Just Blue, the site for Ascidian info
Just Blue, the site for Ascidian info

Curriculum Vitae of Shirley Parker-Nance

Education

Study period Institution Degree Graduation
1990 to 1992 University of Pretoria Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) 1992
1993 to 1994 University of Port Elizabeth Bachelor of Science Honnores (B.Sc. (Hons))
Dissertation - The genus Haliotis with special reference to the ecology of Haliotis spadicea. 		1994
1994 to 1996 University of Port Elizabeth Magister Scientiae (M.Sc.)
Thesis - An investigation into the reproductive biology of the pilchard Sardinops sagax in eastern Cape waters. 		1996
1996 to 2003 University of Port Elizabeth Philosophiae Doctor (Ph.D.)
Thesis - Aplousobranch ascidians (Tunicata: Ascidiacea) from southern Africa. 		2003

Research experience, project involvement

Date Description
1994-1996 Pelagic cruises on the ‘R.S. Africana’, Sea Fisheries Institute in Cape Town.
Study visit Sea Fisheries Institute, Cape Town.
1997 Pretoria Software Solutions (Pty) Ltd Natural Resources / Conservation Research Grant - Investigation into the South African Museum, Cape Town, ascidian collection.
Wildlife and Environmental Society – Rocky shore and terrestrial ecology education.
1998 Evaluation of use of journals by zoology student in their studies: reassessment of journal subscription by Zoology Department, University of Port Elizabeth (UPE).
1998-2001 Research partnership marine benthic invertebrate collections - Rhodes University / University of Port Elizabeth / Coral Reef Research Foundation, Palau / National Cancer Institute (NCI) Washington D.C., USA.
1999 Biology Department, University of Vigo, Galicia, Spain, Dr. E. Otero – research visit.
2002 Research partnership marine benthic invertebrate collections - Rhodes University / University of Port Elizabeth / Scripps Institution of Oceanography, USA.
2003 Appointment as Research Associate – Department of Zoology, University of Port Elizabeth
2004 Sample collection research trip, oral presentation at Mote Research Station, Summerland Key and by remote video connection Mote Sarasota, Florida.
Marine benthic invertebrates of Algoa Bay / Rhodes University collaboration.
Saldanha Bay and Langebaan Lagoon, South Africa for the Globallast Project – Anchor consulting ascidian sample identification.
2004-2006 Kayra Parker-Nance born 31 December 2004, 3.6 kg, Jorja Parker-Nance born 23 February 2005, 2.9 kg, maternity leave. Part time, work from home: data entry and ascidian identification.
2007 Project and collection manager, Cape Town, Project Vulcan Rock, NCI target collection.
Cnidarian Tree of Life Project – host and research visit facilitator, Prof. C. McFadden, Harvey Mudd, USA, Bernard Picton, Curator of Marine Invertebrates, Ulster Museum, N. Ireland, Estefania Rodriguez, Postdoctoral Researcher, Ohio State University, USA, Rebecca Helm, Fulbright Fellow, U. Western Cape, South Africa.
Bayworld Centre for Research and Education - A critical assessment of the status and functioning of Sardinia Bay Marine Reserve, Ascidian identification, Rep. 1.
2008 Exhibition coordinator - Grysbok Environmental Education Trail, SciFest2008, Grahamstown, SciFest Winners Award for Favourite Exhibition.
Origon State University, Dr. K. McPhail, sample identification, Ascidian Rep.1.
Sea Samples/CRRF/NCI sample identification Ascidian Fauna of Florida, Ascidian Rep. 1-6.
Exhibition coordinator - Grysbok Environmental Education Trail, SciFest2009.

Additional Qualifications

  • Diver Scientist class IV Supervisor (Registered at Department of Manpower) Diver Scientist class IV (1994).
  • Diver Scientist class IV Supervisor (1995).
  • South African Underwater Union (SAUU) CMAS (Brevet International P2-ZA-8436) Two Star.
  • Advanced Technical Nitrox Diver (AND 230 SA), Technical Diving International (enriched air diving).
  • Gas Blender User (GB 230 SA), TDI.
  • Decompression Procedures (DPD 230 SA), TDI.
  • Skippers license, Certificate of Competence Vessel category (A1(1), A1(4) and A111(1)), 1993.
  • Restricted Radiotelephone Operators Certificate maritime SSB and VHF (no: 4549812).

Symposiums attended

  • Science for a Sustainable Future, 8th Southern African Marine Science Symposium, Club Mykonos, Langebaan, October 1993.
  • African Society of Aquatic Sciences and the SAB Institute for Coastal Research, Conference on Aquatic Ecosystems – Ecology, Conservation and Management, University of Port Elizabeth, July 1994.
  • Barologia, International Diving Science Symposium, September 1995, University of Cape Town.
  • South African Marine Science Symposium, Past perspectives and future challenges, University of Cape Town, November 1996.
  • ECSA 29, Estuarine Research and Management in Developed and Developing Countries, Joint ECSA and CERM Symposium at the University of Port Elizabeth, July 1998 – assistant to Organizing Committee.
  • ZSSA2001, Port Elizabeth, 2001 – Organizing Committee Member.
  • Society for Conservation Biology meeting, Port Elizabeth, 2007 – Organizing Committee Member.

Papers and posters

  • Zoological and Aquatic Sciences in Southern Africa, ZSSA and SASAQS Symposium, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, June 1995 - paper.
  • SAB Institute for Coastal Research, Symposium and Advisory Board Meeting, March 1998 - paper.
  • The First International Symposium on Biology of Ascidians, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan, June, 2000 - poster.
  • Parker-Nance, S. 2001 Ascidians of South Africa: A historical perspective. The Biology of Ascidians: Taxonomy and Ecology. Sawada, H.; Yokosawa, H.; Lambert,C.C. (eds.), Springer-Verlag, Tokyo, pp. 278 – 282.
  • ZSSA2001: A Southern African Odyssey, University of Port Elizabeth, July 2001 - paper.

Workshops, meetings, talks, presentations and research visits

  • Population structure and sustainable yield of Haliotis spadicea, Zoology Department, 1993.
  • Reproductive biology of the pilchard Sardinops sagax in eastern Cape waters, Benguela Ecology Program Workshop, Cape Town, 15 August 1995.
  • Ascidians and diving in Algoa Bay with reference to other projects underway at the Zoology Department, UPE, Informative talk, Diving club (ODI) in Port Elizabeth, 1997.
  • Ascidian diversity in Algoa Bay, Institute for Coastal Resources, 1989.
  • Reproduction of Sardinops sagax, Zoology Department, A workshop on Cladistics, University of Cape Town, January 1999.
  • Ascidians and their medical value, Holiday Inn, August 1999.
  • Mauritius, Coral Reef Foundation collection trip, November 1999.
  • Palau, Coral Reef Foundation Research station, July 2000.
  • Vanuatu, Coral Reef Foundation collection trip, November-December 2000.
  • African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme and Genome Workshop, September 2001.
  • African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme and Genome Data Management Meeting, Port Elizabeth, June 2002. Aide Memoire: Marine Biology Meeting, Durban, June 2002.
  • Oral presentation Mote Research Station, Florida, Summerland Key and by remote audio/video connection Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, March 2004.

Employment History

Date Employer Address Description
1992 Covan Pharmaceuticals 3 Philip street, Rosslyn Chemical analysis assistant (Temp. post)
1992 University of Pretoria Botany Department Practical demonstrator
1993-1997 University of Pretoria Zoology Department Practical demonstrator
1994-1995 Algoa Regional Services Council P.O. Box 318, Port Elizabeth, 6000 Environmental education
1994-1995 Human Resources Council Private bag X41, Pretoria, 0001 Data collection
1996-2002 Wildlife Society of South Africa, Eastern Province branch 2B Lawrence Street, Central Hill, Port Elizabeth, 6001 Educational ecology and conservation education
2007-2008 Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (Summerstrand Campus) Port Elizabeth Lecture, data collection, management and analyses, poster layout and construction, diving
1997-1998 UPE (Bird Street Campus) Bird Street, CENCE Lecturing
1998 Ethembeni Community College Etembeni Community College, South End Lecturing
2003-2004 University of Zululand Dr. B. Newman Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa, 3886 Sample handling, species identification Richards Bay Harbour
1998-2002 Coral Reef Research Foundation (CRRF) Koror, Palau Ascidian identification – SA species
2002-2008 Sea Samples/CRRF/NCI Summerland Key, Florida, USA Ascidian identification – Florida species
2005-2007 Bayworld Centre for Research and Education Port Elizabeth Lecturing, species identification
2001-2008 Rhodes University Grahamstown Collection manager