Sifiso Mpapane is currently an MSc Oceanography student for the Southern Ocean Carbon & Climate Observatory (SOCCO), with a university affiliation to the University of Cape Town. He previously obtained his BSc degree in Geology, and honours in Physics at the University of Pretoria. His current research looks at the photophysiology, and inherent optical properties of Southern Ocean phytoplankton, for this purpose he makes use of in situ measurements, bio-optical modelling, and ocean colour satellite information.