Staff Profiles

Prof. L Mammino
liliana@univen.ac.za

Current Research Projects

Computational Study of Phloroglucinols

Research Interests  

Computational study of biologically active molecules
Computational chemistry is a fast growing area of modern chemistry, focusing on the study of molecules and interfacing with many other research areas: drug-design, design of new substances, material science, nanotechnologies, etc.
The computational chemistry research currently ongoing at the University of Venda focuses on the study of biologically active molecules – a study providing information relevant for drug design and early stages of drug development.
Training approaches incorporate information from endogenous research on the educational aspects of advanced chemistry material to optimize training efficiency, also in view of the importance that the preparation of experts in scarce-skills areas includes the training to be trainers.

Chemical/science education at the tertiary level
This is a type of educational research fully integrated within tertiary-level science teaching. It aims at continuous enhancement of the quality of the teaching activity through the investigation of students’ difficulties, through general-character reflections on contents and approaches, and through active participation in international meetings and debates. Particular attention is given to crucial issues like the language-related difficulties encountered by science students studying through a second-language, or the exploration of approaches to suitably and effectively incorporate education for sustainable development into the course activities, and to the educational aspects of advanced chemistry courses, because of the comparative scarcity of studies concerning the teaching of advanced chemistry material.

The Department of Chemistry tries to promote the view of Chemistry as a human enterprise and not solely as a rigid body of knowledge. The total picture - from raw materials through beneficiation to research, including management aspects - is presented. Therefore our courses provide a firm foundation in chemical ideas, processes, and applications and the context of Chemistry in society. Experimental and field work form an integral part of all courses and self-initiated research is encouraged at postgraduate level. The department offers courses in pure, applied, and environmental chemistry, as well as the opportunity to do postgraduate research up to Doctoral level.

Membership of Societies

• Lifetime member of the World Association of Theoretically Oriented Chemists (WATOC).
• International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC); member of the Subcommittee on Green Chemistry of IUPAC.
• South African Chemical Institute (SACI).
• Southern African Association for Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (SAARMSTE).
• International Commission of Occupational Health (ICOH).
• Societa’ Chimica Italiana (Italian Chemical Society).
• Gruppo Nazionale Fondamenti e Storia della Chimica (National Group for the Foundations and History of Chemistry).
• Associazione degli Alunni, Professori e Ricercatori della Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa (Scuola Normale Superiore Alumni, Researchers and Professors Association).
• International Centre for First-year Undergraduate Chemistry Education (ICUC)

Publications