrying out and what it was like to experience the extreme conditions of Antarctica.

Our conversation follows her journey from Oceanography back to land where we will hear about some of the fascinating projects she has been involved with, including field research in Kruger National Park and Fynbos related work here in the Western Cape. We will learn more about the local factors and special conditions that make the Western Cape so unique.

We then focus on her current project, The Ingcungcu Sunbird Restoration Project, which sets out to create ecological corridors to help sugarbirds, sunbirds and other pollinators travel and migrate through the urban environment of the Cape Flats. We will hear how the team plans to go about establishing this network and why it is so important for our local ecology. We will also hear how the project is creating a platform for education, teaching the youth valuable life and leadership skills as well as helping to establish the importance of connecting with nature.

Apart from being able to draw on an incredible library of knowledge and experiences, Ceinwen also has such a deep appreciation and love for the natural world.  She reminds us how having this connection is vital to living a healthy life and that no matter what our circumstances may be, we should all take the time to find a way to connect with nature on a regular basis.

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