Media statement

Four individual MRC scientists and one Research Unit is up for top honours

Four individual MRC scientists and one Research Unit is up for top honours tonight at the Annual National Science and technology Forum (NSTF) Awards ceremony in Johannesburg.

In the Individual category:

1. Wentzel Gelderblom,  International Director: PROMEC Unit, South African Medical Research Council & Extraordinary Professor: Department Biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch;
2.  Amanda Lochner, Professor: Department of Biomedical Science, University of Stellenbosch, Division of Medical Physiology, Medical Research Council;
3. Shabir Madhi,  Professor of Vaccinology, University of the Witwatersrand & Chairperson in Vaccine Preventable Diseases, National Research Foundation & Co-Director: South African Medical Research Council/University of the Witwatersrand Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit;
4. Dan J Stein,   Professor & Head: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town & Director: Unit of Anxiety & Stress Disorders, South African Medical Research Council;

And in the category for RESEARCH FOR INNOVATION BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR A TEAM THROUGH AN ORGANISATION:

1. The Health Promotion Research & Development Unit, South African Medical Research Council

Finalists for the prestigious NSTF Awards have been selected from a record number of nominations. It is an exceptional honour to be a finalist, given the quality of the nominees and the fact that all of them have made a significantly outstanding contribution to Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation (SETI) in South Africa, thereby qualifying to be a winner.

The NSTF Awards is the flagship of the largest and most prominent multi-stakeholder representative forum for SETI in South Africa. The NSTF Awards encourage and reward excellence in Scientific Research, Technological Innovation, Education, Capacity Building, and Science Communication. The significance, importance and relevance of the finalists’ contributions should not be discarded as technology innovation, infrastructure creation and research effect economic growth, without which development would be stunted and poverty alleviation remain a dream in South Africa!

The new Minister of Science and Technology, Ms Naledi Pandor, who will present the Awards, is the official Patron of the NSTF Awards.