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• Shaun Ruysenaar

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Shaun Ruysenaar

PhD Title

What is driving biofuels policy development in South Africa and what kind of development will the biofuels strategy drive?

BACKGROUND TO PHD

My PhD began looking into the policy processes leading up to the promulgation of the Industrial biofuels strategy in South Africa. Although this has proved to be a useful undertaking, getting in-depth information, especially from government officials and policy-makers, has been a challenge and thus I have broadened the research out. I am now looking into the rise of a South African biofuels regime, drawing on socio-technological ‘assemblages’ literature and placing this within the overall policy context and political-economy of South Africa. As part of this research I have also visited numerous small-scale renewable energy projects and some of the larger proposed biofuels refineries in South Africa. I have also engaged through and facilitated some workshops around bioenergy.


PREVIOUS DISSERTATIONS

Honours
Coursework: Geographic information systems, Environmental management, Environmental Policy and Practice and Geomorphology.
Research Dissertation: A temporal analysis of pollution in the Hartbeespoort Dam.
Completed in 2004, School of Geography and Environmental management at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits).

Masters
MSc by research. Dissertation Title: Silhouettes and Safety Nets, Unpacking National Food Security Policy and Agricultural Interventions in Gauteng, South Africa. Completed in 2009, School of
Geography and Environmental management at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits).  

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

2009: Awarded full Commonwealth Scholarship to undertake a PhD at the University of Edinburgh.

2008: Certificate of competence (with distinction) Vulnerability Risk Assessment Short Course, University of Witwatersrand.

• 2007: Wetland Training Course on Delineation, Legislation and Management, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

• 2006: NEMA EIA Regulations Short Course, African Environmental Centre.

• 2006: MSc research paper presented at the South African Geographical Student

Geographers Conference.

• 2004 & 2005: Awarded Postgraduate Merit Award.
• 2004: Awarded South African Geographical Society’s Jubilee Bursary.
• 2004: Honours research paper presented at the South African Geographical Student Geographers Conference.
• 2003: Award for Top Undergraduate Student in Geography 2001-2003.
• 2003: BSc (Physics, Geography and Environmental Management [Cum Laude]),
Rand Afrikaans University (Academic transcript available on request).

PUBLICATIONS and CONFERENCES

Pradhan, S and Ruysenaar, S., 2012: Burning Desires: Pro-poor Propaganda, Power and Biofuels Policies in India and South Africa, paper to be presented at the American Association of Geographers Annual conference, New York, 2012.

Ruysenaar, S., In Preparation: The South African Industrial Biofuels Strategy: Context, Genesis and Implications of the Policy Process.

Ruysenaar, S.,  In Preparation: Reconsidering the ‘Letsema principle’ and the role of community gardens in food security: Evidence from Gauteng.

Ruysenaar, S., 2011: Rethinking the Food-Versus-Fuel Debate: An Appraisal of International Perspectives and Implications for the South African Biofuels Strategy. Environment and Society, in press.

Ruysenaar, S., 2010: “The Integrated Food Security Strategy of South Africa: An Institutional Analysis. Paper presented at the Royal Geographical Association annual conference, London 2010.

Drimie, S and Ruysenaar, S., 2010: “The Integrated Food Security Strategy of South Africa: An Institutional Analysis,” Agrekon 49, no. 3 (2010): 316-337.

OTHER INFORMATION

At present I am also busy establishing a centre for participative service delivery, aiming to transform local government services and leadership in South Africa.  I am also a researcher working for the PISCES group (www.pisces.or.ke). I have worked as an environmental and research consultant for the last six years in South Africa.

 

This page was published on 16 September 2011