Archived UWC Researchers Win at the 2023/2024-South32 Awards We are delighted to extend our heartfelt congratulations to our researchers for achieving remarkable success at the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) Awards last night.

Dear Campus Community,

We are delighted to extend our heartfelt congratulations to our researchers for achieving remarkable success at the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) Awards last night.

The prestigious recognition of two individual awards and one group award underscores the exceptional contributions of the University of the Western Cape’s research community.

Special accolades go to Professor Timothy Dube, Director of the Institute for Water Studies, and Professor Emmanuel Iwuoha, SARChI Chair for Nanoelectrochemistry and Sensor Technology, for their outstanding accomplishments. Your innovative research not only advances scientific knowledge but also plays a pivotal role in addressing critical global challenges.

The 26th annual NSTF-South32 Awards, known as the “Science Oscars of South Africa”, are the largest, most comprehensive, and most coveted national recognition in the field.

They honour outstanding contributions to science, engineering, technology (SET), and innovation by individuals, teams, and organisations across South Africa. 

The categories span a diverse range, including experienced scientists, engineers, clinician scientists, innovators, science communicators, engineering capacity developers, research managers, and data curators. Now the awards have been expanded to include science diplomacy.
 
The ‘Science Oscars’ winners from UWC are:

• Prof. Timothy Dube, Director of the Institute for Water Studies, who was honoured with the NSTF-Water Research Commission Award for his pioneering and innovative methods using satellite technology merged with machine learning (AI) to monitor water resources in semi-arid regions. His work significantly enhances ecological sustainability and community resilience.

• Prof. Emmanuel Iwuoha, SARChI Chair for NanoElectrochemistry and Sensor Technology, who received the Engineering Research Capacity Development Award for his ground-breaking research on disease diagnostic sensor devices, lithium-ion battery/supercapacitors, and solar cell technology. His leadership at UWC’s SensorLab has fostered significant advancements in these critical areas.

• Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy (IDIA), a collaborative effort between UWC, the University of Cape Town (UCT), and the University of Pretoria (UP), won the Special Annual Theme Award for their cutting-edge infrastructure and management, facilitating global collaboration in astronomy. This initiative empowers researchers to analyse complex SET data with unprecedented efficiency.

“We congratulate the winners and we are very proud of their achievements”, remarked Prof. Admire Dube, the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

He added that these awards highlight the societal impact of the research that is being conducted at UWC. Furthermore, they highlight the research ecosystem at UWC.

“We acknowledge the important role played by our students, technical and administrative support staff and the leadership at UWC, to achieve this impactful research. We invite as many researchers to join us on this research journey at UWC”.

Your dedication to excellence and innovation is a testament to how UWC is making research count in meaningful ways. Congratulations once again to all the nominees, award winners, and the UWC community. Your achievements inspire us all and demonstrate the profound impact that dedicated research and innovation can have on our society and our planet.

Regards,
Professor José Frantz
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research & Innovation