A Necessary African Conversation I attended the recent Thabo Mbeki Africa Day Lecture with genuine appreciation for the platform it created around African leadership, unity, and the future of the continent. The event brought together influential voices from academia, politics, policy, business, and civil society at a time when Africa continues to navigate economic pressure,…
Author: Dr Kolisa Yola Sinyanya
I have a PhD in Ocean Biogeochemistry from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. I am also the Founder and Director at Ulwazi Scientific Communications and STEM Research. One of my life's passions are fashion and this led me to create and turn M'Afrika By Kolisa African Streetwear into a fashion business. My passions include science communication and making science accessible and look cool because it is.
From Mthatha to the World Stage: Dr Kolisa Yola Sinyanya Recognised by Mail & Guardian
Being recognised in the Mail & Guardian Power of Women 2025 awards in the STEMi (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Innovation) category is a moment I receive with deep gratitude. Recognition has a way of making you pause, not to celebrate an ending, but to reflect on the journey that brought you here. For me,…
From Ocean Science to Blue Industrialisation: A Reflection on Language, Practice, and Gaps in the Literature
My work has always sat at the intersection of ocean science, governance, and economic transformation. Through my company, Ulwazi Scientific Communications and STEM Research (Pty) Ltd, I apply ocean knowledge within the broader blue economy with a specific focus on research education, skills development, and science communication. Over the past few years, I’ve increasingly used…
Dr Kolisa Sinyanya Building Blue Economy Leadership Through the Sustainable Ocean Alliance: A Mentorship Journey with Benjamin Bockarie
Last year, I had the privilege of serving as a mentor through the Sustainable Ocean Alliance Ocean Leaders Fellowship, where I was matched with an inspiring ocean changemaker, Benjamin Bockarie. Benjamin is originally from Sierra Leone and is currently based in Ireland, pursuing an MSc in Applied Coastal and Marine Management at the University College…
When the Ocean Speaks, We Should Listen: Reflections on Climate Risks Facing South Africa in 2026
Recently, I was invited to contribute to a national climate feature published by News24, exploring what South Africans should be paying attention to as we move into 2026. The article brought together perspectives from climate scientists across disciplines, and my contribution focused on something that often goes unnoticed the ocean, and the microscopic life within…
When Science Becomes Super: Dr Kolisa Sinyanya’s Journey as a SuperScientist and the Magic of Nitro
There’s a moment in every scientist’s life when science stops being just a profession and becomes something bigger, a force that inspires, connects, and opens doors in young minds that didn’t even know those doors existed. I’m often called a SuperScientist, and the title never fails to make me smile. But it didn’t originate with…
Representing South Africa at a BRICS High Level Roundtable in the UAE
When the initial invitation arrived, I approached it with caution. I was unfamiliar with the organisation at first and, like many professionals who receive frequent international requests, I remained sceptical until the process became clearer. That clarity came when the South African BRICS Think Tank (SABTT) joined the communication, confirming the seriousness and scale of…
Dr Kolisa Yola Sinyanya Named a Top 5 Finalist for the Springer Nature Inspiring Women in Science Awards
Being named a Top 5 finalist for the 2025 Springer Nature Inspiring Women in Science – Science Outreach Award is a moment I hold with deep gratitude and reflection. It is an honour that goes far beyond personal recognition. For me, it represents visibility for a kind of scientific work that often sits at the…
Still in Awe: Ulwazi BlueBridge Wins the 2025 Blue Tech Pitch Competition
I screamed when I heard Ulwazi BlueBridge announced as the Outreach & Education Winner at the 2025 Blue Tech Pitch Competition, hosted virtually by Black in Marine Science (BIMS). This recognition means more than words can capture. My research company, Ulwazi, was founded to make science accessible, actionable, and relatable, moving research out of the academic…
Dr Kolisa Sinyanya Making Waves at TIPS Forum 2025
Last week, I boarded a flight with a suitcase full of slides, anticipation, and a dream to spark new conversations. I was headed to the TIPS Annual Forum 2025, where I’d been invited to present my paper: “Building Skills for Blue Industrialisation: Addressing Education and Training Gaps in Africa’s Coastal Economies.” I knew the topic…
Dr Kolisa Sinyanya Beyond the PhD: Why I Chose Entrepreneurship (and Why I Don’t Regret It)
When I completed my PhD, I did something unexpected. I chose to become an entrepreneur. And the backlash? LOUD!!! From seasoned professors to freshly minted PhDs, there was confusion, disbelief, even disdain. “Why would you leave research?” they asked.But here’s the thing: I wasn’t leaving anything. I was building something. For me, the PhD wasn’t…
Where African Spirituality and Science Blend: A Story of Wholeness, Healing, and Heritage
What happens when the lab meets the spirit world? When does ocean science flow into ancestral callings? For me, Kolisa Yola Sinyanya, it’s not a contradiction. It’s my real life! It is my calling. In a powerful feature by Tanatswa Taruvinga in The Southern African Times, my journey reminds us that African spirituality and science…
Dr Kolisa Yola Sinyanya 