NSTF-South32 Finalists announced for the Special Annual Theme Award: Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development

The NSTF-South32 Awards are referred to as the ‘Science Oscars’ of South Africa. They are the largest, most comprehensive, and sought-after national awards of their kind in the country. The theme for the 2021/2022 NSTF-South32 Awards is basic sciences for sustainable development. This is in recognition of the international theme for 2022 adopted by the United Nations: International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development. The 24th annual Awards Gala Event will not only celebrate this theme on 21 July 2022, but also present a special annual theme award for an outstanding contribution in this area.

The finalists for the NSTF-South32 Special Annual Theme Award: Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development are:

  • Prof Ryan Blumenthal – Senior Specialist Forensic Pathologist; and Associate Professor: Department (Dept) of Forensic Medicine, University of Pretoria; and also in the Communication category*
  • Dr Banothile Makhubela – Senior Lecturer and Director: Research Centre for Synthesis and Catalysis, Dept of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg (UJ); and also in the TW Kambule-NSTF Emerging Researcher and Green Economy categories
  • Prof Oluwole D Makinde – Professor: Applied Mathematics and Computations, Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University; and also in the Engineering Research Capacity Development category*
  • Dr Emmanuel A Margolin – Director: Research and Development, Molecular Farming, Nant-SA; and previously Post-doctoral Fellow: Antiviral Vaccine Development Group, Division of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town (UCT); and also in the TW Kambule-NSTF Emerging Researcher category*
  • Mining Positron Emission Tomography Research Group (MinPET) – Team Leader: Prof Simon Connell, Dept of Mechanical Engineering Science, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, UJ; and also in the Innovation: Corporate Organisation category*
  • Prof Marianne Vanderschuren – Professor: Transport Planning and Engineering; and Chair: Department of Science and Innovation / National Research Foundation / Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Co-funded Smart Mobility Research; and Deputy Dean: Social Responsiveness and Transformation, Dept of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, UCT; and also in the Engineering Research Capacity Development category*

Congratulations to all the finalists!

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