The hybrid gala events of the prestigious NSTF-South32 Awards took place on Thursday, 11 July 2024. It is the 26^th celebration of South African excellence through this flagship project of the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF).

Outstanding contributions to SET and innovation were awarded and celebrated in the following broad areas under 15 categories:

• Scientific research
• Innovation and development
• Management and related activities
• Capacity development in engineering research
• Environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation
• Science diplomacy
• Medical research
• Water research and innovation
• Data for research
• Science communication

Special Annual Theme Award: The NSTF theme for 2024 is the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in South Africa (SA). A Special Annual Theme Award was made recognising a contribution in this regard.

About the NSTF and the awards: The NSTF is the most representative multi-stakeholder non-profit forum in SA promoting SET and innovation. The NSTF-South32 Awards showcase the research and development capacity of our nation. The excellent output of the winners supports SA’s advancement, economic growth and the social upliftment of our people.

Why are these awards different? The national NSTF-South32 Awards are the largest SET and innovation awards in SA since 1998. They are known as the ‘Science Oscars’ and were the first science awards in the country after the change of government in 1994. An important aspect of the Awards is the showcasing of South African SET and innovation to the public, which includes the year-long engagement programme between the winners and school learners, called the NSTF Share ‘n Dare Programme. These top scientists share their knowledge and experiences with young people, ‘daring’ them to follow in their footsteps.

The NSTF Brilliants Programme recognises at least two outstanding Grade 12 performers in physical science and mathematics from each province exposing them to the award winning scientists and the world of professional SET work. They are also introduced to the public through the NSTF-South32 Awards Gala Event and publicity campaign.

Award winners

The finalists and awardees were honoured, announced and celebrated at the hybrid gala dinners held in Johannesburg and Cape Town simultaneously, via live broadcast on the NSTF YouTube channel. It is an honour to be nominated, an achievement to reach the finals and an exceptional milestone of excellence to be a winner.

The NSTF and its sponsors congratulate the 2023/2024 NSTF-South32 Award winners.

Lifetime Award

• Prof Ben-Erik van Wyk – Chair: Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)/National Research Foundation (NRF) South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) in Indigenous Plant Use, University of Johannesburg (UJ )
  For his contribution as a botanist and an authority on traditional and commercial uses of plants, with numerous books and publications covering all or most of the socially relevant and commercialised plant species of the world.

TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Researcher

Prize sponsor: proSET (Professionals in SET), a sector of the NSTF representing more than 45 professional societies

• Prof Patience Mthunzi-Kufa – Research Group Head: Biophotonics; Manager: Photonics Centre, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); Professor Extraordinarius: University of South Africa (UNISA)

For her research on the construction and application of photonics-based diagnostic devices for point-of-care detection of HIV-1, TB, COVID-19, as well as non-communicable diseases in order to achieve early detection and to facilitate timely treatment.

TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher (two winners)

Prize sponsor: South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS)

• Dr Tiisetso E Lephoto – Lecturer and Principal Researcher: School of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
  For her investigation of biological control agents (natural enemies for pests) which can help solve identified challenges, and the identification of new insect-killing microscopic worms called entomopathogenic nematodes, which have the potential to infect and kill problematic soil-dwelling insects in farms within 24-48 hours upon invasion.​

AND

• Prof Tebogo Mashifana – Associate Professor and Head of Department (Dept): Chemical Engineering Technology, University of Johannesburg
  For her research which focuses on innovative circular economy principles to remediate the environmental impact caused by wastewater and solid wastes and the conversion of such wastes generated by different industries, which pollute our environment, contaminate water, soil and the air, into new products that can be used for various applications.

Management Award

• Prof Bernard Slippers – Professor: Dept of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology; Director: Tree Protection Co-operative Programme; Director: Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria (UP); Director: Innovation Africa @UP
  For his leadership and participation in several substantive research programmes and his role in the foundation of the Future Africa Institute, the Africa Science Leadership Programme and Innovation Africa @UP, and in the global young academy movement and the Global Young Academy and SAYAS.

Engineering Research Capacity Development Awards (two winners)

Sponsor: Eskom since 2003

• Prof Claudia Polese – Associate Professor: Aerospace Manufacturing and Design; Head: Aeronautical Engineering Stream; Deputy Director: African Research Universities Alliance Centre of Excellence in Materials, Energy and Nanotechnology; Advisory Aerospace Research Director: National Aerospace Centre, Wits
  For her leadership of several strategic South African initiatives to strengthen the research in the area of advanced manufacturing technologies and primarily the cutting-edge Laser Shock Peening (LSP) process, furthering substantial infrastructural and human capital development.

AND

• Prof Emmanuel Iwuoha – Professor: Chemistry, University of the Western Cape (UWC); DSI/NRF SARChI Chair for NanoElectrochemistry and Sensor Technology; Director: SensorLab, UWC
  For his exploitation of the capacity of the SensorLab at UWC for research on disease diagnostic sensor devices, lithium-ion battery/supercapacitors and solar cell technology to achieve a significant throughput of researchers under his guidance for applications in solar cells and gas sensing. 

NSTF-Water Research Commission (WRC) Award

Sponsor: WRC since 2017

• Prof Timothy Dube – Director: Institute for Water Studies, UWC; Adjunct Professor: United Nations University, Flores, Germany
  For his pioneering and innovative methods using satellite technology merged with machine learning (AI) to monitor water resources in semi-arid regions, enhancing ecological sustainability and community resilience. 

NSTF-SAMRC Clinician-Scientist Award

Sponsor: South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)

• Dr June Fabian – Director: Wits Donald Gordon Medical Research Institute; Post-doctoral Researcher; Co-Lead: Clinical Research Platform: SAMRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit; Lecturer: Dept of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits
  For her leadership and coordination of the multi-country and multi-dimensional ARK project, which challenged outdated, biased, and unscientific diagnostic tools and developed new, evidence-grounded methodologies to achieve greater impact in the early detection and management of chronic kidney disease.

Green Economy Award

Sponsor: Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)

• Prof Linda Godfrey – Manager: Circular Innovation SA, Principal Scientist: Circular Economy, CSIR; Extraordinary Professor: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University (NWU)
  For her leading role in shaping and driving SA’s waste and circular economy science, technology and innovation agendas, encompassing the development and implementation of the Waste Research, Development and Innovation Roadmap for the DSI and having been instrumental in shaping strategic local and international waste and circular economy initiatives. 

Science Diplomacy for Africa Award

NEW Sponsorship: Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa initiative (SDCfA)

• Prof Irvy (Igle) Gledhil – Visiting Adjunct Professor: School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, Wits 
  For her work to build vibrant, supportive environments in which women and men as scientists can make real contributions, leading the international working group on Women in Physics and her leadership within the Global Gender Gap Project and the convening of African and South African scientists to engage with wicked problems. 

Data for Research Award

• uLwazi Node, South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) Open Data Platform, NRF – Mr Leo Chiloane, Manager
  For the management of a metadata repository that facilitates the FAIR publication, discovery, dissemination, and preservation of earth observation and environmental data in SA, certified as a trusted repository by the CoreTrustSeal in 2023. 

Innovation Award: Corporate Organisation

• Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRi) NPC – Prof Mike Sathekge, Chief Executive Officer and President
  For a facility which represents a paradigm shift in its field, offering a one-stop-shop for medical imaging and theragnostics dedicated to drug development and clinical research, which provides consolidated expertise in nuclear technologies, in medicine and the biosciences, creating significant research, development and innovation capacity in SA. 

Innovation Award: Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise

Sponsor: National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO) since 2019

• Jonker Sailplanes (Pty) Ltd – Co-Founder, Shareholder and Director: Prof Attie Jonker, School of Mechanical Engineering, NWU
  For their design, manufacture, further development of, and for building on their success celebrated for the first time 11 years ago, and for their export success of internationally competitive sailplanes. 

Communication Award

• Prof Jennifer Fitchett – Professor: Physical Geography, Wits
  For her involvement in both communicating her own science to the public and in training early career researchers in science communication, notably through a Science Blog, articles in The Conversation and podcasts.

Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Award

• OLICO Maths Education – Director: Maths Education, Dr Lynn Bowie
  For their project to make sense of mathematics through high quality programmes and resources for thousands of South African school children from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

Special Annual Theme Award: 4IR in SA

• Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy (IDIA) – a partnership of the Universities of Cape Town (UCT), UWC, and UP – Prof Patrick Woudt, Interim Director: Dept of Astronomy, UCT
  For their cutting-edge infrastructure and its management which facilitates global collaboration in astronomy empowering researchers to analyse complex SET data with unprecedented efficiency. 

Read all about it: The NSTF partners with Mail & Guardian and Business Report to publicise the winners and their work since 2009. Both newspapers are media sponsors of the NSTF-South32 Awards.

Buy your copy of the newspapers of Mail & Guardian (12 July 2024 edition) and Business Report (the latter is an insert in The Star, Pretoria News, Cape Times and The Mercury on 19 July 2024). The Mail & Guardian supplement is also available online making the articles accessible throughout and to anyone interested. The winners will feature in a digital magazine that will be available on 31 July 2024 on the IOL website.