Lova Marline
PhD student, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Organisation for Women in Science in the Developing World (OSWD) (download presentation here 
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Knowledge Exchange Forum: Important early career milestones and support
Lova has been awarded the “Postgraduate Training Fellowships for Women Scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa” from the OWSD (Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World) to pursue my study at the University of Cape Town toward a PhD. Lova is doing her PhD on the bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) of Madagascar.
As one of the first comprehensive study of the bryophytes of Madagascar, her PhD project combines taxonomy, community ecology and conservation. Madagascar, is considered one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world and is a priority area for conservation. Therefore her research project will not only significantly enhance the body of knowledge on tropical bryophytes but also explore innovative new uses for the study of these plants such as: “the importance of bryophytes within the ecosystem as important bio indicators of climate change and their use as models in the design of new protected areas.