Today’s research ... tomorrow’s innovation

Whoof Science, Engineering, Technology

NSTF-South32

TheWho’s

and Innovation in South Africa

International Year of Pulses

Heart HealtH

Organic manufacturingNutrients

Agriculture

Healthy dietBeans

Beans

Amino acids

Biodiesel fuel from soybeans

Biodiesel

Indigenous knowledge systems

Lower cholesterol levelsAgroforestry

Lentils

Food

Natural ecosystems

Agricultural sustainability

Source of protein

Peas

SiziNg textiLeS aNd paperS

dYes

Oils

Gums

Chickpeas

Feed

inksDry grain

Leguminous plants

Nitrogen-fixing properties

Biodegradable plastics

Source of protein

Manage blood sugar

Sustainability

2015/2016

Awards

National Science and Technology Forum

Tables• CouncilforGeoscience• CouncilforScientificandIndustrial

Research(CSIR)• North-WestUniversity• SiyafundaCommunityTechnologyCentre• SouthAfricanNuclearEnergyCorporation• SquareKilometreArraySouthAfrica• StellenboschUniversity• TechnologyInnovationAgency• TshwaneUniversityof Technology• UmvotoAfrica(Pty)Ltd• Universityof CapeTown• Universityof Johannesburg• Universityof Pretoria• Universityof SouthAfrica• Universityof theWesternCape• Universityof theWitwatersrand• UViRCOTechnologies(Pty)Ltd

Seats • Chamberof MinesSouthAfrica• PlantHealthProducts(Pty)Ltd• SouthAfricanCouncilforNatural

ScientificProfessions• Universityof KwaZulu-Natal• Universityof theFreeState

Partners and sponsors

Co-branding Sponsor

Partners

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Gift Sponsor

Media Sponsors

Prize Sponsor

Department:Trade and IndustryREPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

the dti

Department:Science and TechnologyREPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

science& technology

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Contents

TheNationalScienceandTechnologyForum...................................................................................................2

NSTFChairman’smessage...............................................................................................................................4

South32message.............................................................................................................................................6

Adjudicationof theNSTF-South32Awards.......................................................................................................7

Thefinalistsof the2015/2016NSTF-South32Awards......................................................................................9

Non-governmentalorganisation.........................................................................................................9

Researchleadingtoinnovation:SMME............................................................................................10

Researchleadingtoinnovation:Corporateorganisation..................................................................11

Communicationforoutreachandcreatingawareness......................................................................14

NSTF-GreenMatterAwardtowardsachievingbiodiversityconservation,

environmentalsustainabilityandagreenereconomy.......................................................................15

Managementandrelatedactivities...................................................................................................17

TWKambule-NSTFAwards:Emergingresearchers........................................................................18

ResearchorEngineeringCapacityDevelopment.............................................................................21

TWKambule-NSTFAwards:Researchanditsoutputs.....................................................................25

SpecialAnnualThemeAwardforCropScienceandFoodSecurity.................................................28

LifetimeAward...................................................................................................................................30

TheNSTFBrilliantsProgrammeforourfutureinnovators...............................................................................33

NSTFShare’nDareProgramme....................................................................................................................36

The Who’s Whoof Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation in South Africa

2015/2016 NSTF-South32 Awards

National Science and Technology Forum

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National Science and Technology Forum

The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)S.E.T. for socio-economic growth

TheNationalScienceandTechnologyForum(NSTF)is21yearsoldthisyear.Itisthelargestnationalnon-profitstakeholderbodyforallscience,engineeringandtechnology(SET)andinnovationorganisationsinSouthAfrica.Inexistencesince1995,theNSTFhasbeenpromotingSETandinnovationthroughcollaborativeefforts:

• Itplaysapowerfulconsultativeandlobbyingroleinpolicymatters• ItorganisesSET-relateddiscussionforumstofacilitateconsultationandnetworking• ItorganisestheprestigiousNSTFAwards,inpartnershipwithSouth32astheco-brandingsponsor(South32isthecompanythatwasformedwhenBHPBillitonde-merged)

• ItrunsanongoingpublicityandoutreachcampaignwithNSTFAwardwinners,thatpromotesSET-relatedknowledgeandcareersamonglearnersandstudents,aswellasawarenessamongthepublic

• Itrunsprojectsinpartnershipwithitsmembers,includingdisseminatingnewsandinformation,andmakingbursaryandcareerinformationmoreaccessibletoyoungpeople

History of the NSTF Thepre-cursorof theNSTF,theNationalScienceandTechnologyInitiative,participatedinSouthAfrica’slandmarkCODESAConvention(ConventionforaDemocraticSouthAfrica)in1991thatmarkedtheendof theapartheidera.

Asaresultof thefindingsandrecommendationsof thisgroup,governmentfoundedtheNSTFtogetherwithkeystakeholdersin1995tooverseeimplementation.ThethenMinisterof Arts,Culture,ScienceandTechnology(ACST),DrBenNgubane,madehisintentionclearbyrecognisingthebodyasaSETforumforpurposesof consultationandaddressingSETissueswithinthebroadSETcommunity.

TheNSTFhascontinuedtoenjoysupportfromtheMinistryandDepartmentof ScienceandTechnology,andstakeholdersatalllevels,includingbusinesses,academicinstitutions,andawidevarietyof professionals,non-governmentalorganisations,sciencecouncils,andstatutorybodies.

What can the NSTF do for your organisation?TheNSTFcanbringyourorganisationtogetherwithothersaroundcriticalissuesrelatedtogovernmentpolicy.Itprovidesplatformsforinteractionandmakingyourvoiceheard.Policiesaroundpertinentissues(relatedtoenergy,education,infrastructure,foodsecurity,technologyadvancement,water,amongothers)shouldbeinformedbyresearchandtheexperienceof practitioners.NSTFforumsbringvariousstakeholderstogethertodojustthat.

TheNSTFhassubstantialrepresentationinallmembershipsectors,includingsciencecouncilsandstatutorybodies,highereducation,state-ownedenterprises,civilsociety,businessandprofessionalsocieties.Thisallowsresearchersandotherprofessionalstospeakwithonevoicetogovernmentonparticularissuesof concern.

The NSTF AwardsTheNSTFAwardswereestablishedin1998asacollaborativeefforttorecogniseteams,organisationsandindividualswhohavemadeoutstandingcontributionstoSETandinnovation.Thecontributionsrecognisedintendifferentcategoriesinclude:

• Scientificresearch• Capacitybuildinginengineeringandresearch• Researchleadingtoinnovation

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• Scientificcontributionstowardsenvironmentalsustainability• Managementof SETandinnovation• Sciencecommunication• AndaSpecialAnnualThemeAward

Thisinitiativehasgrownsteadilyovertheyears–inthenumberof winnersawardedannually,intherangeof categories,andinparticipationbythecommunity.Coincidentally,theAwardshavebeencelebratedsince2003attheveryplacewheretheNSTFwasborn–attheCODESAConventionthattookplaceattheWorldTradeCentreSA.EmperorsPalaceisbuiltonthislocation.

New features: Thisyear’sNSTF-South32Awardsproudlypresentthefollowingnewfeatures:

• TheCapacityDevelopmentAwardsnowincludeAwardsforEngineeringCapacityDevelopment.Eskom’ssponsorshipwillsupporttwoawards–onemaleandonefemale–incapacitydevelopmentintheengineeringspace.TheNSTFisstillmakingoneawardforcapacitydevelopmentinotherdisciplines

• TheNSTFismakingaspecialawardforacontributionincropscienceandfoodsecuritythisyear,inhonourof the2016InternationalYearof Pulses,asdeclaredbytheUnitedNations.TheawardissponsoredbytheDepartmentof ScienceandTechnology(DST)

• Thenon-governmentalorganisation(NGO)categorywaschangedpreviouslytoincludetechnologytransferandeducation/trainingcontributionstoSET.ThebroaderscopeopensuptheNSTF-South32Awardstoawiderrangeof organisationsandallowsforrecognitionof socialinnovationefforts

NSTF-South32 Awards’ theme: ThethemeforthisyearisPulses.2016hasbeendeclaredbytheUnitedNationsastheInternationalYearof Pulses(IYP2016).TheIYP2016aimstopositionpulsesasaprimarysourceofproteinandotheressentialnutrients.Italsopromotesbroaddiscussionandco-operationatthenational,regionalandgloballevelstoincreaseawarenessandunderstanding.Assuch,theNSTFismakingaSpecialAward,sponsoredbytheDST,forresearchinCropScienceandFoodSecuritythisyear.WewouldliketothankAGTFoodsAfricaforsponsoringpulsegiftpacks,incelebrationofourtheme,forattendeesattheevent.Also,theNSTFhostedaDiscussionForumonPulses

andFoodSecurityon2–3June2016inGauteng.ThisNSTFDiscussionForumwassponsoredbytheDSTandinpartnershipwiththeDepartmentof Agriculture,ForestryandFisheriesandAGTFoodsAfrica.

New NSTF-South32 Awards’ trophy: Lastyear,tocelebratetheNSTF’sseconddecadeandtheInternationalYearof Light,anewtrophywasdesignedandlaunched.Thisnewtrophy,sponsoredbytheDST,wasmanufacturedusingadditivemanufacturingandadvancedmaterialswithSouthAfricanexpertiseandstate-of-the-artlasertechnology.ItisafirstinSouthAfrica(andpossiblytheworld),thatascienceawardstrophyismadeinthisparticularmanner.

Thedesignof thenewtrophyincludesfeaturesandsymbolismthatdepicttheimportanceof SET,andacelebrationof innovation.Itrepresentsa‘featherinthecap’of everyNSTF-South32Awardwinner.

Thisuniquetrophyisanembodimentof theNSTF-South32Awards’slogan:‘Today’sresearch...tomorrow’sinnovation’.Itcontributestotheprestigeof theAwardswhichareconsideredthe‘ScienceOscarsof SouthAfrica’–themostcomprehensive,inclusiveandsought-afternationalawardsof itskind.

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National Science and Technology Forum

Itisapleasureforme,onbehalf of theNSTFExecutiveCommittee,towarmlywelcomeyoutothe2015/2016NSTF-South32Awards.ThroughtheAwards,theNSTFrecognisesandrewardsexcellenceinscience,engineeringandtechnology(SET)researchandinnovation,capacitybuilding,managementandsciencecommunication,aswellastopachieversinmathematicsandscienceinGrade12viaourBrilliantsProgramme.

TheNSTFisalsocelebrating21yearssinceitsinceptionthisyear–congratulationstoallitsconstituentsandsupporters.

AspecialthankyoutotheHonourableMinisterof ScienceandTechnology,MrsNalediPandor,officialpatronof theawardscelebration,aswellastoDirector-GeneralDrPhilMjwaraandhisdepartmentalofficialsfortheirunwaveringsupport.

Thesignificantcontributionsandsupportof thefollowinginstitutionsarerecognisedwiththanks:South32,Eskom,GreenMatter,theDepartmentof ScienceandTechnology(DST),theDepartmentof TradeandIndustry,BusinessReport,Mail&Guardian,andtheCSIR.AlsoacknowledgedisproSET(ProfessionalsinSET),whichcontributedtotheEmergingResearcherscategory.

WethanktheNSTFconstituencyfortheirsupportof tablesandseatsatthehighpointintheSouthAfricanSETcalendar,theNSTF-South32Awards.TheNSTFismostgratefultothepersonsandorganisationsthatpreparedandsubmittednominationsfortheawards.Wearealsoindebtedtoouradjudicationpanel,ablyledbyMrDenisHuntandthereviewpanelof experts,Prof.StephanieBurton,Prof.JeffreyMphahleleandProf.RobinCrewe.

Thesuccessof theNSTFawardseventcanlargelybeattributedtotheoutstandingeffortsof theNSTF’sMsJansieNiehaus(ExecutiveDirector),MrsWilnaEksteen(OfficeManager),MsMakwenaRamaru,MrMatomeMphela,MsFulufheloGelebeandMrSiyabongaKweyama(Secretariat),andtheAwardsPublicityCommitteechairedbyMsMarieAshpoleof theSouthAfricanInstitutionof CivilEngineering.Alongwiththenewgroupof volunteersfromtheNationalYouthServiceProgramme,MsThendoBudeli,MsSekgailaMothibaandMrTshepoMolebatsi,theyhaveworkedextremelyhardtomaketheeventahugesuccess.

Thecountryhadaspirationsof achievingeconomicgrowthof 5%by2019(SONA2014).Unfortunately,wearefacedwithcontractedgrowthforthefirsttimesince2009,aswellasthespectreof furtherratingdowngrades.Agricultureandmininghavemainlycontributedtothenegativegrowth.Theimplicationsforfoodandnutritionsecurityareserious.Globally,foodsecurityandnutritionmovedfrombeinganentréetobeingthemaincourse.ThenewSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)thathavesucceededtheMillenniumDevelopmentGoalsareexpectedtobecomethemainreferenceforcountries’developmentpoliciesandprogrammesforthenext15years.

BeginningwithSDG1,‘Endpovertyinallitsformseverywhere’,SDG2,‘Endhunger,achievefoodsecurityandimprovednutritionandpromotesustainableagriculture’,andSDG3,‘Ensurehealthylives

“Thediversityof thephenomenaof natureisso

great,andthetreasureshiddenintheheavens

sorich,preciselyinorderthatthehumanmind

shallneverbelackinginfreshnourishment.”

JohannesKepler

NSTF Chairman’s message

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andpromotewell-beingforallatallages’,foodsecurityanditslinktonaturalresourcesandruraldevelopment,featureinvirtuallyeverygoalof the2030SDGAgenda.Inlightof theSDGsandourownNationalDevelopmentPlan2030,theimplementationof thecountry’sNationalFoodandNutritionSecurityPolicyiscrucial.Thatthegovernmentisseriousaboutimplementation,isattestedtobythefactthattheDeputyPresident’sOfficeandtheDepartmentof PerformanceMonitoringandEvaluationhavetakentheleadonthis.Inlinewithglobalconcerns,thethemeforthe2015/2016NSTF-South32Awardsis‘Pulses’,withafocusoncropscienceandfoodsecurity.TheNSTFheldadiscussionforumonthetopicrecentlyandalsoincludedaSpecialAnnualThemeAwardforCropScienceandFoodSecurityintheNSTF-South32Awards.Therecommendationsfromthediscussionforumnotedtheneedformorecommunicationbetweenproducers,distributorsandconsumerssothatexpectationsarealigned;collaboration,notonlyacrossthefoodchain,butbetweengovernmentandtheprivatesectorandbetweengovernmentdepartments;recognitionof indigenousknowledgesystemsaroundfoodsecurity;andtheurgentneedforinvestmentinresearchanddevelopment(R&D).

Tonightwould,of course,notbepossiblewithoutthetenaciousbig-thinkerswearehonouring.Congratulationstothewinnersandfinalistsof the2015/2016NSTF-South32Awards.WecelebratewithyouandthankyouforyoursuperbcontributionstoSETandinnovationinSouthAfrica.

Prof. Ali DhansayChairman, NSTF

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A significant impactAtSouth32wearedrivenbyacommitmenttomakealastingpositiveimpactforourstakeholders.

Asagloballydiversifiedmetalsandminingcompany,South32believesthatthereisgreatpotentialforSouthAfricanstoinfluencetheworldthroughscience,engineering,technology(SET)andinnovation.

Withhigh-qualityandwell-maintainedoperations,miningandproducingbauxite,alumina,aluminium,energyandmetallurgicalcoal,manganese,nickel,silver,leadandzincinAustralia,SouthernAfricaandSouthAmerica,South32isfocusedonharnessingthepotentialof itspeople.

Broughttogetherbyacommonspiritandapproach,South32isabusinessthatlivesbyitsvaluesof Care,Trust,TogethernessandExcellence;issociallyandenvironmentallyresponsible;andsupportsabetterfutureforourcommunities,whereverwedobusiness.

Thecreationof sharedvalueiswhatdrivesourdecision-makingprocesses.Inunionwithourstakeholdersandpartners,wefindcommonalityinthewilltomakeadifferencefromthegroundup.Ourcommitmentisinformedbyastrongalignmentwiththeneedsof thecommunitieswithinwhichweoperate;aswellasthedesiretoformpartnershipsthatultimatelybenefitthebroadercommunity.

Contribution to excellenceWeareconsciousof thevalueof investinginprogrammeswithinthefieldsof SET,andthevaluethatcanbeattainedbyfosteringthegrowthanddevelopmentof existingparticipants,whileencouragingtheengagementof others.Bysodoing,wechallengeourselvestoachieveexcellenceinareasthatmatter.

Our commitment to growthSouth32’spartnershipwiththeNationalScienceandTechnologyForum(NSTF)isademonstrationof thesharedbelief inthevaluethatSETandinnovationcancontributetoSouthAfricaandbeyond.Throughadvancesintheseareas,thereistheopportunitytobetterthelivesof millionsof peopleindevelopingcountries.

ThroughitsinvestmentintheNSTFAwardsprogramme,South32seekstosupportthesefieldsasenginesof growth,sustainabledevelopmentandstablesocieties.

Mr Mike FraserPresident, South32

South32 Message

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Anadjudicationpanelof independentjudgesreviewedthenominationstodeterminethefinalistsandthewinners.Theadjudicationpanelrepresentsallsectorsof theNSTFmembership,aswellastheawardpartners.Apanelof expertswasappointedtoassisttheadjudicationpanelbyreviewingandprovidingvalidationof theselectionsmade.

Chair and Head Adjudicator

Mr Denis HuntNSTFBoardMember

Civil society sector

Dr Nompumelelo ObokohDivisionalManager:InnovationSupportandProtection,CompaniesandIntellectualPropertyCommission.Alternaterepresentative:MsTebogoGule,Chief OperatingOfficer:Sci-BonoDiscoveryCentre

Vice-Chair

Prof. Chris ChimimbaProfessorandHeadof theDepartmentof ZoologyandEntomology,Universityof Pretoria(2007/2008NSTFAwardwinner)

Higher education sector

Prof. Wellington Didibhuku ThwalaDepartmentof ConstructionManagementandQuantitySurveying,Universityof Johannesburg

Business sector

Ms Karen NelCo-founder:DesignBiologix

Professional bodies sector (Science)

Prof. Neil CovilleSchoolof Chemistry,Universityof theWitwatersrand.Alternaterepresentative:DrLindiweMtwisha,SeniorDirector:StrategicInitiativesandAdministration,ResearchandInnovationDivision,Universityof Johannesburg

Adjudication of the NSTF-South32 Awards

Panel members

National Science and Technology Forum

Professional bodies sector (Engineering)

Mr Andre Hoffmann President:SouthAfricanInstituteof ElectricalEngineers

National Science and Technology Forum

National Science and Technology Forum

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For the Capacity Development Awards (Partnership with Eskom)

Mr Yashin Brijmohan Head:Schoolof Engineering,Eskom

For the Special Award: Crop Science and Food Security

Prof. Albert ModiDeanandHeadofSchool:Agricultural,Earth&EnvironmentalSciences,Universityof KwaZulu-Natal

Prof. Stephanie Burton

Vice-Principal:ResearchandPostgraduateEducation,Universityof Pretoria

For the Science Communication for Outreach and Awareness Award

Ms Ina Roos IndependentScienceCommunicationSpecialist

For the NSTF-GreenMatter Award: Biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability and a greener economy

Dr Sibusiso ManziniExecutiveProgrammeDirector:GreenMatter

Prof. Jeffrey Mphahlele

VicePresident:Research,SouthAfricanMedicalResearchCouncil

State-owned enterprises sector

Mr Barry MacCollGeneralManager:Research,TestingandDevelopment,Eskom.Alternaterepresentative:MsKammyYoung,InnovationManager:Eskom

Prof. Robin Crewe

ActingSeniorVice-Principal,Universityof Pretoria

Panel of experts

Sponsor and category representatives

Science councils and statutory bodies sector

Ms Nicky KoorbanallyGroupManager:LicensingandVentures,CSIR.Alternaterepresentative:DrTshepoMalefetse,R&DCoordinator,BiotechnologyDivisionandR&DCluster,Mintek

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Mobile Agri Skills Development and Training (MASDT) NPC Managing Director: Ms Lynette Bezuidenhout

TheMASDTwasestablishedin2005asatrainingserviceproviderintheagriculturesectorinMpumalanga.Itsoonbecameapparentthattrainingalonewillnotempowersmallemergingfarmersandnewlandowners,whohavetheopportunitytobecomepartof theformalagriculturalsector.TheMASDTdiversifiedfrombeingsimplyaninstitutionprovidingtrainingtobecomea‘onestopcentre’forsmallandmediumentrepreneursinthesector.Thecompanyprovidesacomprehensiveandintegratedrangeof mobilesupportservicesthroughoutthevaluechaininagriculturetoemergingfarmersoftenlocatedinremoteruralareas.

Siyafunda Community Technology Centre (CTC) Founding Director: Mr Ahmed Ismael

SiyafundaCTCenablesinformationandcommunityknowledgecentreswherepeoplecanaccesscomputers,theinternet,andotherdigitaltechnologiesthatenablethemtogatherinformation,create,learn,andcommunicatewithotherswhiletheydevelopessentialdigitalskills.Thefocusisontheuseof digitaltechnologiestosupportcommunity,economic,educationalandsocialdevelopmentwiththeaimof reducingisolation,bridgingthedigitaldivide,promotinghealthissues,creatingeconomicopportunities,andreachingouttotheyouth.

SmartXchange Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Mr Jonathan Naidoo

TheDurbanTechnologyHub,tradingasSmartXchange,isanincubatorwhosecoremandateistoprovidedevelopmentservicestosmall,mediumandmicroenterprises(SMMEs)intheMediaInformationCommunicationTechnologyandelectronics(MICTe)sector.ItidentifiesandassistsindevelopingqualityskilledMICTeSMMEsinKwaZulu-Natal(KZN)andbuildsapoolof skilledMICTeworkersthatwillenableKZNbusinessestoflourish.SmartXchangeoperatesinpartnershipwithcorporatesfromtheMICTeindustry,tertiaryinstitutionsandthegovernmentsectortoupskillentrepreneursaswellastheyouth,creatingsustainablejobs,promotingeconomicgrowthandthecompetitivenessoftheprovince.

The finalists of the 2015/2016 NSTF-South32 Awards

Non-governmental organisation(for an outstanding contribution to science, engineering and technology (SET) and innovation including technology transfer or education and training activities)

National Science and Technology Forum

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CFAM Technologies (Pty) Ltd Managing Director: Mr Danie Vorster

CFAMTechnologies(Pty)Ltdisaspin-off companyfromtheCentreforAdvancedManufacturing(CFAM)attheNorth-WestUniversity(NWU).Itdevelopedandlocalisedthemanufacturingof twin-screwextrudersandextrusiontechnologiesinAfrica,adaptedforAfricanconditions,andnowproventobeworld-class.Thecontrolsystemsof CFAMextrudersarearguablyof thebestandmostadvancedintheworld,andarespecificallydesignedtooperateintheAfricanfoodindustrywithitsuniquechallenges.Wherepreviouslyanumberof multi-nationalcompaniesinSouthAfricaimportedfoodandfeedextrudersfromabroad,theyarenowusingCFAM’sextruders.CFAMexportstoNamibia,Botswana,theUnitedKingdom,NorthernIrelandandSingapore.

Strait Access Technologies (SAT) CEO: Professor Peter Zilla, and Director: Cardiovascular Research Unit, University of Cape Town (UCT)

Millionsof peopleacrossthedevelopingworldsufferfromrheumaticheartdisease,adiseaseof povertythatleadstothedestructionof heartvalves.Withoutsophisticatedopenheartsurgeryitleadstodeathatayoungage.SATinventeddevicesthatallowheartvalvereplacementswithoutopenheartsurgeryandthataresuitableforapplicationinthesimpleconditionsof manydevelopingcountries.SATalsoinventedaplasticmaterialandatanningmethodforanimaltissuethatmakethereplacementheartvalveslastmuchlongerthantypicalcommercialfirstworldproducts.Thedevelopmentsareenteringclinicaltrials.

SUN Magnetics (Pty) Ltd Managing Director: Professor Coenraad Fourie, Stellenbosch University (SU)

ProfessorCoenraadFourieinventedasetof engineeringsoftwaretools,‘InductEx’,thatcalculatesthephysicalvaluesof circuitcomponentsfromfabricationmasks.Itverifiesthecorrectlayoutandoperationof integratedcircuitsusedinquantumcomputingandenergy-efficientsuperconductingsupercomputers.Thesoftwaretoolsareusedbyphysicistsandengineerstoreducethedevelopmenttimeof beyond-CMOScomputerswhilealsoincreasingthefabricationsuccessrate.Thecommercialisationcompanymadeaprofitinthefirstyearof operation,leadingtoincomegenerationforthefoundersandSU.

Research leading to innovation: SMME(for an outstanding contribution to SET and innovation by a team or an individual)

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Umvoto Africa (Pty) Ltd Founder and Managing Director: Ms Rowena Hay

MsRowenaHayfoundedUmvotoAfricain1991toresearchandsupportsustainablegeo-scientificandtechnologicalsolutionstoaddressresource,environmental,socialandeconomicchallenges.TheUmvototeam’sscientificandtechnologicalexcellencedeliversappropriateground-breakingsolutionstowaterandenvironmentalresourceissues,disasterriskreductionandsocio-economicchallenges.InnovativeresearchwithpartnerssuchastheWaterResearchCommissiondeliversscientificallysound,Earthscience-basedresearch,trainingandconsultingservicesthatmeettheclient’srequirementsandarefitforinternationalpeerreview.

UViRCO Technologies (Pty) LtdJoint venture with the CSIR, CEO: Mr Dirk Lindeque

Adefective,high-voltage(HV)electricalinstallationgivesoff acoronadischargewhichisnotreadilyvisible.Providingavisualdisplayof suchcoronadischargescanaidpowerutilitiesinthemanagementof theirHVequipment.UViRCOTechnologies(Pty)Ltd,acommercialspin-outcompanyof theCSIR,isnowoneof theleadingdevelopersof coronadetectiontechnologyintheworldandamarketleadingmanufacturerunderlicencefromtheCSIRof itsglobal,trademarked,CoroCAMbrandof coronacamerasaswellasemissionvisualisationequipmentnowbeingsoldworldwide.

Advanced Casting Technologies, CSIR Materials Science and ManufacturingResearch Group Leader: Dr Gonasagren Govender (also under the category: Research or Engineering Capacity Development)

DrGonasagrenGovenderleadstheCSIR’sAdvancedCastingTechnologiesresearchgroup.Thegroupfocusesontwocastingtechnologyplatforms,i.e.investmentcastingandpermanentmouldcasting.Inthepast10yearsthegrouphassuccessfullydevelopedanddemonstratedcapabilitiesinTitanium(Ti)investmentcasting(IC),semi-solidmetal,highpressuredie-casting,andprovidedinnovativetechnicalsolutionsandsupporttothecastingindustry.TheTiICcapabilityisprobablytheonlysuchfacilityintheSouthernHemisphereandisessentialforthedownstreambeneficiationof Ti.Thegrouphasbeensuccessfulindevelopingmetallurgicalandprocessengineersandtechniciansthroughresearchandinnovationactivities.

Research leading to innovation: Corporate organisation(for an outstanding contribution to SET and innovation by a team or individual)

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Azimuth Team, CSIR Meraka InstituteTeam Leader: Dr Jeanine Engelbrecht

Surfaceinstabilitycausedbyundergroundminingcancauselossof lifeanddamagetoinfrastructureandtheenvironment.Azimuthhasdevelopedasystemtodetectmillimetre-scalesurfacedeformationusingstate-of-the-artsatelliteimagingtechnology.Becauseitdetectsdeformationremotely,Azimuthovercomesthelimitationsoftraditionalmonitoringapproaches.Basedonsatellitedataandunderpinnedbyamatureinformationandcommunicationstechnologyplatform,Azimuthaddressestheindustry-widechallengeofmonitoringsurfaceinstabilities.Thesystemprovidesearlywarningofpotentiallyhazardousconditions,therebyminimisingtheriskof lossoflifeanddamagetoassets.Thetechnologyisbeingcommercialisedthroughatechnologystart-up,TerraNexus(Pty)Ltd.

Mr Willem BotesPlant Breeder, Department of Genetics, SU

OverthepastfifteenyearsMrWillemBoteshasobtainedplantbreeders’rightsforonenewryeandeighttriticale(ahybridof wheatandrye)cultivars.Mostof thesehavebeensuccessfullycommercialisedwithindustrypartners.Hiswheatpre-breedingprogrammehasalsomadeanimpactnationallybyreleasing,forthetenthyearrunning,anovelgermplasmwithvaluabletraitstoallSouthAfricanwheatbreedingprogrammes,tobeusedascrossingparentsand/ordirectintroductionstoboostlocalwheatbreeding.

Broadband-for-All team, CSIR Meraka InstituteTeam Leader: Mr Kobus Roux

TheBroadband-for-Allprojectdemonstratedhowaffordablebroadbandconnectivitycanbeachievedinunder-served,ruralcommunitiesusinglow-costinfrastructureandownedandsupportedbypeoplefromthelocalcommunitytocreatesocio-economicandcommercialopportunities.Projectoutputsincludedalargescaledemonstratorof awirelessmeshnetworkasabroadbandsolutionforruralareas;developingandlicensingof thewirelessmeshnetworktechnologyformanufacturinginSouthAfrica;andaVillageOperatormodelwhereyoungentrepreneurswithintheircommunitiesareempoweredtosupportaccesstoandincreasetheuseof technologyinselectedruralareas.

Geo-location based dynamic spectrum allocation (GL-DSA) Team, CSIR Meraka InstituteTeam Leader: Dr Fisseha Mekuria

Governmentsallovertheworldareregardingspectrumasascarcenationalresourcethatshouldbeefficientlyutilisedtomaximisethereturnoninvestment,andmeetthenationalbroadbanddemand.TheGL-DSA,developedbytheCSIR,isatechnologywhichwillenableefficientutilisationandsmartsharingof nationalspectrumresources.Itwillpromotethedevelopmentof sharedspectrumwirelessbroadbandnetworksandpromoteaffordablebroadbandinternetconnectivityof underservedruralcommunitiesinSouthAfricaandemergingeconomycountries.

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Dr Sudesh Sivarasu Biomedical Engineering, UCT (also under the TW Kambule-NSTF category: Emerging researchers)

DrSudeshSivarasu,aseniorlecturerinBiomedicalEngineeringatUCT,setouttochangethesituationinSouthAfricawhereupto95%of medicaldevicesareimported.HedevelopedaFrugalBiodesignProcessTMandseveralothermedicaldevicesoverthepastfiveyears.Thesedevicesareatvarioustechnologyreadinesslevels,someof thembeinginpre-clinicaltrialstagesof development.Overthistime,DrSivarasuhasfiledfourpatentfamilyapplicationsandhasbeengrantedthreemedicaldevicepatents.Severalotherawardshavebeenmadeforhisinnovations.

The Neutron Diffraction Team, South African Nuclear Energy Corporation Team Leader: Professor Andrew Venter

TheNeutronDiffractionTeamhasdevelopedtwoworld-classneutrondiffractioninstruments,MPISIandPITSIattheSAFARI-1researchreactor,thatareuniqueontheAfricancontinentandwithonlyafewexistingintheSouthernHemisphere.Theresultingsuiteof non-destructiveexperimentaltechniquesbenefitsmanymaterials-relatedresearchfields.Thisismadepossiblebecauseneutronsprobedeepintomaterialstorevealinformationaboutatomicandmagneticpropertiesatthemicro-structurallevel,providingapowerfulnewdiagnosticforresearchersinfieldssuchasadvancedmanufacturing,metallurgy,nuclearmaterialsandmineralbeneficiation,alldisciplinesattherootof aknowledgeeconomy.

TRADE (Trade and Development)-Decision Support Model Team, TRADE Research Focus Area, NWUDirector: Professor Wilma Viviers (also under the category: Management and related activities)

TheTRADEresearchentityattheNWU(PotchefstroomCampus)ismakinganacademically-rigorousandhighlypracticalcontributiontoSouthAfrica’stradeanddevelopmenteffortsbyregularlyengagingwithpolicymakersandindustrystakeholdersanddeliveringqualityresearchoutputsthataddresskeychallenges,suchasimprovingthecountry’scompetitiveness,diversifyingtheexportproductandservicebase,andexpandingintonon-traditionalmarkets.Atthecoreof TRADE’sworkprogrammeistheDecisionSupportModel,aninnovativetooldesignedtoidentifyrealisticandhigh-potentialexportopportunities,therebystreamliningthemarketselectionprocessatnational,provincialandindustrylevel.

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Dr Ryan BlumenthalSenior Specialist and Lecturer: Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Pretoria (UP)

DrRyanBlumenthal,qualifiedmedicaldoctorandPhD,isapractisingseniorspecialistforensicpathologistnominatedforhisworkonraisingpublicawarenessaboutlightningsafetyinSouthAfrica.Hehaspublishednumerousarticlesandcontributedtotextbooksonlightningandelectro-thermalinjuries.Hehasalsohelpedgeneratenationalandinternationalstandardoperatingproceduresfortheinvestigationintoandtreatmentof lightningstrikevictimsaswellasguidelinesforthemitigationof lightningrisksandfortheforensicinvestigationintolightningstrikefatalityandelectrocutionincidents.

Professor Jill FarrantDepartment of Science and Technology (DST)/National Research Foundation (NRF) Chair: South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI), Systems Biology Studies on Plant Desiccation Tolerances for Food Security, and Professor in Molecular and Cell Biology, UCT (also under the Special Annual Theme Award: Crop Science and Food Security)

ScientistspredictincreasedaridityinAfricaduetoinadequaterainfall.Tofeedgrowingpopulations,itisimperativetoproducecropswithimproveddroughttolerance.Currentcropshavelittletoleranceof waterlossandthusdieunderdroughtconditions.Despiteeffortstoimprovecropresistancetowaterloss,suchmechanismsfailunderseveredrought.Resurrectionplantstolerateextremewaterloss,remainviableinthedesiccatedstateforprolongedperiods,andresumegrowthuponwatering.ProfessorJillFarrant’sresearchhasshedlightonthecomplexmechanismsof desiccationtoleranceinsuchspeciesandsheaimstousethesetoproducecropsthatwillsurviveextremedroughts.

Communication for outreach and creating awareness(for an outstanding contribution to SET and innovation by a team or individual)

Ms Nickey Janse van RensburgLecturer and Energy Movement Programme Manager: University of Johannesburg (UJ)

Bydesigning,buildingandracinghigh-techsolarpoweredcars,theUJhasdevelopedaplatformwherestudentscanengagewithcommunitiesandindustryonenergyinnovationandtheglobaldevelopmentalgoalsrelatingtoenergy,waterandfoodresilienceacrosssub-SaharanAfrica.TheUJEnergyMovement,establishedin2011asaninterdisciplinaryprogrammepromotingskillsdevelopment,energyconservationandsustainabilitythroughtechnologyinnovation,wasinitiallydesignedtofunctionasaprojects-basededucationalplatform.Itisnowusedasapublicrelationsandmarketingtooltopromotescience,technology,engineeringandmathematicseducationandcareerchoices.Itconnectsresearchtothecurriculumbyengagingcommunities,government,non-governmentalorganisations,schoolsandindustrypartners.

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Professor Jan SmitManager: Science Centre, NWU

ProfessorJanSmithasbeendevotedtoscience,mathematicsandtechnologyeducationsince1990.Hedidresearchonfundamentalproblemsinscienceeducation,andinitiatedtheSEDIBAprogrammeforin-servicetrainingof scienceandmathematicseducators.OverthepastfiveyearshehasmanagedthePotchefstroomScienceCentre;initiatedandexecutednewprogrammes;andparticipatedinallDST/SAASTA(SouthAfricanAgencyforScienceandTechnologyAdvancement)initiatedworkshopsandsymposiums,leadingtoaPolicyfortheNationalNetworkof ScienceCentresinSouthAfrica.Heproducedexhibitsforsciencecentresandeitherstartedorcontributedexhibitsto14sciencecentresinSouthAfricaandLesotho.Hecontributestobuildinghumancapitalininnovativewaystoimprovetheknowledge,skillsandattitudesof learnersandthepublicintheimportantfieldsof SET.

Professor Izak (Kobus) van der WaltProfessor: Philosophy of Science and Engineering, NWU

ProfessorKobusvanderWaltpresentsaweekly10–15minutes’radioprogrammeoncurrentenvironmentalissuesontheSABC’sRSGnationalradiostation,whichhasalistenershipof morethan1.8millionSouthAfricans.Throughhisprogrammematerial,ProfessorVanderWaltaddressesawidespectrumof environmentalchallengestolifeonEarthandpromotesdiscussionof thesetopicsamongallwholistenin.Aswellasbringingavarietyof theseissuestotheattentionof ordinarycitizens,heengageswithdisciplinespecialists.ThisistheonlyprogrammeonSABCradiothataddressesenvironmentalissues.

Professor Louis KotzéResearch Professor of Law, NWU (also under the TW Kambule-NSTF category: Research and its outputs)

ProfessorLouisKotzéwasthefirstresearcherinSouthAfricatocomprehensivelyconnectandexplaintherelationshipbetweenenvironmentallawandenvironmentalgovernance.Hesubsequentlyco-establishedtheMaster’sprogrammeinEnvironmentalLawandGovernanceattheNWU,whichisaleadingprogrammeinAfricathatbuildscapacityinandstrivesforresearchexcellenceinthisfield.Prof.Kotzéhasbeenrecognisedasapotentialgloballeaderinthefieldof environmentallawandgovernanceandasanemergingglobalauthorityinthisfieldwithaspecificfocusontheformalandsubstantiveaspectsof constitutionalenvironmentallawandgovernance.

NSTF-GreenMatter Award towards achieving biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability and a greener economy(for an outstanding contribution to SET and innovation by an individual or an organisation – sponsored by GreenMatter)

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Mondi Ecological Networks Programme – Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, SUTeam Leader: Professor Michael Samways, Distinguished Professor and Academic Principal, SU (also under the category: Lifetime)

TheMondiEcologicalNetworkProgrammeattheSU,undertheleadershipof ProfessorMichaelSamways,hasmainstreamedinsectconservationintotheconservationagendabothlocallyandworldwide.Byfartherichestcomponentof lifeisinsects,withourfuturedependentontheirs.Insectsmakesoil,pollinatecropsandmaintainthefabricof life.Workingwiththecorporatesector,heandhisteamhavefoundwaystostoppotentiallyseriousbiodiversitylossthroughbalancingconservationmeasuresagainstourneedsforfibreandfood.Theprogrammeinvolves,inadditiontomanyotherelements,landplanningusingnetworksof naturallandamongplantationforestrywhichaimstomaintainsustainabletimberproductionforexporttoEurope.

Professor Godwell NhamoChief Researcher and Exxaro Chair in Business and Climate Change: University of South Africa (Unisa)

ProfessorGodwellNhamo’sresearchprogrammefocusesongreeneconomytransitioninthecontextof sustainabledevelopment,climatechangeandrenewableenergy,executedthroughanumberof projects.Hisworkrespondstothe2008globalfinancialcrisis,whichforcedleadingeconomiestoredressthetriplechallengesof climatechange,energyinsecurityandfinancialmeltdown.Acomponentof hisresearchistheproductionof newknowledgeforaddressingthesechallenges.Prof.Nhamo’sresearchagendaisinlinewiththe2030SustainableDevelopmentGoals;the2015ParisClimateAgreement;Africa’sAgenda2063andSouthAfrica’sNationalDevelopmentPlan–Vision2030.

Plant Health Products (Pty) Ltd Team Leader: Dr Michael Morris

PlantHealthProducts(Pty)Ltddevelopseffectivebiologicalcontrolproductsforcropprotectionandgrowthenhancement.Theproductscontainthenaturally-occurringenemiesof cropdiseasesandpests,aswellaslivingorganismsthatenableimprovedrootgrowthanduptakeof nutrients.Theseorganismsmaybeeitherfungiorbacteriainenvironmentallyfriendlyandeasy-to-useformulations.Theimportanceof theworkistheresearchanddevelopmentof viable,sustainablealternativestotheuseof chemicalpesticides.Theproductsaretheresultof extensive,in-depthresearchandaresuitableforbothconventionalandorganicfarming.Theyareusedinsmall-scaleagriculture,tunnels,orchards,pastures,fieldcrops,vegetables,vineyardsandtimberplantations.

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Professor Maureen TaylorProfessor and Rand Water Chair in Public Health: UP

ProfessorMaureenTaylor’sresearch,whichfocusesonthedetectionandmolecularcharacterisationof selectedgastroenteritisandhepatitisviruses,hasprovidednewdataandcontributedtothegreaterunderstandingregardingtheprevalenceandmolecularepidemiologyof selectedentericvirusesinboththeclinicalandenvironmentalsettingsinSouthAfrica.Inaddition,theclinicalrelevanceandpublichealthsignificanceof selectedentericvirusesinfoodandwatersourceshasbeendetermined.

Professor Beverley KramerAssistant Dean: Research and Postgraduate Support, and Professor of Anatomy: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)

ProfessorBeverleyKramerhasbeenresponsiblefortheoversightandmanagementof allresearchandpostgraduateactivitiesintheWitsFacultyof HealthSciences,andfordevelopingandbuildingtheseportfoliosoverthepastseven-and-a-half years.Twenty-tworesearchentities,Centresof Excellence,sevenDST/NRFResearchChairsand2400postgraduatestudentsfallunderProfessorKramer’spurview.Shehasinitiatedorsupportedavarietyof coursesinresearchmethodology,biostatistics,scientificwritingandgrantwriting,aswellassupervisors’courses,toup-skillandsustainbothstaff andpostgraduatestudents.DuetoProfessorKramer’sefforts,researchpublicationsandpostgraduatethroughputshaveincreasedsubstantially.

Management and related activities(for an outstanding contribution to SET and innovation over the last 5–10 years by an individual)

Dr Suprakas Sinha Ray Chief Researcher and Director: Polymer Nanocomposites, DST/CSIR Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, and National Centre for Nano-structured Materials, CSIR (also under the category: Research or Engineering Capacity Development)

DrSuprakasSinhaRaychampionsthedevelopmentof nanomaterialsforindustrialapplicationsandgeneratesresearchcapacityinthisfield.Nanocompositesarerevolutionisingtheplastics,energy,sensing,cosmeticandbiomedicalindustries.Longshelf lifepackagingmaterials,orsensorsthatinferbloodsugarlevelsfrombreatharebuttwoexamples.Hisdirectedresearchinitiativestranslateintonovelapplicationsthatcanbetestedindustriallythroughscaled-upproductionofnanocomposites.Closelinkswithindustrialpartners,world-classinfrastructureandanoutstandingpublicationandhumancapitaldevelopmenttrackrecord,underscorehisongoingeffortstoimprovetheglobalcompetitivenessofSouthAfricanindustries.

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Professor Wilma ViviersDirector of TRADE Research focus area, NWU (see the citation under the category: Research leading to innovation: Corporate organisation)

Professor Sally ArchibaldAssociate Professor: School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, Wits

ProfessorSallyArchibald’sworklinksecologicalfielddatatolarge-scalespatialandtemporaldatasetsandincreasestheunderstandingaboutecosystemresponsestoglobalchange.Amongotherthingsshehasdisprovedthebelief thathumansinmostAfricanecosystemsareburningvegetationexcessively,withimplicationsforcarbonmitigationprojectsonthecontinent.Shehasshownthattheresponseof firetoclimatechangewilldependonthevegetationthatburns,andthatincreasedtemperaturesdonotnecessarilyresultinanincreaseinfires.Hercollaborativeworkhasidentifieddifferencesinhowsavannaecosystemsfunctionacrossthetropics.

TW Kambule-NSTF Awards: Emerging researchers(for an outstanding contribution to SET and innovation by an individual – post-doctoral in a period of up to six years after award of a PhD or equivalent in research - prizes sponsored by proSET – Professionals in SET)

Dr Vinet CoetzeeLecturer: Department of Genetics, UP

DrVinetCoetzee’sworkfocusesonidentifyingnon-invasivemeasuresof health.Forexample,shefoundassociationsbetweenfacialappearanceandbodyweight,hormonallevels,immunity,ahealthydietandsomeof thegeneticvariationsunderlyingthesehealthmeasures.Herresearchhasseveralimportantapplications,suchasdevelopingaffordablenon-invasivemeasuresof healthforhealthscreeninganddiseasemanagement;anddevelopingfacialcompositesbasedonDNAfoundatacrime-scene.Sheisoneof ahandfulof researchersinherfieldworldwide,butwhatmakeshertrulyuniqueisherfocusontheAfricancontext,whereaffordable,non-invasivehealthmeasuresaresorelyneeded.

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Dr Pieter de MaayerResearch Fellow: Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, UP

DrPieterdeMaayerhasacquiredexpertiseintheprinciplesandpracticesof genomicresearch,usingstate-of-the-artgenomictechnologiestounderstandmicrobialfunctioning.Specifictopicsof hisresearchincludeunderstandinghowbacteriasurviveunderextremeconditions,howtheycauseplantdiseaseandhowtheycanbeusedforthegenerationofenvironmentallyfriendly,renewableenergysources.Twoofhiscurrentresearchprojectsfocusontheuseofbacteriaforthegenerationofbiofuelfromplantbiomassandbiologicalproductionof hydrogenforuseintheenergyindustry.

Dr Melanie McLaren Research Fellow: School of Physics, Wits

DrMelanieMcLarenhasplayedaseminalroleinthedevelopmentof opticsandphotonicswithinthecountry,workinginbothclassicalandquantumoptics.SheintroducedopticaltrappingandquantumentanglementtoSouthAfricaandthecontinent.Boththesedisciplineshavebeenadoptedbyseveralgroupsinthecountry.Shehasnotonlyinfluencedresearch,butalsotheyouthof thecountrythroughherinvolvementinvarioussciencefestivals,aswellasherrecentundertakingof under-andpostgraduatelecturingandco-supervisionof 10postgraduatestudents.

Dr Khumbulani MpofuHead: Department of Industrial Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)

DrKhumbulaniMpofuistheHeadoftheDepartmentof IndustrialEngineeringandtheleaderof theadvancedmanufacturingsystemresearchareaattheTUT,focusingonadaptabletechnologies.Hehasbeeninvolvedinthedevelopmentof productionsystemsthatarefocusedonthethemeofresponsiveness.Thisenvisagesthatproductiontechnologiesof thefuturewillhavefullcapabilitytodealwithahighvarietyindemandthroughadaptingthetechnologyusedasameansofproduction.Hehasledthedesign,manufactureandexperimentationof varioustechnologiesthathavebeenpatentedwithafocusonimprovingtheresponsivenessof productionsystems.

Dr Tolu OniHead of Department and Director: School of Public Health and Family Medicine, UCT

DrToluOni’sresearchaimstocontributesignificantlytoknowledgeofthechangingpatternsofdiseaseandimplicationsforhealthandwellbeingof thepopulationinthecontextof urbanisation.Havingworkedinthefieldof HIVandTBwithintheSouthAfricanurbaninformalsettingsince2007,hercurrentresearchfocusesonurbanhealthandequity.Specifically,anunderstandingoftheinteractionbetweencommonlyco-occurringchronicconditions(HIV,TBandnon-communicablediseases)andtheupstreamhealthdeterminants:theunplannedurbanenvironment,andtheresultantimpactonhealthoutcomes.Herresearchaimstodevelopinter-sectoralinterventionstoimprovehealthfocusedonupstreamdeterminantsof health.

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Dr Jonathan PeterHead: Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, UCT

Tuberculosisremainstheleadingcauseof deathamongpersonslivingwithHIV.Afailuretomakethediagnosisof TBisakeyproblemresponsibleforhighdeathrates.DrJonathanPeter’sworkhasfocusedonevaluatingnovelstrategiesandtoolstargetingthisgroupof vulnerableTBandHIVco-infectedpatientsandissuitableforresource-poorcountries.Heledthefirstinpatientevaluationof theonlycommerciallyavailable,bedsideurinetestforTB.Arecentmulti-countryrandomisedcontrolledtrialdemonstratedthatusingthischeapurinetestsavestimetoenablethecommencementof treatment,andhenceresultsinfewerdeathswhencomparedtousingavailable,sputum-baseddiagnosticswhichtakelongertoproducearesult.Implementationof thistestinhighTBandHIVburdencountriescouldsavethousandsof lives.

Professor Puleng SegaloAssociate Professor: Department of Psychology, Unisa

ProfessorPulengSegalo’sworkintegratesscience,aestheticsandculturetoopenthefieldof socialpsychologytoadeeperexplorationof aestheticmethodswhichsheusestotapintothedeeppsychological,relationalandpoliticalexperiencesof blackSouthAfricanwomen.Hercreativeresearchdesignanalysesbothwhatistoldandhowthetechnologyfortelling(aestheticrepresentationsandspokentext)alter,enhanceandconstrictthewordswomendeploytospeaktheunspeakable.Hervisualmethodsareoriginal,compelling,complexandamodelforfuturestudents,scholarsandculturalartiststryingtodocumentthelayersof traumawithintheindividualandsociety.

Dr Sudesh SivarasuSenior Lecturer, Biomedical Engineering, UCT (see the citation under the category: Research leading to innovation: Corporate organisation)

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Professor Mmantsae DialeAssociate Professor: Department of Physics, UP

ProfessorMmantsaeDialeisoneof thefewresearchersinSouthAfricaworkingontheapplicationof solarenergyconversion,usingphotovoltaic(PV)phenomenonandartificialphotosynthesis(AP).PVandAParetwocomplementaryprocessesthatrelyontheuseof semiconductormaterialsassolarlightabsorberstoproduceelectricity.InPV,illuminationof thesemiconductorbylightcreateselectron-holepairsthatareseparatedbyanelectricfieldandthenacceleratedinoppositedirectionstoproduceanelectriccurrent.InAP,thegeneratedelectronsaredirectedbyelectrodestocompleteacircuitinwhichredoxreactionoccursinwater.This,inturn,produceshydrogenandoxygengases.Hydrogenisthenmadeavailableasasolarfueltobeusedimmediatelyintransport(cars)andinfuelcellstogenerateelectricity.

Research or Engineering Capacity Development(contribution by an individual over the last 5–10 years – Eskom sponsors two awards for a male and a female for contributions in Engineering and the NSTF will make an award for a contribution in other disciplines)

Professor Peter DunsbyProfessor of Cosmology and Co-Director: Astrophysics, Cosmology and Gravity Centre, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, UCT

ProfessorPeterDunsby’sstrategyfordevelopinghumancapitaloverthepast12yearshasfocusedonapioneeringinitiativetodevelopthenextgenerationof astronomersandspacescientists–theNationalAstrophysicsandSpaceScienceProgramme.Hehasalsodevelopedahighlysuccessfulintegratedresearchprogrammeinhisowndiscipline(TheoreticalCosmology),involvingpostgraduatestudents,post-doctoralresearchersandinternationalcollaborators.Thishasledtoasignificantgrowthof researchcapacityattheUCTandatothertertiaryinstitutionsinSouthAfrica.

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Dr Gonasagren GovenderResearch Group Leader: Advanced Casting Technologies, CSIR Materials Science Manufacturing (see the citation under the category: Research leading to innovation: Corporate organisation)

Professor Sue HarrisonDirector: Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, DST/NRF SARChI Chair: Bioprocess Engineering, UCT (also under the category: Lifetime)

ProfessorSueHarrisonisanaccomplishedbioprocessengineer,integratingthechemicalengineering,mineralprocessingandbiotechnologydisciplines.Throughinter-disciplinaryresearch,herexpertiseinbioprocesssystems,bioreactordesignandprocessintegrationdeliverssolutionsforbioremediation,mineralbioprocessing,algalbiotechnology,finechemicalsandbio-energy.Prof.Harrison’sresearchbuildsaholisticunderstandingof thebiology,engineeringandbioprocesses,essentialtoasustainablebio-economy,basedonmaximisingrenewablematerialsandresourceproductivitywhileminimisingwasteburden,includingwastewaterburden.

Professor Johann GörgensDirector: Stellenbosch Biomass Technologies (Pty) Ltd, and Director: Centre for Process Engineering, SU (also under the TW Kambule-NSTF category: Research and its outputs)

ProfessorJohannGörgens’researchfocusesondemonstratingasustainablefutureforhumanity,throughtheuseof alternativeresourcesinthemostefficientmannerpossible,thusprioritisingtheapplicationof limitedresourcestoend-productsthatcarrymostvalueforsocietyinthecontextof sustainability.Suchconsiderationsmustbematchedwiththeexpectationsof privateindustryandavailablesupportfrompolicymakerstogenerateviabledevelopmentopportunities.Forexample,solidwastesfromindustrialordomesticusesrepresentacategoryof alternativerawmaterials.Theseincludewasteplasticsandtyres,whichhavepotentialfortherecoveryof chemicals,materialsandenergy.Variousprocesstechnologiesfortheirconversionarealsounderdevelopmentandassessment.

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Professor Emmanuel IwuohaDST/NRF SARChI Chair: Nanoelectrochemistry and Sensor Technology, Senior Professor in Chemistry, University of the Western Cape (UWC)

ProfessorEmmanuelIwuoha’sresearchinvolvesthedesigningof ‘smart’nanomaterials(polymeric,dendritic,graphenatedandcarbonnanotubescomposites)forapplicationinsensors,reactorsandcleanenergysystems(e.g.batteries,supercapacitorsandsolarcells).Forthesensoraspect,novelultrasensitiveenzymic-nanobiosensors,immunosensorsandgenosensors(aptamer-,DNA-andRNA-basedbiosensors)aredevelopedformedicaldiagnostics(of diseasemarkersandtherapeuticmonitoringof anti-retroviral,anti-tuberculosisandcancerdrugs),foodsafetydeterminationandsignallingof pollutantsthataffecthumansandecosystems.SensorLab,ledbyProf.Iwuoha,istheleadingresearchentityforbiosensorandelectrochemistryresearchinAfrica.

Dr Angela JamesCluster Leader: Science and Technology Education; and Senior Lecturer: Science Education; and Co-Faculty Advisor: Enactus, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Undergraduatestudentteachersarethefutureresearchers-in-actionincommunities.Eventhoughtheyteachinschools,theyinteractwithlearners,parentsandtheextendedcommunityfromdiversesettings.Asfutureteachers,theResearchandService-Learningmoduletheycompleteengagesthemonalllevels:research,service-learning,andteacherpreparation.DrAngelaJameshassupervised99undergraduateprojectsbetween2007and2013.Arisingfromtheinterestgeneratedbytheworkthattheydointheundergraduatemodule,manyof thestudentshaveappliedforpostgraduatestudiesandgeneratedcommunityprojects.

Professor Bert KlumpermanDistinguished Professor: Polymer Science, SU (also under the category: Lifetime)

ProfessorBertKlumperman,regardedasaworldleaderinthefieldof polymerchemistrystronglyfocusedhisinitialresearchactivitiesondetailedstudiesof polymerisationprocesses.Inrecentyearsthefocusof hisworkhasshiftedtonanomedicine,wheredrugdeliverysystems,polymerbioconjugatesandmaterialswithantimicrobialpropertiesformthelargestfractionof hisresearch,mostoftenconductedwithaspecificpracticalmaterialinmind,andwithgoodprospectsforcommercialisationof someof thesematerials.Prof.Klumpermanhasgraduatedcloseto70studentsandiscurrentlysupervisingagroupof around20students.

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Ms Anita LootsAssociate Director: Special Projects, Square Kilometre Array (SKA) South Africa

MsAnitaLootshasbeenresponsibleforcrucialinterventionslinkedtoengineering,industrialdevelopment,networkingandcapacitybuildingfortheSKAproject.Youngengineersunderwentrigorousglobaltrainingtounderstandthecomplexrequirementsof engineeringforastronomy.Consistentsuccessfuldeliveryof preproductiontechnologydemonstratorsandprototypeschangednegativeglobalperceptionsandpositionedSouthAfricaasakeyplayerincutting-edgetechnologydevelopmentandengineering.

Professor Thokozani MajoziDST/NRF SARChI Chair: Sustainable Process Engineering, School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Wits

ProfessorThokozaniMajozihasusedpracticalprojectsforindustryasatraininggroundinengineering,contributingsignificantlytoready-to-workcapacityandthroughput.Usingnovelcontinuous-timeframeworksasabasis,hedevelopedatechniqueforwastewaterminimisationthatwasadoptedbyJohnson&Johnson(Pty)Ltd,SouthAfrica,toreduceitseffluentby20%.Workonbatchprocesseshasalsobeenappliedindesignandoptimisationof ananimalvaccinefacility,Deltamune,withsignificantimprovement.AcontinuousprocessintegrationtechniqueforsystemsinvolvingmembraneandwaternetworkstoreduceeffluentwasalsodevelopedandhasbeenappliedtoanEskompowerstation,Kriel,whichhasresultedinmorethan10%savingsinfreshwaterworthalmostR5Mincostsavingsinthefirstsixmonths.

Professor Umezuruike Linus OparaDistinguished Professor and DST/NRF SARChI Chair: Postharvest Technology, SU (also under the TW Kambule-NSTF category: Research and its outputs)

Thepostharvestsectoraccountsforover70%of theeconomicvalueof agriculture;however,upto30–40%of harvestedcropmaybelostduetolackof post-harvestknowledge,infrastructureandhumancapacity.In2009,ProfessorLinusOparaestablishedtheDST/NRFSARChIChairinPostharvestTechnologyatSUwithemphasisonhumancapacitydevelopmentbasedonamultidisciplinaryapproach.Todate,44postgraduatestudentshavereceivedhistrainingandmentorshipacrossdisciplinesinagriculturalsciencesandengineering,includingsixPhD,15MScandoneHonoursstudent,withthemajorityfrompreviouslydisadvantagedgroups.

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Dr Suprakas Sinha RayChief Researcher and Director: Polymer Nanocomposites, DST/CSIR Nanotechnology Innovation Centre; and National Centre for Nano-structured Materials, CSIR (see the citation under the category: Management and related activities)

Professor Vanessa SteenkampProfessor and Head: Department of Pharmacology, UP

ProfessorVanessaSteenkamp’sresearchundertakestogloballyassessdrugdiscoveryandpatientsafetyof plant-basedmedicineintheAfricancontext.ThemedicinallandscapeinAfricaisengrainedwithlongstandingsupportandusageof plant-basedmedicines.Notsurprisingly,muchsuccesshasbeengarneredinisolationof bioactivephytochemicalsandvalidationof ethno-medicinaluse.Plantbiodiversityanduseof plantsfortreatingvariousailmentspresentadualinterest.Firstly,tousetraditionalplantsasabiosourceforpotentialpharmaceuticalleads;secondly,tounravelthecomplexunderpinningsof drug-herbinteractionswhichoccurasaresultof combinationsof alternativeremediesandWesternmedicines.

Professor Alan ChristoffelsDirector: South African National Bioinformatics Institute; and DST/NRF SARChI Chair: Bioinformatics and Public Health Genomics, UWC

Identificationof biologicalinteractionsbetweenahost(humanorinsects)andpathogens(bacteriaorviruses)providesinsightsintopotentialdrugtargets.Mostmethodsfocusoneitherthehostorthepathogen;othermethods,includingProfessorAlanChristoffels’work,focusedontheinteractionbetweenthehostandpathogen.Hedevelopedcomputationalmethodstopredicttheinteractionsbetweenhostandbacteria/virusproteinsusinggeneticwords,textminingandmachinelearningtechniques.Thesetoolswereappliedtomosquitoestofindmessagesthatcontroldifferentlifestagesof theinsect.Themethodswereextendedtobacteriawithaviewtofindinggooddrugtargetstoeradicateaninfection.

TW Kambule-NSTF Awards: Research and its outputs(for an outstanding contribution to SET and innovation by an individual over a period of up to 15 years after award of a PhD or equivalent, predominantly in South Africa)

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Professor Crick LundDirector: Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Health, UCT

ProfessorCrickLund’sresearchhaspioneeredthedevelopmentof mentalhealthpoliciesandservicestoaddressthegrowingburdenof mentalillnessinSouthAfricaandotherlowandmiddle-incomecountries(LMIC).Hisscientificworkhashadasignificantimpactonthedevelopmentof normsformentalhealthservices;draftingof nationalmentalhealthpolicies;developmentof WorldHealthOrganizationguidelinesformentalhealthpolicyandservices;identificationof majorsocialdeterminantsof mentalillnessinLMIC;interventionsthataddressthecycleof povertyandmentalillness;anddeliveryandevaluationof newmodelsof mentalhealthcare.

Professor Ajay Kumar MishraProfessor and Group Leader research area: Nanomaterials, Composites and Nanocomposites and Water, Unisa

Cleanwaterisessentialandthereforecallsforcheapandefficientwaterpurificationsystems.Nanomaterialsarebeingusedtodevelopmorecost-effectiveandhigh-performancewatertreatmentsystemsandhavebeenextensivelyutilisedforthetreatmentof waterandpollutionprevention.ProfessorAjayMishra’sresearchdistinguisheshimfromotherresearcherswhoareonlyinvolvedinsynthesis;hisresearchishighlycomplexinthattheapplicationof nanomaterialsforwaterresearchaimstoprovidesolutionstowater-relatedproblemsexperiencedbythegeneralpublic.

Professor Johann GörgensDirector: Stellenbosch Biomass Technologies (Pty) Ltd, and Director: Centre for Process Engineering, SU (see the citation under the category: Research or Engineering Capacity Development)

Professor Louis Kotzé Research Professor of Law, NWU (see the citation under the NSTF-GreenMatter category: biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability and a greener economy)

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Professor Fhatuwani Nixwell MudauChair: Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Unisa (also under the Special Annual Theme Award: Crop Science and Food Security)

ProfessorFhatuwaniMudau’sworkhasrevolvedaroundthefieldsof ethno-botanyandagriculturewithanaimof creatinganewherbalteaindustryinSouthAfricaandpromotingotheralternativecrops.Hisapproachhasbeentoassistsmallholderfarmerstogrowindigenousmedicinalplantssuchasbushteaalongwithleafyvegetablesandstonefruits.Heisalsoworkingonhigh-valuevegetablesandfruitstoimprovecommunityhealthandwellnessinSouthAfrica.Hisresearchinagronomicpracticeshasenabledsmallholderfarmersinperi-urbanareastocontributetothefreshproduce,naturalproducts,phytochemistryandphyto-pharmaceuticalsectorsof agricultureandtogrowtheeconomy.Inaddition,hehasresearchedimprovingthequalityof citrusintheWesternCaperegionforexport.

Professor Bhekisipho TwalaDirector: Institute for Intelligent Systems; and Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Statistical Sciences, UJ

ProfessorBhekisiphoTwala’sworkoverthepastyearshasbuiltondiverseexpertiseonmakingdecisionsgivenincompleteinformation,andutilisingArtificialIntelligence(AI)techniquesforpredictingandfortheclassificationof tasksinseveralfieldssuchasbankingandfinance,insurance,biomedical,robotics,psychology,softwareengineeringandmostrecentlyinelectricalandelectronicengineeringscience.Prof.Twalaservedasprimaryinventorforthedevelopmentof effectivetechniquesindecisionsupportsystemsgivenpoordataquality.HehasalsoshownhowAIandgreyrelationalsystemscouldbeusedtopredictroadtrafficaccidents(RTA)inSouthAfricagiventhattheRTAdataareof poorquality.

Professor Umezuruike Linus OparaDistinguished Professor and DST/NRF SARChI Chair: Postharvest Technology, SU (see the citation under the category: Research or Engineering Capacity Development)

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Professor Lindiwe ZunguResearch Professor, Unisa

ProfessorLindiweZungu’sinnovativeresearchfocusesonthedevelopmentof comprehensiveandsystematichealthandsafetyinterventionsfortheSouthAfricanminingindustry(SAMI),whichfacilitatestheupholdingof theminingindustry’svisiontoensurethateverymineworkerreturnshomeunharmedeveryday.Herworkincludesthedevelopmentof guidelinestoassisttheSAMItore-designappropriateandsuitablepersonalprotectiveequipmentforwomeninmining,andthepromotionof theirsafetyandsecurityatwork,whichisground-breakingconsideringthattheminingindustryhasbeenhistoricallydominatedbymenandmalechauvinism.Thus,herworkhasaddedvaluableknowledgetothefundamentalandcontentioushealthandsafetyissuesimpactingonworkersintheSAMI.

Professor David BergerProfessor: Department of Plant Sciences, UP (also under the category: Lifetime)

ProfessorDaveBergerhaspioneeredcropbiotechnologyresearchforfoodsecurityinSouthAfrica.Hisearlyresearchcoverednitrogenfixationgenesandanthracnosediseaseof thepulsecroplupin.Hissubsequentresearchhasmadetwomajorcontributionstoscience.Thefirstwascapacitybuildinginmicroarraytechnology,amethodforanalysingthousandsof genesprintedonmicroscopeslidesbyarobot.Thesecondwassystemsgeneticsanalysisof maizeforresistancetogreyleaf spotdisease,whichledtoDNAmarkersandimprovedmaizelines.Ongoingresearchtacklestheimpactof diseasesonsmall-holdermaizefarms.

Special Annual Theme Award for Crop Science and Food Security(on the basis of a nomination in any one of the other award categories in celebration of the 2016 International Year of Pulses as declared by the United Nations. The award is sponsored by the DST)

Professor Jill FarrantDST/NRF SARChl Chair: Systems Biology Studies on Plant Desiccation Tolerances for Food Security; and Professor in Molecular and Cell Biology, UCT (see the citation under the category: Communication for outreach and creating awareness)

science& technologyScience and Technology

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Professor Christine ReyProfessor of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Wits

ProfessorChristineRey’sworkisplacedinthebroadfieldof plantbiotechnologywhichexploressolutionstoimproveanddiversifycropsforlong-termsustainability,foodsecurityandempowermentof small-andlarge-scalecommercialfarmers.Herworkintersectsbasicscientificknowledge-basedandappliedresearch.Itaimstodevelopaninteractiveapproachtoaddresscroplossthroughvirusdiseaseandaimstoseethedevelopmentof cassavaproductionandagro-processingtocontributetoemploymentexpansionandimprovementof rurallivelihoodsintheSADCregion.Amongothers,sheworkswithgovernmentandindustrythroughtheCassavaIndustryAssociation,whichshewasinstrumentalinestablishingandwhichisregisteredwiththeDepartmentof SocialDevelopment.

Professor Maryke Labuschagne Professor and Head: Plant Breeding, DST/NRF SARChI Chair: Disease Resistance and Quality in Field Crops, University of the Free State (UFS)

ProfessorMarykeLabuschagne’sworkfocusesonresearchinplantbreedinginSouthAfricaandnumerousAfricancountries,andassociatedtrainingof MScandPhDstudentsoverthepast20years.Thesestudentsandformerstudentshaveactivelycontributedtothereleaseofcropcultivarsimprovedforyield,diseaseandpestresistance,qualityanddroughtandheattoleranceinSouthAfricaandotherAfricancountries,contributingdirectlytofoodsecurityinthesecountries.Thecropsincludemaize,cassava,beans,wheat,linseed,sorghum,sunflowerandsweetpotato.

Professor Fhatuwani Nixwell MudauChair: Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Unisa (see the citation under the TW Kambule-NSTF category: Research and its outputs)

Professor Jennifer ThomsonEmeritus Professor: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, UCT (also under the category: Lifetime)

ProfessorJenniferThomson’slaboratoryhasdevelopedgeneticallymodifiedmaizetoleranttodehydration,whichcancontributetoasolutionforthecurrentcriticaldroughtsituationinSouthAfrica.ThedehydrationtolerantplantsthathavebeendevelopedcontainthreegenesderivedfromanAfricanresurrectionplantabletosurvivedesiccation.Thegenesareonlyswitchedonwhentheplantsaresubjectedtodehydrationandheat.Theythereforeposelessof astresstotheplantsundernormalgrowth,comparedtootherswherethegeneisswitchedoncontinuously.ProfessorThomsonhascontributedtogeneticengineeringofbacteriaandofmaizeresistanttothemaizestreakvirusaswellasnationallytothemanagementof microbiologyandbiotechnologystrategy.

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Dr Rajesh AnandjiwalaChief Researcher: CSIR; and Honorary Professor: Department of Textile Science, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Researchanddevelopment(R&D)competenceinnonwovenandbiocompositeswasnon-existentinSouthAfricasomeyearsago.Buildingacompetenceinhigh-valueaddedproductsforapplicationsinaerospace,automotive,healthcare,electricityandminingfiltration,low-costhousingandroadconstructionbecameanimmediateprioritywhenthedown-turninconventionaltextileindustriesoccurred.DrRajeshAnandjiwala’sworkhasledtothebuildingupofR&Dinfrastructure,theestablishmentof pilotplants,humancapitaldevelopment,developmentof prototypesandestablishinganinternationalnetworkinthefield.AstheChairmanoftheNonwovenAssociationof SouthAfrica,besidespromotinglocalnonwovenindustries,hehasprovidedleadershiptotheCentreofCompetenceinBiocompositesfundedbytheDST.

Professor Lewis AshwalProfessor of Geology: School of Geosciences, Wits

ProfessorLewisAshwal’slifetimeworkhasbeenconcernedwiththebroad-scaleoriginandevolutionof planetarylithospheres.Thesearetherigidouterlayersof terrestrialplanets,includingtheircrustsanduppermantlessuchastheEarth,Moon,Marsandasteroids.HewasthefirsttocorrectlysuggestthatcertainmeteoritesweredeliveredtoEarthfromMars.His1993bookisthedefinitiveworkonanorthosites,acruciallyimportantandtemporallyrestrictedplanetaryrocktype.Hisworkalsohasconstrainedtheoriginsof supercontinents,diamonds,kimberlites,magmaticoredepositsystemsandgranitesintermsof platetectonicprocesses.

Professor David BergerProfessor: Department of Plant Sciences, UP (see the citation under the Special Annual Theme Award: Crop Science and Food Security)

Lifetime Award(for an outstanding contribution to SET and innovation by an individual over a period of 15 years or more)

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Professor Bernard FourieExtraordinary Professor: Department of Medical Microbiology, UP

CriticalissuesinTBareunder-diagnosisof cases,andbettercontrolof resistantformsof thedisease.Prof.Fourie’scurrentcontributionsareindevelopinginhaleddrugsandvaccinesasnoveldosageformsforTB,andinoptimisingrapidmoleculardiagnosticoptionstowardsearlycasedetection.Previously,heestablishednewmethodsinSouthAfricaformeasuringtheTBburdenandforassessingpatienttreatmentoutcomes.Heplayedakeyroleintheinternationalefforttowardsdevelopmentof fixed-dosecombinationtherapiesforTB,leadingtoSouthAfricabeingthefirsttofullyadoptsuchmedicationsastreatmentoptionsforthecountry.

Professor Sue HarrisonDirector: Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, DST/ NRF SARChI Chair: Bioprocess Engineering, UCT (see the citation under the category: Research or Engineering Capacity Development)

Professor Bert KlumpermanDistinguished Professor of Polymer Science, SU (see the citation under the category: Research or Engineering Capacity Development)

Professor Zacharias (Zakkie) PretoriusDepartment of Plant Sciences, UFS

ProfessorZacharias(Zakkie)Pretoriushasspentanentirecareerstudyingrustdiseases,inparticulartherustsof wheat,andintheprocessestablishedaworld-classandinternationallyrespectedresearchunitattheUFS.Rustdiseasesarecausedbyfungalspecieswhichcanonlyliveandreproduceonlivingplanthostsandcausedevastatingyieldlossesinagriculturalcrops.Becausewheatprovidesabout20%of thecaloriesandproteinintakeinhumans,itisvitalthatthesediseasesbecontrolledtoprovideasustainableproductionof staplecropsnotonlyinAfrica,butworldwide.Hisinternationalleadershipwashighlightedforwheatstemrustresearchfollowingthere-emergenceandspreadof thediseaseinEastAfricasincethelate1990s.

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Professor Michael SamwaysDistinguished Professor and Academic Principal: Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, SU (see the citation under the NSTF-GreenMatter category: biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability and a greener economy)

Professor Jennifer ThomsonEmeritus Professor: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, UCT (see the citation under the Special Annual Theme Award: Crop Science and Food Security)

Professor Robin WoodDirector: Desmond Tutu HIV Centre; and Emeritus Professor: Medicine, UCT

ProfessorRobinWoodwasoneof thefirstphysicianstotreatanddocumentthemorbidityandmortalityof SouthAfricanpatientslivingwithHIVandAIDS.Hebecameanearlyadvocateof antiretroviraltherapy,allyingwithcivilsocietytopleadintheConstitutionalCourtforwideraccessfortherapy.Hisstudiesof HIV/TBledhimtorecognisethehighlevelsof TBtransmissionandtomodeltransmissionprobabilitiesinSouthAfricanprisons,schoolsandtransport.TBtransmissionsubsequentlybecamearesearchpriorityof theWorldHealthOrganization.ProfessorWoodcurrentlyleadsaMedicalResearchCouncil/UCTmultidisciplinaryresearchteamstudyingtheaerobiologyof TBtransmission.

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The NSTF Brilliants Programme for our future innovators TheNSTFBrilliantsProgramme,recognises18first-yearstudentsstudyinginthescience,medicineandengineeringfields.Ayoungmanandwomanarechosenfromeachof thenineprovinces.ThesestudentsmusthavereceivedtopmarksinmathematicsandphysicalscienceintheNationalSeniorCertificateExaminations(Grade12)of thepreviousyear(2015).TheprogrammeissponsoredbytheDepartmentof ScienceandTechnology.

The aims of the Brilliants Programme:• Recogniseandhonourtopperformersinphysicalscienceandmathematics• Inspireandmotivatethesetopperformersby:

- Enablingaccesstopotentialrolemodelsandmentors,andadvicefromexpertswhocanaddress theirstudyandcareerconcerns- Encouragingtopstudentstocompletetheirstudiesandtopursuescience,engineeringand technology(SET)-relatedcareers

Activities of the Brilliants Programme: • RewardtopperformerswithsponsoredtraveltoEmperorsPalace,hotelaccommodation,certificates

andrecognitionduringtheAwardsGalaDinnerinthepresenceof NSTF-South32AwardsFinalists,SETprofessionals,VIPsandseniorgovernmentofficials.Therecognitionincludespublicityforthestudentsandtheirprovinces

• InspirethesetalentedyoungpeoplewithexposuretoSET-relatedindustriesandcareersinthefield,throughaneducationaltourduringtheirstay

• Conductamotivationalspeakers’programmeduringtheirstay,toprovideadvice,encouragement,andinteractionwithexpertsandrolemodels

The reason for the Brilliants Programme:TopresultsinGrade12donotguaranteesuccess.Manyschoolleaversandevengraduatesstruggletofindappropriateworkanddirectionintheirlives.ThisisaconcernforSETindustries,professionalsandfortheNSTF.Inparticular,theNSTFtriestoencouragestudentstocompletetheirstudiesasfarastheypossiblycan(preferablyuptoPhDlevel).TheNSTFalsomotivatesstudentstofindtheirwayintooneof themanyinterestingandfulfillingpositionsintheNationalSystemof Innovation(whichincludesscientificresearch,engineeringandindustry).

How the Brilliants awardees are selected: TheNSTFrequeststhelistsof topperformersinphysicalscience(intheNationalSeniorCertificate)fromalltheprovincialeducationdepartments.Twostudentsfromeachprovinceareselected,basedontheirperformanceinbothmathematicsandphysicalscience,aswellastheirchosenfieldof study.ThustheBrilliantsProgrammeconsistsof topfirst-yearstudentswithapassionforSET,registeredatSouthAfricanuniversitiesforscience-relatedqualifications.

Tour to a SET-related facility:Thisyear,thestudents’visittoGautengcommenceswithatourtothenewfacilitiesof AGTFoodsAfrica(AdvanceSeed)inKrugersdorpoutsideJohannesburg,inlinewiththePulsestheme.AGTFoodsAfricaisasupplierof wholefoodproductsandof agriculturalproduction,processingandtradingservices.Withageographicfootprintthatextendstomuchof theAfricancontinent,thecompanyofferslocalandinternationalcustomerssuperiorqualityproductsfromSouthAfrica,Mozambique,Malawi,ZambiaandZimbabwe.

National Science and Technology Forum

science& technologyScience and Technology

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Eastern Cape

Gayathri SureshUmtata High School MBChB (Medicine)

University of Cape Town

Free State

Makoko Alfred MotloungMmathabo Secondary School

BSc (Astronomy and Astrophysics) University of the Witwatersrand

Eastern Cape

Fabian Ethan FerreiraAlexander Road High School BSc (Chemical Engineering)

Stellenbosch University

Gauteng

Nicola van den BergAfrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool

BSc (Genetics) University of Pretoria

Free State

Salome Arlene WesselsEunice High School BSc (Architecture)

University of Pretoria

Gauteng

Lorenco SibamboSebetsa-o-Tholemoputso

Secondary School BSc (General)

University of the Witwatersrand

Top science and maths matriculants from 2015, who are currently studying at various South African universities

ThetourthenwentontothenewBio-manufacturingIndustryDevelopmentCentrehousedattheCouncilforScientificandIndustrialResearchthatwasrecentlyopenedbytheMinisterof ScienceandTechnology.TheCentrewasestablishedtotranslatebiotechnology-basedresearchanddevelopmentintomarket-readyproductsandservices.Itofferscompetencythroughoutthevaluechaini.e.fromlaboratoryscalevalidationthroughtodemonstrationof technology,prototypingandpilotmanufacturing.Thehubincludeslaboratoriesformolecularbiology,appliedbiochemistry,bio-catalysisandfermentation,aswellaslaboratoryandpilotscaleprocessdevelopment.

ThetourconcludedwithavisittotheInstituteforPlantProtectionResearch(IPPR)facilitiesof theAgriculturalResearchCouncil’sPlantHealthandProtectionDivision.TheIPPRfocussesonecologicallysoundmanagementstrategiesforagriculturalpests,plantdiseasesandinvasiveplants,andpromotestheuseof advantageousorganismstostrengthenagriculturalproductioninasustainableway,throughresearch,technologydevelopmentandtechnologytransfer.

Thetourshowedstudentsthekindof careeropportunitiesthataSETqualificationcanprovide.Theinspirationthatthesetoursprovide,ensurethatthestudentsreturntovarsitymoredeterminedtocompletetheirstudies,andwithrenewednationalpride!

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KwaZulu-Natal

Zuziwe Silindokuhle ThwalaInjoloba Secondary School

MBChB (Medicine) University of KwaZulu-Natal

KwaZulu-Natal

Malusi ShangaseTholokuhle Secondary School BSc (Chemical Engineering) University of KwaZulu-Natal

Limpopo

Lehlogonolo MalekaMotse Maria Secondary

BSc (Chemistry with Chemical Engineering) University of the Witwatersrand

Limpopo

Tumisho Mamodiele RachueneKgagatlou Secondary

BSc (Electronic Engineering) University of Witwatersrand

North West

Doreen Rhoda DaviesRustenburg High School

BSc (Computer Engineering) University of Pretoria

Northern Cape

Thiven PadayachyHoërskool Noord-Kaap

MBChB (Medicine) Stellenbosch University

Mpumalanga

Laila ChoonaraSteelcrest High School

MBChB (Medicine) University of the Witwatersrand

North West

Abongile Gift BooiVaal Reefs Technical High School BSc (Astrophysics and Physics)

University of Cape Town

Western Cape

Tala Jo RossClaremont High School

BSc (Computer Science, Maths and Applied Maths) University of Cape Town

Mpumalanga

Albertus Stephanus LouwHoërskool Nelspruit

BSc (Mathematical Science) Stellenbosch University

Northern Cape

Maria NanabhaiKimberly Girls’ High School

BSc (Maths, Physics and Philosophy University of Cape Town

Western Cape

Gary Andrian PrinsOuteniqua High School

BSc (Chemical Engineering) Stellenbosch University

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National Science and Technology Forum

NSTF Share ’n Dare Programme

Publicity and outreach campaign with NSTF-South32 Award winnersTheNSTFShare’nDareProgrammeprovidesaplatformforawardwinnerstoactasambassadorsforscience,engineeringandtechnology(SET)fields,aswellastheinnovationsthatflowfromSET.Thewinnersshareknowledgewithyouthandcommunities,inspiringyoungpeopletopursuestudiesandcareersinSET.Thisoccursintheyearafterthewinnersreceivetheiraward.

The aims of the Share ’n Dare Programme are to:• PromoteSETamonghighschoollearnersvisitingsciencecentresinSouthAfricaandamongstudentsat

tertiaryinstitutions• Enhancetheknowledgeofcommunitiesandincreasepublicunderstanding• ClarifyNSTF-South32Awardwinners’fieldsof expertiseamongstudentsandlearners• HighlightcareeropportunitiesinSETforstudentsandlearnersandprovidethemwithSETrolemodels

Why does it exist?Literaturehighlightsadecreasinginterestamonglearnersworldwideinstudyingscienceandtechnologydisciplines.Theprojectisbasedontheconceptof communityinformatics–whereinformationandcommunicationtechnology(ICT)isusedtobuildcommunitiestoencourageuptakeof scienceandtechnology.

How the name came about: TheNSTFcallstheproject‘Share’nDare’astheawardwinnerssharetheirknowledgeandexperiences,anddareyoungpeopletofollowintheirfootsteps.Itfocusesoncreatingawarenessof theimportanceofSETamongstudentsandhighschoollearnerstoencouragethesepotentialscientistsandengineersofthefuture.

Outcomes of the past roundThenumberof activitiesincreasedbymorethan30%duringthe2014/2015round.BetweenAugust2015andMarch2016,nineofthefourteen2014/2015awardwinnersparticipatedin21knowledgesharingtalks,hosting3,541learners,studentsandadultsathighschools,universitiesandsciencecentres,withthelatterattractingthemostattendees.Sevenprovinceswerereached,withKwaZulu-Natalenjoyingthemostattention.

Morethan560,000peoplewerereachedthroughcampusandcommunityradiobroadcasts.Fortheinternet,13podcastswereprepared.

Social media: ActivitiesarepostedontheNSTFFacebookpage,aswellasTwitter.Anewfeature,‘FacebookScienceCafé’,wasintroducedinMay2016,withthetopicfordiscussionbeing:“Scientistsandsciencecommunication”.ThediscussionwasfacilitatedbyNSTFAwardwinnerMarinaJoubert.TheNSTFYouTubeplatformisalsousedtoraiseawarenessof theAwardsingeneralandthewinnersinparticular.

K-13087[www.kashan.co.za]

National Science and Technology Forum

Tel: 012 841 3987Fax: 012 841 3025E-mail: enquiries@nstf.co.za

www.nstf.org.za

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