Prof Odume is the Director of the Institute for Water Research at Rhodes University. He holds PhD degree in Water Resource Science from Rhodes University and has over 16 years of research experience in the field of water resources with interests in social-ecological systems, applied ecology, water quality, water governance, water ethics and equity, and ecosystem ecology. His research has received local and international awards, including being the first recipient of the Emerging River Leader Award by the International River Foundation in Australia and the Bronze Medal Award by the Southern Africa Society of Aquatic Scientists in recognition of his contribution to water quality management in South Africa. He has published over 80 scholarly papers and presented over 48 papers at conferences locally and internationally. Prof Odume has supervised both Masters and Doctoral students to completion and some of his postgraduate students have moved on to take up academic positions in Africa and elsewhere