30 June 2016 - The 18th National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-South32 Awards Gala Dinner was held in Gauteng on Thursday, 30 June 2016. Contributions to excellence in science, engineering and technology (SET) and innovation in South Africa (SA) were awarded and celebrated in the following broad areas:
Scientific research
- Capacity building in engineering and research
- Research leading to innovation
- Scientific contributions towards environmental sustainability
- Management of SET and innovation
- Science communication
- And a Special Annual Theme Award for Crop Science and Food Security
SA needs to develop new products, technologies and services: As previously stated by the Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s science mission is to create wealth, thereby creating jobs and eradicating poverty. Its success depends on our ability as a nation to develop new products, technologies and services.
About the awards, the NSTF and the outstanding contributions from scientists, engineers and other SET professionals: The NSTF-South32 Awards is the flagship project of the NSTF, the most representative multi-stakeholder non-profit forum in South Africa promoting science and technology through collaborative effort. The awards are a showcase of the research and development capacity of our nation. The outstanding contributions of the Awardees to SET and innovation generate hope for the advancement of our country and the social upliftment of all people in South Africa.
What makes these awards special: The national NSTF-South32 Awards are the largest SET and innovation awards in South Africa and they were also the first science awards in the country. The focus is on spreading information about SET to the public, which includes the year-long engagement programme with students and learners called the ‘Share ‘n Dare’ Programme. The NSTF-South32 Awards were the first scientific awards in the country to run this type of initiative.
Award winners: The awards were presented by the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs Naledi Pandor, who is also the patron of the event. She celebrated along with almost 600 guests and over 40 different organisations from the broader community. Details of the award finalists, including the winners’ work are available online at http://www.nstf.org.za/whos-who/.
The scientific excellence that was on display at the NSTF-South32 Awards is evidence that South Africa is Africa's science and technology leader, said Minister Pandor at the event. "We have shown the world that we can overcome apartheid and build an inclusive democracy. We have shown the world that we have the capacity to compete with the best in the world in emerging scientific fields and new technologies. We have built and are building global infrastructure for global science. We are improving policy to enable investment by the private sector," said Minister Pandor.
Awards Theme: This year's NSTF-South32 awards theme celebrates the International Year of Pulses (2016IYP), as declared by the United Nations (UN). Pulses, the edible seeds of various leguminous plants, have become key to food security, particularly in the current water-scarce environment. For this reason, the NSTF initiated a Special Annual Theme Award in Crop Science and Food Security. The winner of this Award is:
Prof. David Kenneth Berger
Professor, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Special Annual Theme Award: Crop Science and Food Security, in honour of the 2016IYP, as declared by the UN (sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology - DST)
The NSTF and its sponsors take pride in congratulating all the 2015/2016 NSTF-South32 Award winners!
These are all awards for an outstanding contribution to SET and innovation by teams, organisations and individuals…
Prof. Bert Klumperman
Distinguished Professor of Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University (SU)
Lifetime Award
Prof. Crick Lund
Director: Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Health, University of Cape Town (UCT)
TW Kambule-NSTF Awards for research and its outputs over a period of up to 15 years after award of a PhD or equivalent by an individual - two awards
Prof. Bhekisipho Twala
Director: Institute for Intelligent Systems, Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Statistical Sciences, University of Johannesburg
TW Kambule-NSTF Awards for research and its outputs over a period of up to 15 years after award of a PhD or equivalent by an individual - two awards
Prof. Sue Harrison
Director: Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, DST/National Research Foundation (NRF) Chair: South African Research Chairs Initiative SARChI, Bioprocess Engineering, UCT
For Engineering capacity development over the last 5-10 years (sponsored by Eskom)
Prof. Thokozani Majozi
DST/NRF SARChI Chair: Sustainable Process Engineering, School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand
For Engineering capacity development over the last 5-10 years (sponsored by Eskom)
Prof. Peter Dunsby
Professor of Cosmology and Co-Director: Astrophysics, Cosmology and Gravity Centre, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, UCT
For Research capacity development over the last 5-10 years
Dr Tolu Oni
Senior Lecturer: School of Public Health and Family Medicine, UCT
TW Kambule-NSTF Awards for Emerging researchers by an individual (Post-docs in a period of up to 6 years after award of a PhD or equivalent in research) (prizes sponsored by proSET –sector of the NSTF representing Professional Bodies and Learned Societies)
Dr Sudesh Sivarasu
Senior Lecturer, Biomedical Engineering, UCT
TW Kambule-NSTF Awards for Emerging researchers by an individual (Post-docs in a period of up to 6 years after award of a PhD or equivalent in research) (prizes sponsored by proSET –sector of the NSTF representing Professional Bodies and Learned Societies)
Dr Sinha Suprakas Ray
Chief Researcher and Director: DST-Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) National Centre for Nano-structured Materials
For Management and related SET activities over the past 5-10 years
Mondi Ecological Networks Programme
Team Leader: Prof. Michael Samways, Distinguished Professor and Academic Principal, Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, SU
NSTF-GreenMatter Award towards achieving biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability and a greener economy (sponsored by GreenMatter)
Prof. Jan Smit
Manager: Science Centre, North-West University
For Communication for outreach and creating awareness
Advanced Casting Technologies, CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing
Research Group Leader: Dr Gonasagren Govender
Research leading to innovation by a team or individual through a Corporate organisation
Umvoto Africa (Pty) Ltd
Managing Director: Ms Rowena Hay
Research leading to innovation by a team or individual through a Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise
SmartXchange
CEO: Mr Jonathan Naidoo
Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) over the last 5-10 years including technology transfer and education/training activities
The winners were awarded with state-of-the-art trophies, manufactured through additive manufacturing (industrial 3D laser printing) with advanced materials (titanium), a first in SA and possibly the world.
Ms Jansie Niehaus
Executive Director and Spokesperson
NSTF, the non-profit stakeholder body for all SET and innovation organisations in South Africa