Pretoria - Some of the country’s top scientists were honoured by the Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, at the annual National Research Foundation (NRF) Awards.
University of Cape Town Professor Lionel Opie and Professor Hoosen Coovadia from the University of Witwatersrand and the University of KwaZulu Natal were awarded with the NRF Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The award recognises the lifelong research achievements of individuals, together with their impact on society.
Professor Stella Nkomo of the University of Pretoria received the Transformation of the Science Cohort Award, which recognises individuals who have played key roles in addressing the issue of advancing women and black scientists in terms of their research performance.
Professor Fazal Mahomed of the University of the Witwatersrand was the recipient of the Champion of Research Capacity Development at South African Higher Education Institutions Award.
The award recognises Mahomed’s efforts in helping to nurture the next generation of talented researchers.
Professor Lee Berger of the University of the Witwatersrand’s Rising Star Expedition Team was awarded with the Science Team Award.
The awards were held at the Thaba Ya Batswana Eco Hotel in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Minister Pandor was praised Professor Oppie’s work, who is among the world's foremost scholars of heart disease.
“I am in awe of your work and I thank you, on behalf of the South African people, from the bottom of my heart,” Minister Pandor said.
The CEO of the NRF, Dr Albert van Jaarsveld, said the NRF Awards celebrate the work of the country’s top rated researchers by highlighting their achievements.
“For the NRF, our work will continue to support the country’s research community, enabling established scientists to continue their valuable contributions to South Africa’s knowledge economy, as well as providing the means for our next generation researchers and emerging researchers to continue pushing the boundaries of human knowledge,” said Van Jaarsveld. – SAnews.gov.za
