Professor Umesh Ramnarain

Professor Umesh Ramnarain is a Professor in Science Education and the Director of the CALTSTEAM Research Centre in the Department of Science and Technology Education at the University of Johannesburg. His research focuses on inquiry-based learning and its uptake in South African classrooms characterised by diversity and complexity in terms of intrinsic and extrinsic or environmental factors. The knowledge base he has built has important implications at both the national and international levels, especially in terms of inquiry teaching in underprivileged schools.

Prof Ramnarain obtained his BSc in Chemistry and Mathematics as well as a Diploma in Education from the then University of Durban-Westville (now UKZN). He then obtained a Bachelors and Master’s of Education from UNISA and completed his PhD at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He spent 12 years teaching Physical Science and Mathematics at secondary school level and spent two years as the Head of Department in Science/Mathematics at Westville Boys’ High School before moving to academia, first as a part-time Lecturer at UKZN and then moving to UJ where he worked as a Lecturer and Professor before being appointed to Head of Department and then Director of the CALTSTEAM Research Centre.

Prof Ramnarain has dedicated himself to the empowerment of students from disadvantaged backgrounds (mainly Black students) in the development of their scholarship. He has maintained a lifelong commitment to transformation through the maintenance of high standards and emphasis on research impact while at the same time recognising the individual challenges faced by his students and building their confidence in the achievement of greatness. His belief is that it is more important for students to engage in research that is socially impactful in addressing contemporary societal problems and not to simply “chase after a certificate”. This approach has seen his students produce excellent research and high distinction rates. He has supervised 14 PhD students, 10 of whom are Black and five of whom are Black women, and 32 Master’s students, 28 of whom are Black and 17 Black women. He is a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa.