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MechChem Africa
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August 2017
T
he NSTF is the most representative
multi-stakeholder non-profit forum
in South Africa promoting SET,
including mathematics and innova-
tion, through collaborative effort. The NSTF-
South32 Awards showcase the research and
development capacity of our nation. The
excellence of the winners to SET and innova-
tion bring hope for the advancement of our
country and the social upliftment of all people
in South Africa.
Outstandingcontributionstoscience,engi-
neering and technology (SET) and innovation
Category
Winners
Achievement over a lifetime by an individual.
Prof Nicolas Beukes, Director: Department of Science and Technology (DST).
TWKambule-NSTF Awards for research and its outputs.
Prof Nancy Refilwe Phaswana-Mafuya, Principal Investigator for South
African Study on global AGEing and adult health and Prof Aletta Schutte
– Unit Director: Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, South African
Medical Research Council.
TWKambule-NSTF Awards for Emerging researchers.
Prof John Ataguba, Associate Professor of the Health Economics Unit at
the University of Cape Town (UCT) and Dr Robyn Pickering – Lecturer:
Department of Geological Sciences, UCT.
Management and related SET activities by an individual
over the last 5-10 years.
Prof João Rodrigues, Professor of Theoretical Physics and Head of the School
of Physics at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits).
Eskom-sponsored Engineering capacity development
award.
Prof Diane Hildebrandt, Professor of Chemical Engineering at Unisa and Prof
Ochieng Aoyi, Professor and Head of Chemical Engineering at Vaal University
of Technology.
Research Capacity Development award other than
Engineering.
Prof Colleen Downs, Professor and SARChI Chair of EcosystemHealth and
Biodiversity for the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
NSTF-GreenMatter Award towards achieving
biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability
and a greener economy.
Prof George Ekama, Professor of Water Quality Engineering, UCT.
NSTF-Water Research Commission Award towards
achieving sustainable water management, knowledge
generation and solutions.
Prof Bhekie Mamba, Executive Dean and Director of Nanotechnology and
Water Sustainability at Unisa.
Data for Research Award.
DataFirst Director, MartinWittenberg of UCT.
Research leading to innovation award.
Prof Eugene Cloete, Vice-Rector of Stellenbosch University for his teabag
water filter invention, Rotoscope, and other projects.
Research leading to innovation – Small, medium or micro
enterprise by a team or individual.
CenGen’s (Pty) Ltd, director and owner, Dr Renée Prins.
Communication for outreach and creating awareness by a
team or an individual.
The DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials (CoE-SM) team: Prof
Lesley Cornish; Prof Alex Quandt; Prof Deena Naidoo; and Mr Casey Sparkes.
Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) award for
working towards technology transfer and education and
training.
Mobile Agri Skills Development and Training NPC – Executive Director, Ms
Lynette Bezuidenhout.
Special Annual Theme Award for Sustainable Tourism.
Prof Melville Saayman, Director of Tourism Research in Economic Environs
and Society Unit, NWU.
The NSTF-South32 Awards were held at a prestigious Gala Dinner in Gauteng on
Thursday, 29 June 2017. It was the 19
th
celebration of this flagship project of the
National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF).
Winners of the 2016/2017
NSTF-South32 Awards
were awarded and celebrated in the follow-
ing broad areas under 13 distinct categories:
Scientific research; Management and related
activities;Capacitybuildinginengineeringand
research;Environmentalsustainability;Water
research and innovation (new award); Data
management and stewardship (new award);
Research leading to innovation; Science com-
munication; Technology transfer, as well as
education and training; and Sustainable tour-
ism for development (special theme award in
recognition of the 2017 International Year
of Sustainable Tourism for Development
(#IY2017) declared by the United Nations).
The national NSTF-South32 Awards are
the largest SET and innovation awards in
South Africa. They are known as the ‘Science
Oscars’ and were the first science awards
in the country. The focus is on spreading
informationabout SET to thepublic, which in-
cludes theyear-longengagement programme
with students and learners called the ‘Share
‘n Dare’ Programme. The NSTF Brilliants
Programme recognises the topmatric achiev-
ers in mathematics and physical science and
exposes them to the SET network for future
careers and motivation. These youth pro-
grammes are sponsored by the Carl & Emily
Fuchs Foundation.
The awards were presented by the
Honourable Minister of Science and
Technology, Naledi Pandor, who is also the
event’s patron. The winners were awarded
with state-of-the-art trophies, manufactured
through additive manufacturing (industrial
3D laser printing) with advanced materials
(titanium).
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