NSTF-BHP Billiton Awards winners announced

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Outstanding contributions to scientific research, technological innovation, management, capacity building and science communication were announced and celebrated in Gauteng on Thursday, 3 July 2014, at the 16th NSTF-BHP Billiton Awards Gala Dinner.

According to the chairman of the adjudication panel, Denis Hunt, the event saw an increased number of nominations, reflecting robust participation across all sectors by researchers in and contributors to science and technology. "This is a reflection of the wealth of research and development being done in South Africa," he said.

Unique opportunity

"BHP Billiton's involvement in initiatives such as the NSTF gives us the unique opportunity to connect with those people and communities who seek to innovate, create and discover as much as we do," BHP Billiton SA chairman, Xolani Mkhwanazi, said. "It is this talent that will drive the scientific, technological and engineering development of our country and help South Africa achieve its goal of long-term economic and environmental sustainability," he said.

The awards were presented by the Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, who is also the patron of the event.

The award winners were:

• Professor Eric Bateman, Emeritus Professor and Director, University of Cape Town Lung Institute; and Honorary Consultant, Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town.
  
• Professor Lyn Wadley, Honorary Professor: Department of Archaeology, University of the Witwatersrand.
  
• Professor Keertan Dheda, Professor: Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital.
  
• Professor Wanda Markotter, Associate Professor: Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria.
  
• Professor Oriel Matlhahane Thekisoe, Associate Professor: Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State.
  
• Professor Anne Grobler, director of the DST/NWU Preclinical Drug Development Platform, North-West University.
  
• Professor Brenda Wingfield, Professor and Deputy Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria.
  
• Professor Donald Cowan, Director: Genomics Research Institute; Director: Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria.
  
• Professor Azwinndini Muronga, Associate Professor of Physics and Director of the University of Johannesburg Soweto Science Centre.
  
• Elemental - Associate Professor Arnaud Malan, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cape Town.
  
• Hearing Loss Detection by Smartphone - Team Leader: Prof De Wet Swanepoel, Department of Speech, Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria.
  
• Treatment Group, Tshwane University of Technology - Team Leader: Professor Johannes Philippus Maree, Rand Water chair in Water Utilisation and Key Structure Holdings (Pty) Ltd.