Individuals
Professor Donald Cowan
— professor: microbiology, director: Institute for Microbial Technology and Metagenomics, University of the Western Cape (UWC).
For his microbiological work in the frozen wastes of Antartica.Cowan is an internationally recognised researcher in microbiology of extreme environments.
Professor Pat G Eriksson
-— professor and head of department: geology, University of Pretoria.
For research into the history of the earth by analysing sedimentary deposits.
Eriksson established and led an international collaborative effort of 16 highly experienced people, known as the Global Pre-Cambrian Sedimentation Syndicate, which has interacted to study the evolution of the Pre-Cambrian earth with special emphasis on basin analysis.
Professor Wentzel Gelderblom
-— international director: Promec unit, South African Medical Research Council and extraordinary professor: department biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch.
For his work into the carcinogenic characteristics of food.
During the past 20 years Gelderblom has made major research contributions to life sciences (biochemistry, chemistry, carcinogenesis and toxicology) following the isolation and characterisation of the carcinogenic mycotoxins, the fumonisins, by him in 1988.
Monica Graaff
-— editor: Mind Shift magazine, Cape Town.
For her work in raising awareness in the business community around sustainability.
Graaff is the founding editor of Mind Shift magazine, aimed at raising awareness and debate around sustainability in the business community — a subject that cuts across socio-economic, science and environmental issues and which she has pursued over 12 years.
Professor Louis J Grobler
- professor: department of mechanical engineering, North-West University, director: Energy Cybernetics and director: CFAM Technologies.
For his work in the promotion of responsible energy management and use.
Energy and the environment are topical issues that need to be addressed at the highest levels of governments and organisations. Measurement and verification is the name of a process used to quantify the technical performance of energy and emission saving projects and Grobler was involved with the developments of the process in South Africa from its inception.
Rudi Horak
-— manager: Sci-Enza Science Centre, University of Pretoria.
For her work in the management of the Sci-Enza Science and Technology outreach project at the University of Pretoria.
Since Horak was appointed as manager of Sci-Enza in 1994, the centre has grown in stature as an essential centre of learning and for the promotion of primary exposure to science and technology for learners and students.
Professor David Jacobs
-— associate professor: department of zoology and chair of animal evolution and systematics, University of Cape Town (2008).
For his research into bats in the Western Cape.
Jacobs developed a new research programme in the evolution and systematics of bats in 1996.
Professor Amanda Lochner
-— department of biomedical sciences, University of Stellenbosch, and division of medical physiology, South African Medical Research Council.
For her lifetime of research into heart disease.
Lochner’s research, spanning a career at the University of Stellenbosch from 1964 to a current position on contract, has focused mainly on ischaemic heart disease, the incidence of which in South Africa is among the highest in the world.
Professor Oluwole Makinde
—senior professor and chair of postgraduate studies, faculty of engineering at Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
For his vigorous promotion of science, engineering, technology and innovation and careers in science, engineering, technology and innovation to black students.
Over the past five to 10 years Makinde has conducted research activities in theoretical fluid mechanics, mathematical modeling of biological and engineering systems, nonlinear dynamical systems and computational mathematics.
Professor Kobus JG Maree
-— faculty of education, University of Pretoria.
For his energetic contribution towards overcoming the shackles of a poor school education and providing an entry to higher education for such learners.
Maree has sensitised many specialists and lay people to the complex factors that can predict success at school, during tertiary study and in life generally.
Professor Zander Myburg
—- associate professor, department of genetics, University of Pretoria, and research leader of the Forest Molecular Genetics Programme.
For a contribution to the genetic improvement of trees, particularly eucalyptus trees in South Africa.
Myburg is nominated for his contributions to the field of forest molecular genetics and genomics in South Africa.
Dr Fulufehlo Nelwamondo
-— leader in information security, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria.
For a contribution to the solution of the problem of missing data in control applications.
Nelwamondo derived computational intelligence models for missing data estimation in online applications, where the data can also be non-stationary or even heteroskedastic.
Professor Cyril O’Connor
— acting deputy vice-chancellor and director: Centre for Minerals Research, department of chemistry, University of Cape Town.
For a sustained contribution to the management of research in the fields of chemistry and mineral processing.
In his 30 years as an academic, O’Connor has made significant research contributions in the fields of minerals processing and catalysis, and he is a recognised leading educator in engineering.
Professor Neville Pillay
— school of animal, plant and environmental sciences, University of the Witwatersrand.
For studies into the behaviour of rodents.
Pillay is a specialist in the study of animal behaviour. He has studied the responses of animals (mainly rodents) to change over long and short time periods and to artificial conditions in captivity.
Professor Viness Pillay
— research chair: pharmaceutical biomaterials, and polymer-engineered drug delivery technologies, Wits Drug Delivery Platform, University of the Witwatersrand.
For the development of innovative drug delivery products.
The research activities undertaken by Pillay, a Fulbright scholar, encompass the development and eventual commercialisation of innovative drug delivery products that offer newer innovative technologies able to provide superior effective treatment modalities for various communicable and non-communicable diseases burdening our country.
Dr Boitumela Semete
— senior research scientist: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
Semete has been a core team member of the TB nano drug delivery project for the past three years.
The main role for Semete and her team of PhD students is to perform cell culture and pre-clinical trial studies on the TB nano drug delivery project, among others.
Professor Dan J Stein
-— head of the department of psychiatry, University of Cape Town and director of the MRC research unit on anxiety and stress disorders, Parow.
For a major contribution to the understanding and treatment of anxiety disorders (ADs).
The mission of Stein’s unit and the focus of his research have been to investigate the psychobiology of ADs in order to understand their causes and develop new treatments.
Dr Michelle van der Bank
— senior lecturer, department of botany and plant technology, University of Johannesburg.
For a programme of applying DNA techniques and barcoding to the study of plant diversity.
Van der Bank’s area of interest and expertise is the application of DNA techniques to the study of plant diversity.
Research for innovation by an individual or a team through an organisation
The Autek Catalysis Team, Mintek/Ashanti, Randburg.
Where gold is highly dispersed and supported on metal oxides potent catalysts are produced. This team is undertaking research and development work to exploit this.
Coaltech, Johannesburg.
This alliance between government, users and the mining industry explores areas of improvement in the coal industry in South Africa.
DAGEOS Team, Umvoto Africa and SA Rock Drills, Cape Town.
This team has undertaken ground breaking extensions of rockdrilling techniques in the Oudtshoorn area.
Karl A Eschberger for Prokon Software —- Prokon Software Consultants, Gauteng.
Prokon Software has become the structural and design software package of preferred use in South Africa by the structural design industry.
Fablabs Project Programme (Lindi Mophuti), Advanced Manufacturing Technology Strategy Implementation Unit, Innovation Hub, Pretoria.
Fablabs is a vehicle for hands on learning of manufacturing and exploring creativity in 3-D.
The Health Promotion Research and Development Centre, (Professor Priscilla Reddy and team) South African Medical Research Council, KwaZulu-Natal.
The zealous fighter of diseases of lifestyle.
Innoventon (Professor Ben Zeelie and team), Institute of Chemical Technology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth.
The research and development of an insect repellent has demonstrated a new methodology and platform for product development in the
chemical field.
Marti-Diagnosis; Molecular and Cellular Medical Institute (Professor Jan Verschoor and team), University of Pretoria.
The institute has pioneered a new method of diagnosis for TB which can deliver a result in eight hours that should transform the treatment of the disease.
National Crops Statistics Consortium, of the Agricultural Research Council and two other SMMEs, Spatialintelligence and GeoTerraImage, Pretoria.
Bean counting taken to a new level of sophistication.
Plasma Technology Team (Professor Jaco van der Walt and team), the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, Pelindaba.
New processes have been developed for the recovery of the components of waste polymers.
Power Alert Team of Energy Cybernetics, North-West University.
The team that put the power alert symbol on TV screens across the country to help the public become part of the solution to the national electricity crisis.
Robert Bosch and team, Rubber Nano Products, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth.
A new form of rubber which does not require zinc oxide is being developed for the industry.
The South African National Survey of Arachnida (Sansa), Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria.
The project to establish an inventory of spiders.
Sansa is an umbrella project dedicated to unifying biodiversity research on spiders in South Africa and is coordinated by a team at the Agricultural Research Council in collaboration with the South African National Biosystematics Institute. Sansa runs on a national basis in collaboration with other institutions with an interest in the arachnid fauna.
Technology Education Catalyst Project, University of Johannesburg
This project provides support to the teaching of mathematics and science in schools.
Since 1999 TechnEd (the former Rautec) has been involved in the Technology Education Catalyst Project. This project comprises partnerships between the University of Johannesburg (specifically TechnEd as part of the faculty of education), provincial departments of education and the department of trade and industry.
Xenon Difluoride (XeF2) Commercialisation Team, Pelchem, NECSA, Pelindaba
This project provides the world with Xenon difluoride.
The micro electro-mechanical system industry is seen as the largest growing sector (both in terms of application and value), within the global semiconductor industry. XeF2 has been demonstrated to be the most superior chemical for the etching of these devices.