Top slot for Burton

Opportunity: Prof Stephanie Burton of the Department of Chemical Engineering is the new vice-chair of the executive committee of the National Science and Technology Forum.

UCT's Professor Stephanie Burton of the Department of Chemical Engineering has been appointed vice-chair of the executive committee of the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) as well as vice-chair of the executive committee of its sub-section, the Scientific, Engineering and Allied Professions Group (SETAG) of South Africa.

The NSTF is a national forum that furthers the interests of the national science and technology community.

With a string of national leadership appointments to her credit - she was president of the South African Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a nominee for the SABC2/Checkers Shoprite Woman in Science of the Year in 2005 - Burton comes well qualified.

'It is a tremendous but exciting challenge,' she said of her new responsibilities. 'Having served on other national and regional representative bodies, I see this appointment as an opportunity to serve in a more central position.

'I expect to gain new insights into national policymaking, which will assist in our communication and facilitation roles.'

Burton, who is director of postgraduate studies in the chemical engineering department, has a PhD in biochemistry (Rhodes University). She is a member of the UCT Senate Academic Planning Committee (deputy chair) and a member of Senate.

Professor Brenda Wingfield is the new chair of the NSTF executive committee. She is the first woman to hold this position.