Seven eminent researchers from Stellenbosch University will represent the institution at the annual National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)/South32Awards. They will be competing as finalists for the 2023/2024 NSTF/South32 Awards at South Africa's “Science Oscars" on Thursday 11 July 2024.

Regarded as the most sought-after national accolades of their kind in the country, the NSTF/South32 Awards recognise, celebrate and reward the outstanding contributions of individuals, teams and organisations to science, engineering and technology (SET) in the country. Among the competitors are experienced scientists, engineers, innovators, science communicators, engineering capacity builders, organisational managers and leaders, as well as data and research managers.

The SU finalists (with department or environment) and the categories in which they will compete are as follows:

Lifetime award

• Prof Antoinette Malan (Conservation Ecology and Entomology)
• Prof Dave Richardson (Botany and Zoology)

TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Researcher

• Prof Cletos Mapiye (Animal Science)
• Prof Grant Theron (Biomedical Sciences)
• Dr Bjorn von der Heyden (Earth Sciences)

TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher and the NSTF-SAMRC Clinical-Scientist Award categories

• Prof Shahida Moosa (Medical Genetics)
• Prof Leigh van der Heuvel (Psychiatry)

Photo: Profs Antoinette Malan, Dave Richardson, Cletos Mapiye, Grant Theron, Shahida Moosa, Leigh van der Heuvel, Dr Bjorn von der Heyden