Regina Maphanga

Biography

Regina Maphanga is an Associate Professor at the Materials Modelling Centre, University of Limpopo. She completed her PhD in Physics in 2005 from the University of Limpopo. In addition, she is appointed as a Junior Associate at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Italy. Her research focuses on computational modelling of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries for application in energy storage devices and recently on materials for lithium-air batteries. Thus, she uses computer simulations (classical and quantum mechanical) methods to probe battery materials for energy storage. She is a member of South African Young Academy of Science and Global Young Academy – the voice of the young scientists around the world. Amongst various professional committees she serves, she is a council member for South African Institute of Physics and an international steering committee member for the workshop on women in high performance computing during Supercomputing and International Supercomputing conferences. She is one of the founding members of University of Limpopo Women Academic Solidarity Association. She received distinguished awards for her outstanding contribution in Science, Engineering and Technology in South Africa. She made continuous contributions to a number of programmes on promotion of public understanding of science, engineering and technology in SA. She is involved in various outreach activities on encouraging youth to become future scientists. She is passionate about science communication and often writes science communication essays for Science Magazine of American Association for the Advancement of Science.