Three CoE-FS nominations for this year's ‘Science Oscars of South Africa’

Published April 16, 2025, by CoE-FS, Supplied

Some of the CoE-FS’s staff, researchers and Steering Committee. Photo Ross Jansen/CoE-FS.

The DSTI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security (CoE-FS) is proud to announce that three of its affiliated individuals and initiatives have been nominated for the 2024/2025 NSTF-South32 Awards, widely regarded as the “Science Oscars of South Africa”.

These prestigious awards, hosted by the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) in partnership with South32, honour outstanding contributions to science, engineering, technology, and innovation in South Africa. Now in their 27th year, the awards are the most sought-after of their kind, nationally.

Our CoE-FS family is represented this year by:

Professor Lise Korsten, Co-Director of the CoE-FS, nominated in the Lifetime Achievement category
Elaine Petersen, nominated in the Management category for her contributions to institutional leadership and capacity development
And the CoE-FS-convened learning journeys, nominated under the Communication Award for science communication and outreach.

“These nominations represent the culmination of a decade’s work in building a centre of excellence, committed to inclusive, high-impact, and transformative research and engagement,” said Professor Julian May, Director of the CoE-FS. “To see this acknowledged on a national stage is incredibly affirming.”

Lise Korsten: Turning science into action for safer food

Professor Lise Korsten has long been recognised as a pioneer in plant health and food safety, both in South Africa and internationally. Her nomination in the Lifetime Achievement category acknowledges not only her academic contributions but also her applied, real-world impact.

As Co-Director of the CoE-FS, Professor Korsten has championed innovative approaches to safe food systems, led cross-continental collaborations, and helped translate food safety science into practical solutions for farmers, food processors, and public health officials.

Prof Lise Korsten recently received an honorary doctorate from Ghent University in recognition of her outstanding contributions to plant pathology, food safety, and food security. Photo Mirco Photo – www.mircophoto.com/Ghent University.

She is also nominated in three additional award categories: the NSTF-Water Research Commission Award, the Science Diplomacy for Africa Award, and the new NSTF-Agricultural Research Council Award.

Her work has advanced the field of food safety as a driver of both public health and economic opportunity. “Turning science into action,” as one of her citations reads, is a phrase that captures her ethos and the broader mission of the CoE-FS.

Elaine Petersen: Strategic and operational excellence

Equally impactful is the nomination of Elaine Petersen, whose work has helped position the CoE-FS as a leader in inclusive academic leadership and research development.

CoE-FS Finance Manager Elaine Petersen (right) and the centre’s Communication and Engagement Manager Carla Bernardo. Photo Riaan West/CoE-FS.

Elaine has overseen core functions of the CoE-FS’s management, contributing to its growth and stability over the past decade. She has helped shape the development of emerging scholars, and ensured the financial sustainability of groundbreaking food security research, setting a national benchmark for research governance.

Her nomination in the Management category recognises her strategic and operational excellence. Elaine’s leadership has ensured that the CoE-FS not only functions effectively, but that transparency, accountability and sustainability are firmly embedded in its operations.

Learning Journeys: Engaging communities through science

The CoE-FS’s third nomination, under the Communication Award, is for its learning journey series — immersive and collaborative events hosted in areas such as Langa in Cape Town and the Breede Valley Municipality.

Prof Julian May during one of the earlier learning journeys, in Zwelethemba, Worcester. Photo Ashraf Hendricks/CoE-FS.

These learning journeys have brought together academics, policymakers, civil society, and local communities to explore urgent food security challenges and solutions. Through site visits, storytelling, filmmaking, media engagement and public dialogues, the journeys have made food systems research accessible and responsive to the lived experiences of affected communities.

By moving knowledge exchange beyond conventional academic spaces, the CoE-FS’s communication and engagement team — supported by a network of partners such as the Southern Africa Food Lab, Western Cape Economic Development Partnership, and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) — has modelled new ways of doing science with, not just for, communities.

A decade of impact

Professor Hettie Schönfeldt, holder of the DSTI/NRF/National Development Plan SARChI Chair: Nutrition and Food Security, and former CoE-FS principal investigator, is also nominated for the ARC Award, for her work which aligns with national priorities and global sustainability goals, offering a pathway to creating a resilient and inclusive food system that can effectively combat malnutrition and hunger in South Africa.

These nominations come as the CoE-FS recently marked its tenth year of operation. Since its establishment in 2014, the CoE-FS has become a hub for cutting-edge research, postgraduate training, public engagement, and policy influence on food and nutrition security.

“We’ve supported more than 370 students, convened countless national dialogues, and helped shift how food systems are studied and supported in South Africa,” said Professor May. “These nominations reflect a decade of collective effort.”

The NSTF Awards Gala Event will take place on 31 July 2025, with winners to be announced then.

Regardless of the final outcomes, the Centre celebrates these nominations as a testament to the strength, passion, and innovation of its people and partnerships.

For more on the NSTF-South32 Awards, visit www.nstf.org.za.