I live on a game farm in the Karoo (since 1994). I run a wild cat conservation, research, education and breeding project (Cat Conservation Trust, est 2004) for the black footed cat, african wild cat, serval and caracal. My PhD and Post Doctoral Fellowship revolved around the study of the freshwater diatoms of the Karoo and their use as bioindicators of water quality (surface and underground). My Postdoc research fellowship continues with this work.