SA’s ‘Science Oscars’ names UCT finalists

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has done it again. Twelve of its academics and one university partnership have been selected as finalists in multiple categories for the 2022/2023 NSTF-South32 Awards – testament to their groundbreaking work in the fields of science, engineering and technology (SET) both nationally and abroad.

The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) Awards are the largest and most prestigious SET research awards in South Africa and are held annually in partnership with mining and metals company South32. The awards celebrate the work of esteemed scientists advancing the sustainable socio-economic growth of the nation and improving the quality of life for all South Africans.

Being selected as a finalist for South Africa’s “Science Oscars” is no mean feat considering the pool of extraordinarily talented scientists and the number of nominations the NSTF receives every year.

This year’s winners will be announced at an awards ceremony taking place on 13 July, under the banner: “Ocean sciences for sustainable development” in response to the United Nations’ decade-long theme, Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

The UCT finalists are:  

Lifetime Award:

• Emeritus Professor Clive Gray – Professor of Immunology in the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS)
• Professor Juliet Hermes – Department of Oceanography in the Faculty of Science

TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher:

• Dr Rachael Dangarembizi – senior lecturer in the Department of Human Biology and Neuroscience Institute in the FHS
• Dr Mubeen Goolam – lecturer in human biology in the Department of Human Biology in the FHS
• Dr Daniel Ramotsoela – senior lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment (EBE)

Management Award:

• Professor Isabelle Ansorge – head of the Department of Oceanography in the Faculty of Science

Engineering Research Capacity Development Award:

• Associate Professor Denis Kalumba – director of the Geotechnical Research Laboratory and of postgraduate studies in the Department of Civil Engineering in EBE

NSTF Water Research Commission Award:

• Associate Professor Kirsty Carden – interim director of the Future Water Research Institute

NSTF-SAMRC Clinician-Scientist Award:

• Professor Salome Maswime – head of Global Surgery in the FHS

Green Economy Award:

• Professor Rachel Wynberg – Department of Environmental and Geographical Science in the Faculty of Science

Data for Research Award:

• Professor Karen Barnes – Division of Clinical Pharmacology in the Department of Medicine in the FHS
• Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy – a partnership between UCT, the University of the Western Cape, University of Pretoria and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory

Communication Award:

• South African Child Gauge: Lori Lake – communication and education specialist, Children’s Institute

Special Annual Theme Award:

• Professor Isabelle Ansorge – head of the Department of Oceanography in the Faculty of Science