Patricia Zweig, a lecturer and researcher at Stellenbosch University’s Research Alliance for Disaster and Risk Reduction (RADAR), has graduated with a Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at 62 years old.
Zweig, known as Trish by the SU community, started studying at 36 years old while working various jobs. On Monday, she obtained her PhD in Geography and Environmental Studies.
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Zweig was born in Malawi, raised in London and moved to South Africa when she was 12, where she went to school in Fish Hoek.
After school, Zweig was unable to study but continued her life in other ways. She married, had two children and worked as a waitress, caterer and creator of children’s toys.
When she was 36, with her children aged eleven and five, she decided to study Environmental Studies through UNISA, going on to graduate with a BA in Anthropology and Geography.
Zweig sold water flowers sourced from local farmers to cover the costs of school – for both her and her children.
In 2002, after receiving a bursary, she completed her honours in Geographical Information Systems for Spatial Analysis and Decision-Making through SU.
At the end of that year, Zweig won the award for the best honours project in the year and was subsequently given a scholarship to do her Master’s degree at the University of Cape Town (UCT).
“In 2006, as part of the first cohort of the Potters Fellowship, I was also awarded a master’s in Environmental Studies and Geography (cum laude),” she added.
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After working in UCT’s Geography Department for two years, Zweig continued work for the unit which had evolved into RADAR when moving from UCT to SU.
In 2015, she became an academic at RADAR, lecturing, researching and teaching Geography courses at SU.
Zweig has been involved in extensive Ex-Post Disaster Studies in the Western Cape and runs short courses on disaster risk topics.
She has a passion for community-based research, having spent many years working in informal settlements, focusing on the field of urban risk and vulnerability.
Zweig is the first person in both her and her husband’s family to get a degree, and she advocates the benefits of studying.
“I like to inspire others especially working people with children who believe they can’t study and I try to motivate them to do what I did. I want them to get the chances I’ve had,” she explained.
With retirement approaching in 2025, Zweig has no further plans to study.
“It’s been a great adventure and I’m so glad I decided to move into my own realm.”
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Picture: Facebook / Stellenbosch University
