Three professors from the College of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences at UKZN were recognised at the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) – South32 Awards – known as the “Science Oscars of South Africa”.
Professor Onisimo Mutanga, Professor Andrew Green and the Centre for Water Resources Research (CWRR) headed by Professor Jeff Smithers won awards for the 2022-2023 cycle at an extravagant ceremony held concurrently in Johannesburg and Cape Town on Thursday July 13.
The NSTF-South32 Awards recognise outstanding contributions to Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) and innovation in South Africa for researchers and other SET-related professionals. The institution of the South32 Awards is part of the NSTF’s vision to work towards a transformed country where SET and innovation contribute to a higher quality of life for all South Africans. The profiles of SET professionals are representative of the population and where the education system, particularly for SET and innovation, is effective.
Proud of the achievements of the three academics, acting deputy vice-chancellor and head of the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, Professor Fhatuwani Mudau said UKZN was spearheading cutting-edge research.
“We congratulate this outstanding achievement by our academics. Their achievements place UKZN at the forefront of cutting-edge and socially relevant SET research and capacity development within South Africa,” said Professor Mudau.
Professor Mutanga won an engineering research capacity development award, sponsored by Eskom.
He was recognised for developing research capacity using remote sensing techniques to support land use management – focusing on the development of science and the application of these techniques for terrestrial ecosystems.
Prof Mutanga, whose expertise lies in vegetation state analysis in the face of global change using remote sensing, integrates ecology, biodiversity conservation and remote sensing to model the impact of forest fragmentation, pests and diseases and invasive species on agricultural and natural ecosystems.
UKZN’s Centre for Water Resources Research (CWRR), under the directorship of Professor Smithers, won the NSTF Water Research Commission Award.
Professor Smithers holds the Umgeni Water Chair in Water Resources Management, Innovation and Research at UKZN. The CWRR received recognition for providing a centre of excellence for cutting edge applied and interdisciplinary research and postgraduate training in water resources related research and capacity building. Research themes at the centre include hydrological process studies, hydrological model development, agricultural water management, land and water research, and measuring and modelling, said Professor Mudau. The centre also houses the uMngeni School of Water Governance.
Professor Green, who is a Professor of Marine Geology at UKZN and visiting Professor at the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, won the special annual theme award for Ocean Science for Sustainable Development..
He was recognised for excellence in marine geoscience research, which forms the key to unlocking the blue economies of the world’s oceans and protecting our coastlines from the effects of climate change. His research interests focus on marine geophysics, geomorphology, sedimentology and stratigraphy of coastal and marine environments.
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