IIE MSA Students Lead the Charge in Water Quality Research
A three-month student-led research project at the Wilgespruit River has spotlighted the power of youth-driven environmental action. The initiative, hosted by IIE MSA’s Engineering and Environmental Science departments, tasked student groups with collecting and analysing water quality data to uncover pollution trends and develop solutions aligned with sustainability goals.
Second-year Mechanical Engineering student Tashinga Mautsa emerged as the overall winner of the Water Quality Monitoring competition. He was awarded the top spot alongside project mentors Vanessa Stippel (Engineering, Science & Health Lecturer) and Linda Downs borough (Head of Environmental Science) at the IIE MSA Ruimsig campus.
Reflecting on his findings, Mautsa said the project revealed concerning changes in the river’s ecosystem, emphasising the human impact on water quality.
“Seeing the changes in the river raised concerns and provided valuable insight into the local ecosystem and human impact on the water quality. The community needs to be mindful of littering, as the micro plastic litter can cause greater harm than we think,” he explained.
The competition aimed not only to produce meaningful scientific data, but also to empower students to engage with real-world challenges using research-based solutions. By grounding academic work in community impact, the project encourages young scientists to take an active role in protecting South Africa’s natural resources.
