It is an extraordinary honour to be a finalist; given the quality of the nominations received, the fierce competition that nominees face, and the interest from the community every year.

Join the NSTF membership and pioneering partners/sponsors in applauding the 2022/2023 NSTF-South32 Awards finalists. These comprise individuals, teams and organisations, as applicable, who have made an outstanding contribution to SET and innovation in South Africa under the categories below:

• The phrases in italics at the end of the citation of the nominee indicates that a nominee qualified as a finalist under more than one category and mentions the applicable category/ies
• Listed alphabetically according to the surname of nominee or name of team/organisation under each category

Lifetime Award

• Prof Nigel C Bennett – Austin Roberts Chair:  Mammalogy, University of Pretoria (UP); and Professor: Zoology, Department (Dept) of Zoology and Entomology, UP
• Prof Clive Gray – Professor: Immunology in Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Stellenbosch University (SU); and Emeritus Professor: Immunology, University of Cape Town (UCT)      
• Prof Juliet Hermes – Professor: Dept of Oceanography, UCT; and Honorary Professor: Institute of Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University (NMU); and Manager: Egagasini Node, South African (SA) Environmental Observation Network (SAEON); and Acting Manager: SA Polar Research Infrastructure, SAEON; and also in the Special Annual Theme category*
• Prof Jonathan Jansen – Distinguished Professor: Education, SU; and President: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)
• Prof Onisimo Mutanga – Professor: Remote Sensing, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN); and Chair: Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) / National Research Foundation (NRF) South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) in Land Use Planning and Management, UKZN; and also in the Engineering Research Capacity Development category*
• Prof Francesco Pettrucione – Professor: Quantum Computing, School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, SU; and Interim Director: National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS), SU; and ‘Fractional’ Professor, School of Chemistry and Physics, UKZN; and Chair: DSI/NRF SARChI in Quantum Information Processing and Communication, UKZN
• Prof Judy van Biljon – Chair: DSI/NRF SARChI in ICT4D; and Research Professor: School of Computing, University of South Africa; and Chairperson: SA Chapter, International Network for Postgraduate Students in the area of ICT4D (IPID); and Chairperson: International Development Informatics Association; and also in the Management category*
• Prof Brenda D Wingfield – Chair: DSI/NRF SARChI in Fungal Genomics; and Professor: Dept of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), UP

TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Researcher

Prize sponsor: proSET (Professionals in SET), a sector of the NSTF representing professional bodies and learned societies

• Prof Ryan Blumenthal – Senior Specialist Forensic Pathologist and Associate Professor: Department (Dept) of Forensic Medicine, University of Pretoria (UP); and also in the Communications category*
• Prof Novel N Chegou – Professor: Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Dept of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University (SU)
• Prof Andrew Green – Professor: Marine Geology, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN); and Visiting Professor: University of Ulster, Northern Ireland; and also in the Special Annual Theme category*
• Prof Ajay K Mishra – Group Leader: Research Area “Nanomaterials and Wastewater”; and Professor: Dept of Chemistry, Durban University of Technology (DUT); and also in the Water Research Commission category*
• Prof Marlo Möller – Professor: Centre for Tuberculosis Research, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC); and Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) / National Research Foundation (NRF) Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Biomedical Tuberculosis, Research Division, Molecular Biology and Human Genetics (MBHG), Dept of Biomedical Sciences, SU; and Associate Member: Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, SU
• Prof Nosipho Moloto – DSI/NRF/Nedbank Chair: South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) in Energy Materials, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits); and Research Professor: Inorganic Chemistry, Wits; and Deputy Director: African Research Universities Alliance, CoE in Materials, Energy and Nanotechnology, Wits; and also in the Engineering Research Capacity Development category*
• Prof Samuel O Oluwafemi – Project Leader: Nanomaterials Synthesis and Applications Laboratory, Dept of Chemical Sciences (formerly Applied Chemistry), University of Johannesburg

TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher

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

• Dr Kimberley (Kimi) Chapelle – Postdoctoral Fellow: Department (Dept) of Science and Innovation (DSI) / National Research Foundation (NRF): GENUS Next Generation Palaeoscientist Grant, Evolutionary Studies Institute (Inst), University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
• Dr Terusha Chetty – Specialist Clinician Scientist: HIV and Other Infectious Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC); and also in the Clinician-Scientist category*
• Dr Rachael Dangarembizi – Senior (Sr) Lecturer: Dept of Human Biology/Neuroscience Inst, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town (UCT)
• Prof Usisipho Feleni – Associate Professor and Thematic Area Leader: Applied Electrochemistry, Inst for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, University of South Africa (Unisa)
• Dr Mubeen Goolam – Lecturer: Human Biology, Dept of Human Biology, UCT
• Dr Daniel W Hart – Sr Research Fellow: Zoology and Entomology Dept, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria (UP)
• Prof Shahida Moosa – Head of Dept: Medical Genetics, Tygerberg Academic Hospital; and Associate Professor: Medical Genetics, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Stellenbosch University (SU); and also in and the  Clinician-Scientist category*
• Dr Edward C Netherlands – Sr Lecturer: Dept of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State (UFS)
• Dr Michael Pienaar – Specialist Paediatrician: PICU Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital, Free State Department of Health; and Senior Lecturer: Dept of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS; and Co-Convenor: Ethics and Governance Group, Interdisciplinary Centre for Digital Futures, UFS; and also in the Clinician-Scientist category
• Dr Daniel Ramotsoela – Sr Lecturer: Dept of Electrical Engineering, UCT
• Dr Fidele Tugizimana – Lecturer and Research Scientist: Dept of Biochemistry, University of Johannesburg; and Specialist Scientist: International Research and Development Division, Omnia Nutriology, Omnia Group Ltd, South Africa
• Dr Charl Verwey – Sr Lecturer: Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits; and Head of Division: Paediatric Pulmonology, Wits; and Consultant Paediatric Pulmonologist, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg; and also in the Clinician-Scientist category*

Management Award

• Prof Isabelle Ansorge – Professor and Head of Department: Oceanography, University of Cape Town; Principal Investigator: SEAmester; and also in the Special Annual Theme category*
• Prof Paxie W Chirwa – Chair and Director: Forest Postgraduate Programme, University of Pretoria
• Dr Robin Drennan – Director: Research Development, University of the Witwatersrand
• Prof Judy van Biljon – Chair: Department of Science and Innovation / National Research Foundation South African Research Chair Initiative in ICT4D; and Research Professor: School of Computing, University of South Africa; and Chairperson: SA Chapter, International Network for Postgraduate Students in the area of ICT4D (IPID); and Chairperson: International Development Informatics Association; and also in the Lifetime category*

Engineering Research Capacity Development Award

Sponsor: Eskom since 2003

• Prof Denis Kalumba – Associate Professor: Geotechnical Engineering, University of Cape Town (UCT); and Director: Postgraduate Studies, Department of Civil Engineering, UCT; and Head: Geotechnical Division, UCT; and Director: Geotechnical Research Laboratory, UCT
• Prof Soraya P Malinga – Associate Professor and Co–Director: Joint Research Centre for Water, Environmental Science and Technology, University of Johannesburg
• Prof Nosipho Moloto – Chair: Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) / National Research Foundation (NRF) / Nedbank South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) in Energy Materials, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits); and Research Professor: Inorganic Chemistry, Wits; and Deputy Director: African Research Universities Alliance, Centre of Excellence in Materials, Energy and Nanotechnology, Wits; and also in the Researcher category*
• Prof Onisimo Mutanga – Professor: Remote Sensing, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN); and Chair: DSI/NRF SARChI in Land Use Planning and Management, UKZN; and also in the Researcher category*

NSTF-Water Research Commission (WRC) Award

Sponsor: WRC since 2017

• Prof John G Annandale – Group Leader: Mine Water Irrigation Research Group, Department (Dept) of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria (UP)
• Prof Kirsty Carden – Associate Professor: Dept of Civil Engineering, University of Cape Town (UCT); and Interim Director: Future Water Research Institute, UCT
• Centre for Water Resources Research (CWRR), University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) – Prof Jeff Smithers, Director: CWRR; and Umgeni Water Chair: Water Resources Management, Innovation and Research, School of Engineering, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, UKZN
• Prof Patricia Forbes – Full Professor and Rand Water Chair: Dept of Chemistry, UP
• Prof Ajay K Mishra – Professor and Group Leader: Research Area “Nanomaterials and Wastewater”, Dept of Chemistry, Durban University of Technology; and also in the Researcher category*
• Prof Craig Sheridan – Professor and Director: Centre in Water Research and Development; and Claude Leon Foundation Chair in Water Research, School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand

NSTF-SAMRC Clinician-Scientist Award

NEW Sponsored by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)

• Dr Terusha Chetty – Specialist Clinician Scientist: HIV and Other Infectious Diseases Research Unit, SAMRC; and also in the Emerging Researcher category*
• Prof Salome Maswime – Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and Head: Global Surgery, Department (Dept) of Medicine, University of Cape Town
• Prof Shahida Moosa – Head: Medical Genetics, Tygerberg Academic Hospital; and Associate Professor: Medical Genetics, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Stellenbosch University (SU); and also in the Emerging Researcher category
• Dr Michael Pienaar – Specialist Paediatrician: PICU Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital, Free State Department of Health; and Senior (Sr) Lecturer: Dept of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State (UFS); and Co-Convenor: Ethics and Governance Group, Interdisciplinary Centre for Digital Futures, UFS; and also in the Emerging Researcher category
• Dr Leigh van den Heuvel – Specialist Psychiatrist: Tygerberg Hospital; and Sr Lecturer: Dept of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SU
• Dr Charl Verwey – Sr Lecturer: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits); and Head of Division: Paediatric Pulmonology, Wits; and Consultant Paediatric Pulmonologist: Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg; and also in the Emerging Researcher category

Green Economy Award

• Mammal Research Institute (MRI), The Whale Unit – Dr Els Vermeulen, Research Manager: Department (Dept) of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria; and also in the Special Annual Theme category
• Prof Andrew Thatcher – Professor: Psychology Dept, School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand
• Prof Rachel Wynberg – Chair: Department of Science and Innovation / National Research Foundation, South African Research Chair Initiative in Environmental and Social Dimensions of the Bio-economy; and Professor: Environmental and Geography Sciences, University of Cape Town

Data for Research Award

• Prof Karen I Barnes – Professor: Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department (Dept) of Medicine, University of Cape Town (UCT); and Head: Pharmacology Module, Worldwide Antimalarial Resistance Network; and Founding Director: UCT / South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Collaborating Centre for Optimising Antimalarial Therapy; and Honorary Visiting Research Fellow: Oxford University
• Coronavirus COVID-19 (2019 – nCoV) Data Repository for South Africa (SA) – COVID19ZA Volunteers – Prof Vukosi Marivate, Principal Investigator and Leader: Data Science for Social Impact Research Group, Dept of Computer Science, University of Pretoria (UP)
• Freshwater Biodiversity Information System (FBIS) Team, Freshwater Research Centre (FRC) and Kartoza – Dr Helen Dallas, Executive Director: FRC; and Team Leader: FBIS, and also in the Non-Governmental Organisation category*
• Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy (IDIA), a partnership of UCT, University of the Western Cape (UWC), and UP, as well as the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory – Dr Russ Taylor, Director: IDIA; and Professor and Square Kilometre Array Research Chair, UCT and UWC

Innovation Award: Corporate Organisation – No Finalists

Innovation Award: Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME)

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

• LignOrganic – Mr Tshepo Mangoele, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder, Johannesburg
• Pegasus Universal Aerospace Team – Dr Mohamed Reza Mia, Chairman and Founder, Johannesburg
• Zambezi Analytics (Pty) Ltd – Mr Tabani Mtombeni, Founder and CEO; and Prof Caliphs Zvinowanda

Communication Award

• Prof Ryan Blumenthal – Senior Specialist Forensic Pathologist and Associate Professor: Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Pretoria (UP); and also in the Researcher category*
• Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) – Mr Chris Campbell, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Johannesburg
• Prof Roger Deane – Director: University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) Centre for Astrophysics; and Wits Digital Dome Working Group, Chair: Department of Science and Innovation / National Research Foundation South African Research Chair Initiative in Radio Astronomy
• Mrs Shakira Hoosain – Campaign Strategist and Senior Copywriter: Research Matters, UP
• Dr Martina Jordaan – Head: Community Engagement Research and Postgraduate Studies, Mamelodi Campus, UP
• Prof Pat Mfanelo Ntsobi – CEO: Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, Johannesburg; see also in the Non-Governmental Organisation category
• Prof Refilwe Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya – Professor: Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg (UJ); and Director: South African Medical Research Council / UJ Pan African Centre for Epidemics Research (PACER) Extramural Unit
• South African Child Gauge – Ms Lori Lake: Communication and Education Specialist, Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town

Non-Governmental Organisation Award

• Community Keepers – Mr Gerrit Laning, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and NGO Representative, Stellenbosch
• Freshwater Research Centre (FRC) – Dr Helen Dallas, Executive Director, Kirstenbosch, Cape Town; and also in the Data for Research category*
• Sci-Bono Discovery Centre – CEO: Prof Pat Mfanelo Ntsobi; see also the Communication category*

Special Annual Theme Award: Ocean Sciences for Sustainable  Development

• Prof Isabelle Ansorge – Professor and Head: Department (Dept) of Oceanography, University of Cape Town (UCT); and Principal Investigator: SEAmester; and also in the Management category*
• Prof Andrew Green – Professor: Marine Geology, University of KwaZulu-Natal; and Visiting Professor: University of Ulster, Northern Ireland; and also in the Researcher category*
• Prof Juliet Hermes – Professor: Dept of Oceanography, UCT; and Honorary Professor: Institute of Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University; and Manager: Egagasini Node, South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON); and Acting Manager: SA Polar Research Infrastructure, SAEON; and also in the Lifetime category*
• Mammal Research Institute (MRI), The Whale Unit – Dr Els Vermeulen, Research Manager: Dept of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria; and also in the Green Economy category*

Adjudication: The selection process of finalists and winners for the NSTF-South32 Awards is made by an adjudication panel of independent judges. They represent six different sectors of the NSTF membership. This adjudication panel, in conjunction with the sponsors and partners, review the nominations to select the finalists and winners each year. A panel of experts, appointed by the NSTF Executive Committee, also assists the panel by reviewing and validating the final selections.