Wanjiru Thoithi’s UCT master's awarded with distinction
The connection between rainfall and the community farmers in southern Africa cannot be underestimated. With a large rural population across the region, the connection between land and climate is the backbone of their livelihoods.
Understanding this delicate relationship is central to Wanjiru Thoithi’s research, and its impact has paid off. In May, she was awarded a distinction for her master’s thesis, titled, ‘Assessing dry spell and wet day frequencies over southern Africa during the summer rainy season’.
The work, which was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, is her first published paper and a shining first step in her future as a leading ocean scientist.
“Achieving a distinction is difficult in the UCT system and it is very few MSc students who are able to publish results from their thesis in a journal like Geophysical Research Letters,” says her supervisor, Professor Chris Reason, who is a co-author on the paper. “I'm sure she will succeed in any career path she chooses.”
Wanjiru shares with us what it’s like to finally submit her thesis and how Ocean Womxn have helped her feel “ready to conquer the day”.
This is a huge milestone – how does it feel to be finished your thesis?
I'll be honest, the submission of my thesis felt very anticlimactic. I had been excited for the study to end but soon after the submission, I realised that I actually like having something to come back to and develop every day.
The writing process was daunting. But looking back at my rough ideas and seeing how they evolved into a cohesive piece of work that earned a distinction has been amazing. Completing my thesis has given me a boost of confidence in the sense that there is tangible proof that I am indeed able to carry out a big project to completion.
You did it, and you were awarded a distinction. That must be a huge confidence boost?
For me, the completion and submission of my thesis had to do with my own internal validation. I felt like, 'I did it'. But as with everything there must be the external component where your work is evaluated, and you receive feedback. A fear that plagued me during much of the writing process was that one would read my work and think it was poorly written and organised. I have a great supervisor who is always quick to read my work and give me constructive criticism or encouraging kudos and that helped with my anxiety a lot.
To receive a distinction is meaningful to me because it shows that I can calibrate my work to desired standards. I've improved a lot from my Honours thesis, and it is as though the idea that one can get better at what they are doing has been solidified for me.
What's next for your research?
I recently registered for a PhD in Ocean & Atmospheric Science. I'm looking forward to taking on a larger load and hopefully grow in creativity. It's a huge commitment, this PhD, and while I know I'm on the right track, I don't know much about what I would like to do after I complete it.
How has Ocean Womxn supported you along this journey?
Ocean Womxn has been extremely supportive of me. I received many WhatsApp messages, with people just checking in to see if I was coping well. Getting to know people at that personal level is very special. We also had several meetings with mentors which left me feeling rejuvenated and ready to conquer the day.