Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Biography of Research Chair

Dr Conrad Sparks (Acting CPUT Research Chair: Oceans Economy and Acting Director: Centre for Sustainable Oceans) (April 2023 – current)

Dr Conrad Sparks has been appointed as Acting CPUT Research Chair in Oceans Economy and Acting Director of the Centre for Sustainable Oceans since April 2023. His research focus areas are microplastics monitoring, risk assessment of microplastics, marine and microplastic ecotoxicology, ocean and plastic accounts.

Research Profiles:

• https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?user=fdxlMpwAAAAJ&hl=en
• https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Conrad-Sparks
• https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9721-3544
• https://www-scopus-com.ezproxy.cput.ac.za/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57206274621#tab=metrics

Email: sparksc@cput.ac.za
Contact: 021 460 3192

Ms Venecia van Balla

Microplastics Lab Manager

Email: vanballav@cput.ac.za
Contact: 021 460 3677

Paige Williams

Research Assistant

Email: williamspa@cput.ac.za
Contact: 021 460 3292

Prof Ken Findlay (Former Research Chair)

April 2016 - March 2023

Prof Ken Findlay was the former Research Chair: Oceans Economy and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Oceans at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in Cape Town, South Africa. His focus areas were on ocean economies and governance using Ocean Accounting practices. As a marine mammal biologist, Ken has been integrally involved in marine mammal research.