UCT's Renee Kraan-Korteweg wins Minister's Special Award

The University of Cape Town's (UCT) Professor Renee Kraan-Korteweg received the Minister's Special Award at the South African Women in Science Awards (SAWISA) 2018. The Department of Science and Technology honours women who make a significant contribution to science and research.

The Minister's Special Award in the field of astronomy, the Commemorative MeerKAT Award, recognised the UCT professor's "outstanding contribution to building South Africa's scientific and research knowledge base in advancing the field of astronomy." Kraan-Korteweg, who is also the chair of the South African Astronomy Advisory Council and vice-president of the International Astronomical Union, made international news in 2016 when she was one of only two South Africans on an international team of astronomers who managed to explore behind thick clouds of dust particles in the Milky Way.