UKZN Chancellor Dr Reuel Khoza caps Dr Denise Ingrid Adams as she receives her doctoral degree.
Image: Sethu Dlamini
A 76-year-old graduate has become the standout figure at this year’s autumn graduation ceremonies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal after earning her doctorate through a study that blends art, science and environmental advocacy.
Dr Denise Ingrid Adams, the oldest graduate in the cohort, was awarded her PhD on Monday.
The university described this as a remarkable academic achievement shaped by decades of close engagement with Durban’s natural environment.
Her research focused on the uMngeni Beachwood Mangrove Nature Reserve, using a creative practice-led approach to explore the ecological importance and changing condition of the estuary system.
Drawing on more than 30 years of living nearby, Adams transformed environmental observations into visual artworks aimed at deepening public understanding of the fragile ecosystem.
“These mangroves are situated close to where I have lived for 36 years. Earlier, there was scant pollution and no threat of a housing complex in the floodplain. Today, these have become harsh realities,” she said.
Adams’s study moved beyond traditional academic methods by combining fieldwork with artistic experimentation. Her work culminated in a series of three-dimensional cloak forms, each reflecting insights gathered from sustained interaction with the estuary.
“My experiences in the estuary, together with creative experiments and sourced literature, provided unexpected insights of the current realities. I translated these into artworks culminating in a series of three-dimensional cloaks. I would not have discovered these insights had I relied on literature alone,” she said.
Through her research, Adams documented the resilience of mangrove ecosystems, highlighting their role in carbon storage, shoreline stabilisation and natural regeneration. She also drew attention to the ecological importance of plants often overlooked.
“The discovery of weeds and their value in the ecosystem as pollinators, enriching the soil and as pioneers in damaged land was particularly important,” she said.
Her findings underscore the broader significance of the Beachwood mangrove system for Durban’s biodiversity and communities. The estuary supports a wide range of species, from birds and reptiles to fish nurseries, and serves as an important educational resource.
“This valuable ecosystem supports varied life forms. The loss of associated life in this estuary would be a loss for the greater area of Durban, including the educational opportunities that the estuary provides for scholars, students and citizens.”
Adams said one of the biggest challenges was finding a way to translate environmental realities into art that communicates meaning without being overly prescriptive. After initial attempts with traditional painting proved unsuccessful, she shifted her creative direction.
“After a year of unsuccessful two-dimensional hanging paintings, I realised that I needed to reshape my creative practice in conjunction with environmental research. Experiences in the estuary, meditating, sketching, collecting discards, photographing, printing, taking notes and comparing my findings with literature ultimately offered the means of overcoming the challenges.”
She credited the support of colleagues at the university’s Centre for Visual Arts and the Humanities College for helping refine her approach.
“The Zoom sessions held by the Humanities College assisted me in developing research methods. Weekly crit sessions with post-grad students and lecturers at the CVA were inspiring and constructive.”
Her work is already making an impact beyond academia.
Research materials are being used in educational visits to the Durban Botanic Gardens and the mangrove reserve itself, while Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has expressed interest in exhibiting some of her pieces.
“It is possible that artists who experienced my exhibition, or who saw photographs on the internet, may consider alternative ways of communicating environmental themes,” Adams said.