Mdumiseni Nxumalo Indigenous Knowledge Systems Coordinator

Mdumiseni Nxumalo started research in indigenous knowledge in 2002. This after he was introduced to the science communication environment at an early stage at UNIZULU Science Centre after finishing high school in 1994. This is where he worked as a laboratory helper, a learning facilitator and later became a team leader and responsible for exhibitions, presentations and the astronomy (planetarium) section. He initially studied part time after Matric, doing Foundational Physics, Maths and Advance Computer Applications (First year courses only) at University of Zululand in 1996. His other later academic development includes Recreation and Tourism, Project Management and Postgraduate Certificate in science communication from University of Stellenbosch.

He received specialized educational training in 1999 Through British Council Exchange Programme and continued the same training in 2002. The training was done at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK and other UK based institutions, such as Star-Dome, London Science Museum, Techniquest Science Museum of Cardiff and Manchester Science Museum. His further in-country training was facilitated through the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Cape Town and other specialized workshops by Southern African Association of Science and Technology Centres (SAASTEC).

He continued his indigenous knowledge research, which was a departmental project (not for academic qualification), focussed on the IsiZulu traditional knowledge of stars. Later, in 2006 he obtained his first postgraduate degree through the Centre for Recreation and Tourism at University of Zululand, which study focussed on a survey of IsiZulu traditional knowledge of stars (indigenous knowledge).

He has become a versatile educator who has an early background education in science and technical environment and now holds a UNISA Postgraduate Certificate in Education. He has a vast experience as a paraprofessional (curricular-support) educator in science, astronomy/geography, computer skills and technology. His teaching experience has run parallel with his administrative role of managing educational projects based at the outreach centre (project) of University of Zululand, namely UNIZULU Science Centre. He has been a science communicator, involved in outreach programmes and curriculum support programmes for local Grade 12 learners at UNIZULU Science Centre. He was part of the team that ran outreach programmes with experts from Australian National University to train local science teachers (Senior Phase) in conducting extra-curricular science experiments. He managed a new astronomy programme at UNIZULU Science Centre after his training from Sheffield Hallam University and Star Dome in UK. He has personally developed teaching aid instruments (apparatus) for concept demonstrations and personally pioneered some curriculum support projects. He has presented a number of papers at conferences locally and internationally, including chairing some conference sessions. Mr. Nxumalo has served as a Coordinator of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Documentation Centre Project at University of Zululand from January 2013 until June 2020. Working closely with NIKSO under DSI. He has worked with various indigenous knowledge holders across South Africa.
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