UCT researchers elected as members of the World Academy of Science

Four University of Cape Town (UCT) researchers have been elected as Fellows of the World Academy of Science (TWAS) – the only South Africans to be recognised by the academy this year.

Based in Trieste, Italy, TWAS supports the scientific innovation for sustainable development in the global South through research, education, policy and diplomacy. The election of the four UCT scholars to the 2025 class of Fellows recognises their pioneering contributions to scientific advancement in developing countries. In total, 74 new Fellows were elected, which TWAS described as the largest class in the academy's history.

Professor Alison Lewis

Professor Lewis, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (EBE), is a leader in the field of hydrometallurgy and crystallization. Under her leadership, a new research frontier emerged at the intersection of these disciplines, culminating in the establishment of the Crystallization and Precipitation Research Unit (CPU). This unit has earned global recognition for its expertise in unravelling and addressing complex, multi-variable industrial crystallization challenges. Professor Lewis is an International Member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in the USA, as well as a Fellow of the South African Academy of Engineering (SAAE) and the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). Her exceptional contributions have been recognised through numerous accolades, including the Water Research Commission Legends Award, the Africa Water Leadership Award, and the Distinguished Woman Scientist Award, among others.

Professor Ntobeko Ntusi

President and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Professor Ntusi is a distinguished leader in medical research. Prior to this role, he served as chair and head of the Department of Medicine and Groote Schuur Hospital. His groundbreaking research has significantly advanced the understanding of cardiomyopathy in Africa, shedding light on its clinical features, outcomes, and genetic underpinnings. Ntusi has made pivotal contributions to describing the cardiovascular phenotype and pathophysiology of autoimmune inflammatory heart disease, as well as HIV-associated cardiovascular conditions, deepening insights into the mechanisms of myocardial fibrosis, infiltration, and inflammation across diverse global clinical settings. More recently, he led pioneering studies on the biology and immunology of COVID-19, with impact extending beyond South Africa’s borders. Ntusi is a member of the ASSAf and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP).

Professor Harald Winkler 

Professor Winkler is a distinguished scholar in Policy Research in International Services and Manufacturing (PRISM) at the School of Economics. He is internationally recognised for his interdisciplinary research at the nexus of development, climate change and social justice. His impactful academic contributions are evidenced by a notable h-index and numerous publications in high-impact journals. Winkler provides high-quality evidence to inform policymaking in South Africa, across Africa and globally. His achievements include being part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which collectively received the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Al Gore. He has recently served as joint Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Climate Policy and has been a scientific advisor on the South African delegation to the negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In 2022 to 2023, he was one of two co-facilitators of the technical dialogue of the Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement.

Professor Liesl Zühlke

Professor Zühlke is a distinguished paediatric cardiologist in the Department of Paediatrics, director of the Children’s Heart Disease Research Unit, and vice-president for extramural research and internal portfolio at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). Her pioneering research focuses on family-centred approaches to childhood-onset heart diseases, with a particular emphasis on rheumatic and congenital heart disease, conditions of critical relevance in Africa. Among her key projects, she leads the Partnerships for Children with Heart Disease in Africa (PROTEA) study, an ambitious initiative investigating the epidemiology and genetic origins of congenital heart disease across several African countries. She has held esteemed leadership roles, including serving as president of the Paediatric Cardiac Society of South Africa (PCSSA) and the South African Heart Association. Zühlke also chaired the paediatric and rheumatic heart disease taskforces under the Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR), driving impactful advancements in the field.