College of College of Graduate Studies

Bumper crop of Unisa finalists in the NSTF-South32 Awards

No fewer than seven Unisa academics have been announced as nominees, some in multiple categories, for the prestigious 2018/2019 NSTF-South32 Awards that recognises outstanding contributions to science, engineering and technology (SET), and innovation.

Managed by the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) and co-sponsored by mining company South32, the NSTF-South32 Awards are referred to as the "Science Oscars" of South Africa. They are the largest, most comprehensive and most sought-after national awards of their kind in the country. They were also the first science awards in South Africa.

Nominees comprise individuals, teams and organisations, as applicable, who have made an outstanding contribution to SET and innovation in South Africa. This includes experienced scientists, engineers, innovators, science communicators, engineering capacity builders and organisational managers / leaders, as well as data and research managers.


Awards and Unisa nominees

  • The Lifetime Award - Professor of Physics, Vijaya Srinivasu Vallabhapurapu
  • The TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Researcher through research and its outputs (by an individual up to 15 years as a researcher, predominantly in South Africa) - Professor and Researcher: Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability Research Unit, Ajay Kumar Mishra; Professor: Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability Research Unit, Shivani Mishra; Professor of Physics, Mokhotjwa (Simon) Dhlamini; Executive Dean: Graduate Studies, ProfessorLindiwe Innocentia Zungu; Associate Professor: Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, Gerhard Prinsloo
  • NSTF-Water Research Commission (WRC) Award: towards achieving sustainable water management, knowledge generation and solutions with demonstrated leadership and impact (by an individual or an organisation over the last 5 to 10 years) -  Professor and Researcher: Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability Research Unit, Ajay Kumar Mishra; Professor: Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability Research Unit, Shivani Mishra; Research Fellow, Dr Vhahangwele Masindi
  • The TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher through research and its outputs (by an individual up to 6 years in research, predominantly in South Africa) - Research Fellow, Dr Vhahangwele Masindi
  • The Innovation Award: Corporate Organisation for innovations and their research and / or development (by a team or an individual over the last 5 to 10 years) -  Research Fellow, Dr Vhahangwele Masindi; Executive Dean: Graduate Studies, Professor Lindiwe Innocentia Zungu
  • The Special Annual Theme Award: Materials for inclusive economic development (in recognition of the "International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements" as declared by the United Nations) - Executive Dean: Graduate Studies, Professor Lindiwe Innocentia Zungu

For more information on the awards, visit www.nstf.org.za.

 * Compiled by Philip van der Merwe, Editor: External Publications, Department of Institutional Advancement

Publish date: 2019/04/15

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