Prof Karen Esler Appointed Vice Dean: Research, Innovation & Postgraduate Studies
We are delighted to announce that Prof Karen Esler has been appointed as the new Vice Dean: Research, Innovation & Postgraduate Studies.
Karen is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology, with decades of leadership and research experience in plant ecology, invasion biology, and ecosystem stewardship.
Prof Karen Esler is a veteran staff member at Stellenbosch University. She began her career as a lecturer in the (then) Department of Botany in 1995, moved to the Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology in 2005 as an Associate Professor, and was promoted to Professor in 2008. She served as Head of Department from 2015 to 2020 and was awarded a Distinguished Professorship in 2021. She has been a core team member of the DST–NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology since its inception in 2004 and has served as Regional Editor (Africa) for the leading journal Conservation Biology since 2017. She is also the African representative to the IUCN Academy, launched in 2021, which “harnesses IUCN expertise to propose learning journeys to those seeking to make a meaningful contribution to the dynamic world of conservation”.
Having received multiple awards for her research and teaching, Karen is a leading expert in ecological restoration and the impact of environmental change on Mediterranean-type ecosystems. Her impactful career is defined by linking research with practical land management, including leading a long-term research–implementation partnership with the City of Cape Town since 2012. Karen’s significant contributions to science have been recognised through her election as a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and as a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa (RSSAf).
Karen is a strong advocate for research, and its documentation through peer-reviewed publications, as a critical component of idea development and knowledge sharing. She believes that while innovation may originate outside formal research (such as a great idea), rigorous research can ultimately lead to innovation, and can itself be innovative. If the Faculty of AgriSciences is to imaginatively address the challenges of the Anthropocene and seek sustainable and viable solutions, she believes it is essential to reflect critically on how research is conducted. While depth of knowledge remains important, solutions to sustainability challenges increasingly require the integration of multiple knowledge sources and disciplines in inter- and transdisciplinary ways.
On a personal note, Karen is passionate about reconnecting people to nature through green spaces and gardens, having experienced the profound health, wellness, and biodiversity benefits of a family garden over many years.
Congratulations, Prof Esler. We look forward to what lies ahead.
