Prof James Raftery from the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS) at the University of Pretoria (UP) recently received an A2 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF). This brings the number of A-rated researchers in the Faculty to seven.

The NRF is an independent government agency that promotes and supports research. South African researchers may submit their research outputs to the NRF for evaluation and rating every six years.

Prof Raftery is an internationally renowned mathematician whose research focuses on algebra, logic and the interface between them. ‘Logic refers both to specific deductive systems (classical logic and various non-classical logics) and also to the more abstract theory of logic in general. For the most part, I use algebraic methods to solve problems concerning deductive systems.’

‘When I joined UP in 2013, the University temporarily created a position for me, rather than waiting for a retirement vacancy in my department. I am grateful to be able to repay that investment in a way that brings recognition to the University,’ Prof Raftery said when asked how he feels about being an A-rated scientist.

‘I appreciate the NRF rating system because it recruits experts to read and judge a candidate's research papers, as opposed to relying on proxy metrics like h-indices and impact factors that are sometimes used to make quick judgments without ever seeing the content of the research.’

Prof Raftery has published more than 60 journal articles. He is also a member of the Editorial Board of Algebra Universalis since 2005, Associate Editor of Quaestiones Mathematicae since 2017 as well as Joint Editor of the special issue of Studia Logica in memory of WJ Blok, volume 83, issues 1–3, 2006. He also won the South African Mathematical Society’s Award for Research Distinction in 2014.

The other six A-rated scientists in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences are: Prof Nigel Bennett, Prof Don Cowan, Prof Pedro Crous, Prof Yves van de Peer, Prof Brenda Wingfield and Prof Mike Wingfield.