PROFESSOR NOX MAKUNGA

Professor Nox Makunga is an Associate Professor of Medicinal Botany at Stellenbosch University. Her research work focuses on medicinal plants, their cultural significance and opportunities presented for socioeconomic development. Prof. Makunga is also one of the South African founders of the Black Botanists movement, which seeks to promote Black botanists, globally, whether they be formally or informally trained.

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Professor Makunga grew up in the Eastern Cape of South Africa and attended university in Pietermaritzburg. She completed her PhD at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in plant molecular biology. Professor Makunga's work centers around using a multidirectional approach that combines the areas of biotechnology, ethnopharmacology, and phytochemistry. In addition to science, Professor Makunga is a qualified aerobics instructor and taught classes for 15 years.