The South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA) not only celebrates excellence among distinguished and emerging women scientists — it also paves the way for the next generation of innovators. Meet the brilliant doctoral candidates shaping the future of science in South Africa.
Ms Ruby Davies holds an honours degree (cum laude) in Natural Resource Management, which she completed in 2023 at NMU. She is currently pursuing a master's in Nature Conservation at the same institution, with an international research component at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, demonstrating her commitment to globally relevant, high-impact ecological research.
Her current research investigates plant pollinator interactions within the hyper-diverse fynbos biome of the Cape Floristic Region. She focuses on how nectar robbing affects pollinator behaviour, pollen limitation and plant reproductive success. Her study also examines how surrounding plant community composition influences robbing behaviour, aiming to deepen our understanding of complex pollination ecology in threatened ecosystems. she hopes her research will contribute to evidence-based conservation strategies, support South Africa's biodiversity and sustainability goals, and advance our response to global environmental change.
Ms Davies graduated summa cum laude with a National Diploma in Nature Conservation from Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 2021 and achieved cum laude for her Advanced Diploma in Nature Conservation (2022). Ms Davies has won several prestigious academic awards, including the NRF Postgraduate bursary (2024-2025), Ernst and Ethel Eriksen Trust bursary, the Joan Wrench Scholarship from the South African National Biodiversity Institute, and the Postgraduate Research Scholarship from NMU. In 2024 she presented at the Global Conservation Consortium for Erica research meeting and the Fynbos Forum, where she won Best Student Presentation. Her honours research manuscript is under review and expected to be published in 2025.