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National science and technology forum award
Announcement of finalists for SA's annual "science oscars".
The award recognises outstanding achievement by individuals and organisations in
the field of science, engineering and technolgy
It is the fifth year that the National science and technology forum (NSTF) is
hosting the annual NSTF awards for South African achievers in science.
Nominations are received for awards in six separate categories.
The NSTF AWARDS for 2002 acknowledge outstanding contributions in the field of
Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) in the following six categories:
Individuals who have made the most significant contribution in SET, thereby
establishing themselves as role models
1. Over a lifetime, or
2. Through research and innovation over the last two years, or
3. Through activities other than research and innovation over the last two
years; and
Those organisations which have made the most significant contribution to SET:
4. A Not-for-Profit organisation over the last three years
5. An SMME over the last three years, and
6. A corporate organisation in the last ten years.
From nominations received, a panel of judges have shortlisted the following
finalists. Announcement of the winners will be made at a reception in Sandton,
Johannesburg on May 30. Science in Africa magazine was one of the winners
of this prestigious award for 2002.
Individuals
In the category of: An Individual over a lifetime
Prof Lawrance Hunter Dept of Textile Science, UPE,
Contribution. Pioneering research over some 36 years in textiles and playing a
leading role in textile education and training. He has substantially advanced
the knowledge and understanding of the relationship between the properties of
South African natural fibres (principally wool, mohair and cotton) and their
performance during textile processing, yarn and fabric manufacturing and end
product behaviour.
Dr Michael J Kahn Exec Dir Knowledge Management, HSRC
Contribution: A career, devoted over the last twelve years, to the challenge
of the building up of a science, mathematics and technology cadre in South
Africa through the development of enabling policies for the State --- he has had
a hand in all of them in this field at some level---, through organisations such
as NGOs and education programmes, the most significant possibly being SYSTEM
(Student and Youth into Science, Technology , Engineering and Mathematics)and
more recently as an adviser to the Minister of ACST .
Dr Kelvin Kemm STRATEK, Pretoria
Contribution: For a career which began as a research scientist in the nuclear
field, then a project manager, then a SET educational systems designer, and
latterly as a technology consultant, he is best known for his forceful advocacy
of a common sense approach to science and technology, particularly in
environmental matters, through public and school lectures, through his TV series
"Impact, Halley's Comet" and "Curiosity Feeds the Cat (altogether
some 200 items), in the media such as his nine year old column in Engineering
News, and on the radio, thereby making substantial contributions to the public
understanding of science and technology.
Dr A J Ribbink Programmes Dir, SA Inst for Aquatic Diversity, Grahamstown,
Contribution: Through his leadership in multidisciplinary projects in the
conservation of aquatic resources he has empowered others to achieve outputs in
which the interrelationships of the physical and biological environments were
integrated to build conservation and management strategies. The projects
include: extensive work on the rock-frequenting fish of the Malawi Basin (the
lake is now a World Heritage Site largely due to his efforts); GEF and WWF
programmes in this region; conservation strategies for small unique insular
dolomitic aquatic ecosystems, and more recently the current Coelacanth
programme.
Prof J (Koos) F van Staden Dept of Chemistry, University of Pretoria
Contribution: Through unique pioneering work on flow injection analysis (FIA)
and sequential injection analysis (SIA), and now SFIA (sequential flow injection
analysis) which he helped to invent, Prof van Staden has created a worldclass
centre of excellence, of flow analysis and process analytical chemistry. Many
practical applications have resulted. Typically, the use of these methods in
biomedical applications has been pursued with important benefits in view for the
control of African diseases such as malaria, AIDS and hepatitis B.
Prof Roy Siegfried retd Prof Emer UCT, Extraordinary Prof US,
Contribution. Work in the field of biology characterised by a role in
transforming biology from a descriptive base to the analytical and practical
problem-solving levels of to-day. He has put the Percy Fitzpatrick Institute at
UCT and its Dept of Zoology at the forefront of environmental research. His
concept of directed themes in research, one such theme being that of "the
sustainable environment" was offered at UCT in advance of its acceptance
and acceptance of the concept by the FRD. He pioneered work on the use of
radio-telemetry in his field. Results of his efforts may be found in the
Benguela Ecology Programme, Fynbos and Karoo Biome as well as the numerous
organisations that he served not the least being those pertinent to Biology in
the Antarctic.
In the category of: An individual through research
and innovation over the last two years
Dr Charles Henry Horn Head Gastro Intestinal Micro- and Bio-technology,
ARC
Contribution: The development and commercialization of potent biotherapeutics
(i.e. natural remedies) designed to stimulate the immune system to prevent the
adaptation of pathogens to antibiotics with the objective of the restoration of
the natural flora of the digestive tract. Results are to be found in the
protection of infants against various infections, young children in rural areas
against rotavirus diarrhoea, women against vaginal candidiases, assistance to
patients treated for cancer with heavy antibiotics, AIDS patients and in
important areas of veterinary medicine and animal husbandry, providing, for
example, crucial support to the export of animal products to the EU.
Prof Sarah Howie Ass Prof Curriculum Studies and Dir of Centre for
Evaluation, UP
Contribution: For her research work, focussed on the development of the teaching
and learning of maths and science in schools nationally, initially at the HSRC
and now at the Centre for Evaluation at UP being the first in South Africa based
on statistical methods, which allowed comparison between learners in RSA with
others in countries abroad, between provinces, and which explored the
all-important relationship between language and mathematics. Her work has
informed the development of the Maths, Science and Technology Strategy, and has
focussed on the plight of previously disadvantaged individuals in the school
system arousing interest in several countries abroad.
Dr Winston Leukes Sen Lecturer and Head of Biotechnology, Rhodes Univ
Contribution: For the development of two fixed film bioreactors for the
continuous production of natural products by micro-organisms. The work now
patented locally and abroad represents major breakthroughs in bio-process
engineering: the first for the production of antibiotics and other secondary
metabolites stimulating the natural environment of a number of bacteria at high
yields and productivities without genetic engineering or mutations of the
production strain. The second, a continuous fixed-bed tower reactor using yeast
to produce a honeywine with a fermentation time of several hours in place of,
typically, months in a shining example of IKS adaptation -- a design based on
ancient San bushmen techniques --
Prof Tshilidzi Marwala Ass Prof, Wits Univ
Contribution: Advanced applications of computational intelligence techniques
employing neural networks, fuzzy logic and evolutionary computing. His work has
included a model of the stock market, condition monitoring in mechanical and
aerospace structures (a probabilistic method was used here to increase
confidence levels), scaled conjugate gradient and Bayesian training of neural
networks for fault identification in cylinders and others based on finite
element techniques. Outputs of the work are found in the new ISO standard on
condition monitoring, an assessment of highway bridges in Florida, and an
assessment of the condition of railways in the UK
Dr Marius van der Merwe Dir Harwill Medical (Pty) Ltd
Contribution: As an inventor with a creative mind and an urge to succeed, he has
invented and developed, and through Harwill Medical, has commercialised, various
devices for application in the medical world. His outputs include a safety
syringe (SAFSYR), a safety scalpel (SAFBLADE), a PAP smear device (CERVITULA),
LUCA, a range of devices for infants including a pacifier, PEGGO a peg which
grips in three directions and a foetal scalp electrode for use during birth.
In the category of: An individual through activities
other than research and innovation over the last two years
Prof Peter Clayton Prof Computer Science , Rhodes
Contribution: To capacity building and the public understanding of Science and
Technology through a number of activities e.g. the growth of his own research
group in the ICT field, building a partnership with Fort Hare, stimulating a
research culture on that campus in the ICT field through school programmes in
the poorer areas of Grahamstown and participation in many PUSET forums most
notably the SASOL SciFest, which grew to 558 events in 2002 and was attended by
45 000 participants, of which he is a founding member and chair for the past
three years of the Advisory Committee. Credit is due also to the Festival and
its director.
Dr Valerie Corfield Ass Prof , Medical Biochemistry, US; Chief
Specialist, SAMRC
Contribution: In the field of PUSET through engaging the public at many levels
including junior and senior school learners, those already in tertiary education
and the man in the street. Specifically she has developed and presented a series
of interactive and highly "edutaining" biomedical workshops and talks
which have been adapted for onward transmission by others. The focus has been on
the molecular genetics of inherited heart disease (her own specialist area of
research) and more recently on food technology, a DNA Workshop, advances in
technology, the Human Genome Project and HIV/AIDS.
Mrs Marina Joubert Manager , Science Communication, FEST
Contribution: to science communication, evidenced principally through the
championing and successful arrangement of the 7th International Conference on
Public Communication of Science and Technology, PCST-7, held in Cape Town from
5th to 7th December 2002, the first to be held in Africa. Some 409 delegates
from 41 countries attended, which contributed significantly to raising the
profile of science and technology and its communication needs in RSA. Aside from
this, her work includes the management and initiation of numerous other
communication activities : SA Science Lens, the first science photography
competititon in RSA and various other competitions, the production of Archimedes
and EasyScience; activities associated with SAASTEC, and other national
organisations in support of science communication.
Mr K M (Lebs) Mphahlele, Chief Education Specialist, Dept of Education
Contribution: For the co-ordination of the development and rolling out of the
national strategy for Maths, Science and Technology Education and the
development, reviewing, streamlining and strengthening of Curriculum 2005 and
other projects such as the flag-ship project of the DoE "SYSTEM", and
the formation of SAASTE and his own research on "The Science Vacuum in
Peoples Education: Why?" and the phenomenon that some PDI schools, despite
adversities, do well in S and T.
Mr David Nicholls CEO, PBMR (Pty) Ltd
Contribution: Through his leadership of the PBMR project, has provided the
inspiration and vision to a team of professionals to develop a strong business
case for the use of HTGR technology to help meet the worlds energy needs and to
capitalise on South Africa's strengths and opportunities to provide the base for
this development, and to drive the project to the point of acceptance and
implementation. This recognition also serves to recognise the work on a model of
the turbine system at the Faculty of Engg , Potch Univ.
Organisations
In the category of: A Not- for- Profit Organisation
over the last three years
Africabio Centurion
Contribution: This stakeholders association has provided the forum for informed
debate on bio-technology issues and the promotion of its safe, responsible and
ethical use with significant contributions in the areas of education, to the
development of national curricula and the undertaking of an extensive education
programme, and in PUSET having produced a number of publications and position
papers. Small-scale farmers have been empowered through training and advice; the
growth of the sector has been facilitated through start-up companies and
involvement with the co-ordination of Biotechnology Regional Innovation Centres;
participation in the development of state policy through the implementation of
the GMO Act 1997and the Biosafety Protocol has been effected; and the
development of the all-important National Biotechnology Strategy and its
subsequent roll-out has been a major area of effort to begin to realise the
potential offered to the national economic growth by this sector.
Coaltech 2020 CSIR Miningtek
Contribution: A unique and innovative collaborative research programme formed by
the major coal mining companies, Eskom, the Universities, the CSIR and organised
labour to address the research needs of the coal mining industry to enable it to
remain competitive, sustainable and safe, well into the 21st Century. The
elements of the programme are carried out in institutions or in collaborative
projects but managed by Coaltech. Practical results have been seen in
alternative water treatment processes, irrigation of crops with waste water, the
beneficiation and briquetting of fine and ultra-fine coal, the preparation of
mine closure guidelines and the measurement of greenhouse gases with promising
work in progress on underground methods that has the benefit of being available
to all the players.
Deepmine Collaborative Research Programme
Contribution:This programme was set up as a collaboration between Universities,
the industry and research organisations to establish the basis on which mining
at ultra-deep levels (3-5kms) could be carried out. The programme ran over four
years and some R66m was spent. The results have established that it is
technically feasible, but at present, uneconomic. The full field of work was
covered, in some cases with trials and in some cases, simulations, with
significant contributions to the literature and to PUSET. The results of the
work are available to the entire industry for application when the time is ripe
to mine this significant part of the largest reserves of gold in the world.
MTN ScienCentre, Cape Town
Contribution: The first, world-class, financially viable, science centre in
South Africa, which is being used by DACST as the model to demonstrate the
method for the establishment and operation of such a centre and its interactive
exhibits. Such centres have been shown worldwide to be a cost effective means of
strengthening a science culture. Displays have been sold to centres abroad.
Various partner organisations such as ORT-STEP, SUNSTEP and Gateway to
Discovery, among others, use the centre as a foundation for their work. The
centre runs a full programme throughout the year, which incorporates teaching
laboratories, lectures, audio-visual displays, travelling exhibitions,
excursions, quizzes, S & T Workshops, science camps and other special
events, not the least being an exhibition on cricket during the World Cup.
SEDIBA Project in the School for Science, Maths and Technology
Education, Univ of Potchefstroom
Contribution: Established in 1996 aimed at the upgrading of science and maths
teachers through full-time, part-time and distance study, this programme has
achieved success in terms of the number of students who have completed courses
(546 diplomas awarded by 2002, an enrolment in 2002 of 630), and the education
research that has been conducted into cognitive problems experienced. Research
has resulted in the production of study material and the development of a
chemistry set which has achieved recognition as a contribution to S & T. It
is claimed that by enhancing teaching capability, some 120 000 learners have
been reached. The programme has focused on the North West province but now has a
satellite in Gauteng on the Vanderbijlpark campus and links with the Free State.
This armslength project has attracted significant sponsorship from Industry and
now also enjoys direct support from the Depts of Education in the three
provinces.
Sasol Scifest Grahamstown
Contribution:The Sasol Scifest, an annual Festival of Science, Engineering and
Technology which takes place over 7 days in March -- 2002 saw the 6th Festival
with 558 events on offer -- makes amongst the largest contributions to the
promotion of PUSET in RSA, reaching 45 000 delegates a year, and over 6000 more
through a travelling show. The Festival offers innovative interactive exhibits,
field trips, quizzes and competitions, shows, workshops, talks and
demonstrations, special programmes for science and maths teachers, previously
disadvantaged learners and pre-schoolers and many other events. The impact on
the level of enthusiasm for SET subjects in schools is huge. The long term
effect on the number of pupils choosing to pursue SET oriented careers is
believed to be significant.
In the category of: An SMME over the last three
years
BreatheTex Corporation (Pty) Ltd, Port Elizabeth
Contribution: The development (in partnership with the CSIR) and the
implementation of a technology for the lamination of membranes onto fabrics to
manufacture waterproof, breathable, fire-retardant fabrics for high performance
applications in the military, leisure sports, medical and protective clothing
markets. The technology and the associated machinery are unique to South Africa
and the products have a high potential export growth, having achieved
significant success and recognition to-date. 2002 saw penetration into markets
of the EU, the installation of a new fabric finishing plant, and new product
development.
Fundamo (Pty) Ltd Bellville Cape
Contribution: By utilising established technology and concepts employed in
Internet security and applying these to the GSM (Global System for Mobile
Communications) environment, Fundamo have provided next generation financial
transaction capability on existing mobile phone handsets. The technology can be
integrated with external services and systems and is supported by banking
systems and regulatory expertise. The employment of transactional know-how, as
is applied in ATMs, is unique and since the cellphone is available to many South
Africans who do not have access to conventional banking, can bring to them the
benefits of banking. Two deployments have been licensed in RSA and one in Zambia
Hazleton Pumps SA Centurion-
Contribution: The design, development and manufacture of specialised pumps: a
vertical spindle froth pump designed for a Russian company employing an
innovative concept to manage froth without developing air pockets, and, a range
of submersible stainless steel pumps with unique features. These innovations
were all made possible by the prevailing economic conditions, and the
application of design and manufacturing capacity.
Intermap (Pty) Ltd Pmb)
Contribution: The development of an approach to the solution of business
management problems incorporating an integration of techniques used in
Geographic Information Systems (GIS), web internet design, and interpretative
logic, whereby organisations are assisted to map or visualise information about
their businesses using workflow principles. Web based platforms have been
designed: eTRACK for business process management; eMAP to present meaningful
displays of spatially located business information together with current
information sourced directly from business systems in real time. both of these
now implemented with clients in both the private and Govt sectors in KZN .
Röth Medical Components (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town
Contribution: The design, development, patenting, and manufacturing of new
technology orthopaedic implants and associated medical devices and surgical
instruments, Which has been recognised internationally for the quality of the
output, founded on a world-class machining shop. Röth's innovation and
dominance of both the local and global medical industries in this field has
world-wide recognition. The products include external fixators for orthopaedic
applications, a pedicular screw spinal system, a bone harvesting device, and a
femoral drill guide.
In the category of: A corporate organisation (or Dept
or Division) over the last ten years
Avian Demography Unit, UCT
Contribution: The collection, analysis and presentation of data on birds, their
habitats and activity as a science in its own right and an indicator of
environmental health. On this basis it has designed and constructed innovative
responses to policy and planning issues, to international treaties and
agreements and to disaster management, the latter being the occasions which
attract most public interest. Features of the ongoing work of the unit are the
SA Bird Atlas Project, the SA Bird Ringing Unit and participation in the
Coordinated Waterbird Counts, monitoring in 2002 at close to 400 wetlands
throughout the country and various others, much of which has achieved
international recognition.
Exotic Diseases Division ARC Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Pta
Contribution: For its quiet, dedicated leadership of the national effort to
manage foot and mouth disease (FMD) and African Swine Fever (ASF) and hence for
the containment thereof with significant benefit to the economy. The three types
of FMD maintained by buffalo have been evolving into numerous sub-types over the
last century and pose together with ASF constant threat to livestock. Diagnosis
of the diseases is made through application of new scientific innovations and
the careful and systematic analysis of clinical material collected across
Southern Africa. By the tracking of buffalo strains, the pattern of disease
outbreaks are tracked and the necessary vaccines are supplied, to match the
outbreaks, strains of the diseases are isolated, new vaccines developed and new
techniques in vaccine development researched. As an indicator, the FMD outbreak
in 2000-2001 cost the state R90m (5 foci or areas of concentration) with an
estimated loss in exports of R800m. In the UK at the time the losses were
£2,8bn with 2030 foci reported.
Peldev, the Fluorochemical Technology Division, NECSA, Pelindaba
Contribution: By capitalising on the availability of several fluoro-chemical
materials as feedstock, advanced technologies have been developed on the
Pelindaba site for the manufacture of fluoro-chemical products and the supply of
fully commissioned plants on a turnkey basis. This has grown over ten years into
a major business. The uniqueness is evident in the fact that less than five
companies worldwide handle the same range of products. The turnover has
increased from R20m in 1993 to R160m in 2002 with significant contributions to
the knowledge base and capacity in the field.
Research Development & Demonstration Division, Eskom, Germiston
Contribution: For its active focus over the last ten years on the extension of
research into new and innovative technologies in its field targeting an overall
positive return on investment at a time when many organisations are reducing
such investment. Eskom links into the work of overseas researchers in the USA,
Germany, Italy and the UK, to avoid duplication of effort. The nomination
focussed on its programme in the field of renewable energy technologies in
support of national priorities which covered both the bulk supply of renewable
energy as well as rural and off-grid applications.: The work has covered a range
of initiatives: a resource database for the country; the schools and clinics
projects based on PV systems; various solar grid and off-grid systems with a
project at the demonstration model stage; three wind turbines have been erected
in the Cape; various biomass options --a model in the Eastern Cape is planned--
and an ocean energy programme has been started.
Plantstar, Measurement and Control Division, Mintek, Randburg
Contribution: For the development and commercialisation world-wide over the last
ten years of divisional products (e.g. for furnace control, flotation control,
milling control and plant-wide control, the latter being an advanced process
management system under the name Plantstar) which were primarily designed for
application in the harsh environment of minerals processing and metallurgical
industry in South Africa. An aggressive marketing approach, targeting the same
industry abroad, has been singularly successful in generating sales in upwards
of nine countries and earning income which has contributed substantially to the
sustainability of the Mintek operation itself.
Telkom SA Ltd (Centre of Excellence Programmes)
Contribution: In partnership with its telecommunications suppliers, fourteen
Centres of Excellence have been established throughout South Africa, based at
various tertiary education institutions, in some cases working together. The
programme is an initiative to empower tomorrow's leaders and to increase the
pool of expertise available to the telecommunications and IT industries, by
leveraging more investment for research and development from industry and
government, and operates through the THRIP programme. A further objective is to
extend the research environment itself with focus on the sharing of findings
through SATNAC and striving for excellence. Independently, Telkom, through its
Foundation, has a programme focused on high schools.
More information
Visit www.nstf.org.za
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