In the category ‘Individual over a lifetime’ this year two winners were announced: These were: Professor Pat G Eriksson, Professor and Head: Department of Geology, University of Pretoria
For founding and leading a diverse and highly experienced international research group, the Global Precambrian Sedimentation Syndicate (GPSS), studying all facets of the Precambrian sedimentary rock record and the history of the Earth prior to ca. 600 million years ago.

Nominated by Professor Johan Malherbe, HoD Physics, UP

Prof. Eriksson's major personal contributions encompass defining the basic principles relating to Precambrian sedimentation patterns vis-à-vis those from the younger sedimentary record, particularly demonstrating that it is the rates and intensities of the processes that have changed over geological time; and that the major first-order controls on Precambrian sedimentation (and all sedimentation) involve the interaction of mantle thermal processes and plate tectonics, and that both are subject to chronological change. He has also investigated the relationship between the concept of the mean height of continents above mean sea level and sea level changes, Precambrian sedimentary basin evolution and Precambrian basin dynamics in general by applying the sequence stratigraphic paradigm to the Precambrian sedimentary and basin evolutionary record. His work challenges concepts such as the “great oxidation event” and the first “Snowball Earth” glaciation event at about the same time. These are considered to be an oversimplification of a much more complex and multi-faceted early earth system.

and Dr Brian van Wilgen, Chief Ecologist: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
For a lifetime contribution to the improvement of natural ecosystem management policies and practices.

Nominated  by Dr Guy Preston, Leader of Working for Water programme

Dr van Wilgen’s career spans 35 years, during which he has conducted research into the ecology and management of fire-prone ecosystems, and the ecology and management of invasive alien plants. His work was carried out at the SA Forestry Research Institute and later at the CSIR, where he is currently a Chief Ecologist and CSIR Research Fellow. He has developed evidence-based prescriptions for the use of fire in fynbos, savanna and grassland ecosystems. His work on the impacts of invasive alien plants on ecosystem services, notably water resources, was instrumental in motivating for the establishment of the multi-billion rand Working for Water Programme, an award winning poverty-relief programme, which employs 20 000 people, and has cleared hundreds of thousands of hectares of invasive alien plants, with significant ecological benefits.

The award or ‘Research and its outputs over the last five to ten years or less’ went to Professor Maureen Coetzee, SARChi  Professor in Medical Entomology and Vector Control, University of the Witwatersrand, and Director: Malaria Entomology Research Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg
For her substantial contribution to the understanding and control of malaria in Africa.

Nominated  by Dr Lizette Koekemoer, Head Vector Control Reference Unit, NICD

From the research she started on African malaria mosquitoes in 1977, Prof. Maureen Coetzee is today internationally recognised as one of the leading malaria entomologists in Africa. She is actively involved in supporting malaria control programmes and has inspired numerous African students (within South Africa and other African countries) to further their studies and careers in vector control. Since the major South African malaria epidemic in 1999/2000, her work on insecticide resistance in malaria mosquitoes has contributed enormously to the understanding of the underlying genetic mechanisms conferring resistance in mosquitoes and to devising resistance management strategies as well as testing novel means of controlling mosquitoes.

The OSCAR-4 Team, South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), Pelindaba received the award in the category for ‘Innovation developed through a corporate organisation or institution’ 
For the latest version of the OSCAR reactor calculational software system, OSCAR-4, released in September 2009 during an international workshop at NECSA, which provides fast and accurate nuclear reactor simulations with unparalleled efficiency.

Nominated by Simon Connell, Professor of Physics, UJ

The OSCAR nuclear reactor calculational software package has been incrementally developed over 20 years. This cutting edge, advanced reactor simulator provides critical parameters for the safe and productive operation and licensing of modern research reactors. As such, the package is the primary calculational tool for the SAFARI-1 research reactor operated by Necsa in South Africa, which is widely accepted as the best commercialised research reactor in the world, given its refocus toward medical isotope production. Due to significant enhancements of the OSCAR system and a strong international effort through cooperation and publication, OSCAR has also become the primary calculational system for three reactors overseas. In recent years a focussed development effort to improve the quality and international exposure of the system culminated in the release of the newest version of the system, OSCAR-4, during an international workshop in September 2009 at Necsa.

The OSCAR-4 Team

The award in the category  ‘Innovation developed through an SMME’ went to Mr David Reynders, Pocit Division, Tradebridge Pty Ltd, Johannesburg  
For his lead role in the Pocit solution; a mobile payment application that is revolutionising the way people and merchants pay and receive money in South Africa and has the potential to transform the lives of those who have not been able to make use of the banking system before.

Nominated by Gerrie van Zyl, CEO Tradebridge

David Reynders drove the idea generation, product development, strategy and business case for the Pocit solution. Pocit is a uniquely secure, cellphone-based payment application that allows anyone to make and receive payments directly from their cellphone. It revolutionises the way payments are made in South Africa by transforming bill presentment and payment for merchants, providing the ultimate in simplicity and “anywhere, anytime” convenience, reducing the cost and improving accessibility to transactions for every-day South Africans. Pocit’s soon to be implemented solution for the “unbanked” will transform lives by providing the “disprin” for the current local remittance headache and by providing cost effective access to formal financial services.

The award for ‘Innovation developed through an NGO or Not-for Profit Organisation (NPO) or Community Based Organisation (CBO)’ went to the Centre of Materials and Process Synthesis (COMPS) Team, University of the Witwatersrand 
For a contribution in innovative chemical process design, unique in the world such that Africa can be seen to be leading the way through pilot plants in China and Australia solving three problems with one ground breaking approach for example in oil and food from waste.  

Nominated by Professor B Bozzoli, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Wits

The COMPS team under the leadership of Prof. Diane Hildebrandt, Prof. David Glasser and Dr Brendon Hausberger has, through its ground breaking research, been instrumental in devising a new design methodology and in a remarkably short time using it to build, commission and operate a pilot plant in China and design a demonstration plant in Australia. The ability to do this in such a short time in the conservative chemical and fuel making industry is unique, as is the fact that it has been done by a university research centre. Over-and-above this, the new methods and ideas have the potential to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions as well as to preserve precious fossil fuel reserves, with significant impact on Africa. COMPS and Africa are leading the way in new modular reduced carbon dioxide emitting processes

Prof Diane Hildebrandt on behalf of the Centre of Materials and Process Synthesis Team and the Honourable Mrs Naledi Pandor Minister of Science and Technology

Activities
	Wits scientists win prestigious National Science and Technology Awards

Professor M E Christine Rey, Professor of Microbiology: School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand is the female recipient of the ESKOM sponsored Award: ‘Researcher, for Research Capacity Development over the last 5-10 years’
For her contribution to research capacity development through the mentoring of 8 black MSc students (with 9 current) and 5 black PhD students (with 3 current) over the last ten years, and a total of 82 postgraduate students over her 25 year career, from both South Africa and many other sub-Saharan African countries.

Nominated by Professor Rob Veale, Head of School of Molecular and Cell Biology, Wits

Prof. Rey was Head of the School of Molecular and Cell Biology at Wits for 10 years and is co-leader (with Prof. Ramsay from Health Sciences) of the Research Thrust of Molecular Biosciences and the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Biosciences. She is an active researcher in the field of Plant Biotechnology, focusing on plant virology and genetic engineering of crops for virus resistance. She has supervised 8 black MSc students (with 9 current) and 5 black PhD students (with 3 current) over the last ten years and a total of 42 MSc and PhD students and 40 Honours students over her career. She serves on the advisory board of the African Centre for Gene Technology, on the Task Force of the Organisation or Economic Co-operative Development (OECD) for Safety of Novel Foods and Feed, and has served on the National Science and Technology Forum for many years. She was awarded a Santed project for strengthening of capacity in biotechnology at tertiary institutions in the SADC region. She has also created an innovative Masters programme in entrepreneurial Biotechnology at Wits, which has graduated over 24 MSc students in the past 10 years, and which recently attracted funding from the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Professor Deresh Ramjugernath, Professor: SARChi Fluorine Process Engineering and Separation Technology and Professor: Chemical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal is the male recipient of the ESKOM sponsored Award: ‘Researcher, for Research Capacity Development over the last 5-10 years’
For a substantial contribution to the development of research capacity in the field of thermodynamics research.

Nominated by Professor F Takawira, Dean of Engineering, UKZN

Prof. Ramjugernath has, in the last 5 to 10 years, established the Thermodynamics Research Unit at UKZN as the leading research group in the country in chemical thermodynamics and separation. He has been instrumental in developing research capacity in the School of Chemical Engineering and the Faculty of Engineering at UKZN in his role as Dean's assistant: Research and Postgraduate Studies and more directly in his role as South African Research Chair: Fluorine Process Engineering and Separation Technology and Director of the Thermodynamics Research Unit. The group undertakes cutting edge research that is contributing towards chemical process development and optimisation in South Africa and abroad. In the last 10 years he has successfully overseen the graduation of 48 Masters and PhD students and is currently supervising or co-supervising 32 postgraduate students. During this period he, along with his students, has produced in excess of 160 conference and journal papers.

Mr John Gosling, Prof Deresh Ramjugernath and the Honourable Mrs Naledi Pandor Minister of Science and Technology

Activities
	UKZN Researcher wins Prestigious National Award

The NRF Sponsored T W Kambule Award to a :‘Senior Black male Researcher over the last 5 to 10 years’ was made to Professor Oluwole Daniel Makinde, Senior Professor: Chair of Post-Graduate Studies, Faculty of Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology
For his success in research in mathematical modelling and computation as well as research capacity development in challenging environments.

Nominated by Dr S M Tshehla, Deputy Dean Military Science, US

Prof. Makinde’s drive, over and above his own research work in the areas of theoretical fluid mechanics, mathematical modelling of biological and engineering systems, nonlinear dynamic systems and computational mathematics, was to establish a Centre of Excellence at the University of Limpopo. The main objective of his research work is to use mathematical theories & methodologies to gain insight into the dynamics of various engineering & biological systems which are of industrial, environmental & social interest. The Centre of Excellence has produced many graduates from previously disadvantaged backgrounds who can be found in research institutions, in the water resources and forestry sectors, the mining sector and others, where they have made use of the science and technologically innovative techniques that they acquired in the course of their training to improve the quality of life for South Africans by generating wealth for the people of South Africa.

The NRF Sponsored T W Kambule Award for a: ‘Senior Black female Researcher over the last 5 to 10 years was made to Professor Debra Meyer, Professor of Biochemistry, University of Pretoria 
For a contribution through research to developing novel HIV treatments, prognostic markers and vaccine components.

Nominated by Professor Jan Verschoor, HoD Biochemistry, UP

Prof. Meyer has a unique approach to HIV/AIDS research and education involving multidisciplinary collaborations. Her research group pioneered the use of classical analytical chemistry tools in the study of HIV/AIDS leading to first time publications on biofluid metabonomics for distinguishing HIV infected individuals from controls and demonstrating the effect of metals on HIV-infection. Along with collaborators, Prof. Meyer contributed to the analysis of the first metallo-drug, able to simultaneously inhibit two HIV enzymes, and identified several more anti-HIV metallo-drugs. The work done in her laboratory also contributes to identifying potential vaccine candidates and identifying novel prognostic markers. As an educator she uses the novel pedagogical approach of teaching science through the doorway or lens of a pressing, unsolved social problem like HIV/AIDS.

The NRF sponsored T W Kambule award for a: ‘Distinguished Young Black male Researcher over the last 5 to 10 years’ was made to Professor Fulufhelo V Nelwamondo, Senior Research Scientist and Research Group Leader (Competency Area: Information Security): Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria; Post-doctoral Fellow, Harvard University, USA  
For a contribution to the solution of the problem of missing data estimation in online control applications.

Nominated by Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Executive Dean of Engineering and the Built Environment, UJ

Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo addresses the problem of missing data in online applications, where the data can also be non-stationary, or even heteroskedastic. As it is well known, the use of inferential sensors is a common task in online fault detection in various control applications. A problem arises when sensors fail while the control system is designed to make a decision based on the data from those sensors. The biggest challenge is that the standard computational intelligence techniques are not able to process input data with missing values and hence, cannot take part in decision making when some input data are missing. Dr Nelwamondo addressed this problem through depth and derived computational intelligence models for missing data estimation. He had also applied some of his methods to solve the problem of missing data in areas of national priority such as power supply and HIV modelling. The manner in which computational techniques can be applied to solve the missing data problem has opened new research avenues in the field.

The NRF sponsored T W Kambule award for a: ‘Distinguished Young Black female Researcher over the last 5 to 10 years’ was made to Dr Rapela Regina Maphanga, Materials Modelling Centre, University of Limpopo
For a contribution to the computational modelling of materials particularly for electrolytic manganese dioxide.

Nominated by Professor Phuti Ngoepe University of Limpopo

Dr Maphanga is a senior researcher in the field of computational modelling of materials. She has handled complex research problems, using a variety of computational modelling methods. In particular she uses a cutting edge and rare technique called the “amorphisation and recrystallisation” (A and R) method. An evolutionary simulated A and R method generates atomistic models for electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) which captures much of the microstructure associated with the complex EMD. Electrochemical properties of EMD are governed by the rich and complex microstructure it accommodates. She is actively participating in projects to motivate learners, especially girls, to pursue careers in science, engineering and technology.

In the SAASTA sponsored ‘Science Communicator for Public Awareness over the last 5 years’ category, two winners were announced. These were: Mr Robert Inglis,  Director: Jive Media for the Maloti Drakensberg Experience, and for the Mission MeerKAT Comic Series, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal 
For a contribution to the development of the discipline of science communication through innovative and exciting media.

Nominated  by Kim de Boer, South African SKA Project, for Meerkat material and by Kevan Zunckel, Senior Ecologist for the Maloti Project, for the Maloti Drakensberg Experience

The Maloti Drakensberg Experience is a captivating and highly visual, yet practical book, researched over some 5 years, written and published by Jive Media to unlock the natural and cultural treasures of the Maloti Drakensberg Mountain region. With its focus on a range of scientific disciplines, and including social and cultural aspects, ornithology, biodiversity and even engineering exploits, it promotes sustainable community-based tourism to this cross-border region. The Mission MeerKAT Comic Series, consisting of two 8-page comic books and 6 large pull-up banners, illuminates the world of radio astronomy for public audiences around South Africa. Through the adventures of the comic characters, the scientific and technical information around the Karoo Array Telescope (KAT), currently being built near Carnarvon in the Northern Cape, is unlocked, shedding light on the proposed Square Kilometre Array (SKA) – the largest Radio Telescope ever designed, which South Africa is currently bidding to host.

and Mr David Kramer, Director and Team, Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, Newtown, Johannesburg
For a substantial contribution to the communication of science in innovative ways to a wide audience.

Nominated by Fikile Mapela, Sci Bono

The Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, under the directorship of David Kramer, is an independent non-profit Section 21 company and the largest science centre in Southern Africa. Its goals are to stimulate engagement with science and technology, to improve teaching and learning in mathematics, science and technology (MST) and to increase interest in post-school careers in SET. It does this by offering a large collection of interactive SET exhibits and an annual calendar of SET events and activities for the general public but mostly for school learners and teachers. It runs an outreach programme in disadvantaged schools, an MST teacher academy, an ICT training centre and the BHP Billiton Career Centre. In 2009, Sci-Bono hosted nearly 150 000 visitors and served 30 000 school learners through its outreach programme.