Apart from excelling in science, these staff and student members of the faculty also took home some prizes in the “fun” competitions at the Congress, showing a well-balanced approach to life!

Prof Lise Korsten of the Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology was elected as a fellow of the SASPP.  She was awarded this fellowship in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in Plant Pathology, as well as her support for and service to the Society, and to Plant Pathology in Southern Africa.

Prof Bernard Slippers of the Department of Genetics of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) was granted the JE Vanderplank Award. This award is granted to an outstanding “young” plant pathologist based on evaluation of his or her research.  Prof Slippers already has an H factor of 21, holds a P-rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF) and has produced more than 100 publications, making him the well-deserved first recipient of this prestigious award.

Johan van der Linde, a PhD student in the Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology and FABI, was the second recipient of the John and Petakin Mildenhall award to a PhD student. This award recognises academic excellence and potential. Johan, who is just starting the second year of his PhD research, has already published three papers in international scientific journals (from his MSc) and has presented talks and posters at both national and international congresses.

UP students were among the top achievers in the categories for presentations and posters by students at the Congress. Darryl Herron (Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, FABI) received the Pannar Prize for the best presentation overall by a student, with Johan van der Linde (PhD student in Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, FABI) being a close second in this category. In the category for the best molecular presentation by a student, Anandi Reitman (Department of Genetics, FABI), received the Inqaba Biotech prize for the best presentation. Juanita Engelbrecht (Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology) was second.