Winners of the 2015/2016 NSTF-South32 Awards

Published June 30, 2016, by DST

Media Release – 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 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 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 in the Who’s Who of SET and innovation in SA booklet that is published to honour the finalists competing for the prestigious NSTF-South32 Awards. The booklet is also meant to list the skills complement critical for the development and socio-economic growth of South Africa.

The NSTF and its sponsors take pride in congratulating 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. David Kenneth Berger

Professor, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Pretoria
Special Annual Theme Award: Crop Science and Food Security, in honour of the 2016 International Year of Pulses, as declared by the United Nations (sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology – DST)

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 – by an individual (two awards),

and

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

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 – 2 awards (sponsored by Eskom)

and

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
Head of Department and Director: 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) – two awards (prizes sponsored by proSET – sector of the NSTF representing Professional Bodies and Learned Societies)

and

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)

Dr Suprakas Sinha Ray
Chief Researcher and Director: Polymer Nanocomposites, DST-Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Nanotechnology Innovation Centre; and National Centre for Nano-structured Materials, CSIR
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
Chief Executive Officer: Mr Jonathan Naidoo
Non-Governmental Organisation 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. View the video on the story behind the making of the trophy.

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY:
Ms Jansie Niehaus
Executive Director and Spokesperson

NSTF, the non-profit stakeholder body for all SET and innovation organisations in South Africa