The University of Pretoria’s (UP) Faculty of Health Sciences has three staff members who are accepted nominees in the highly acclaimed National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) Awards 2017/2018.

These annual awards, presented in partnership with mining company, South 32, are referred to as the 'Science Oscars' of South Africa as they are the largest, most comprehensive and most sought-after national awards of their kind. In South Africa, the NSTF is the most representative multi-stakeholder, non-profit forum for the promotion of science, engineering and technology (SET), and of innovation through collaborative efforts. They were first introduced in 1998, at which time there were no comparable awards for research and development in the country. Over the years, an NSTF award has become a prestigious accolade bestowed on researchers, teams and organisations, and even just being nominated is considered a great honour.

Prof Riana Bornman, Senior Research Fellow, Environmental Health, School of Health Systems and Public Health, is a nominee in the NSTF-Green Matter Award. The award is bestowed on an individual or organisation for an outstanding contribution to science, engineering and technology, and an innovative approach towards achieving biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability and a greener economy.

Prof Maureen Taylor, Professor and incumbent of the Rand Water Chair in Public Health at UP, is a nominee for the NSTF-Water Research Commission Award for sustainable water management, knowledge generation and solutions. The awarded is presented to an individual or an organisation in recognition of demonstrated leadership and impact over the last 5 to 10 years.

The UP Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control (UP ISMC) under the directorship of Prof Tiaan de Jager, Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, is a nominee in the category Communication for Outreach and Creating Awareness, which recognises an outstanding contribution made by a communicator who has substantially raised public awareness of SET and innovation.

Prof De Jager said: 'The accepted nominations are recognition but also proof of the impact of the research that is done in Health Sciences and the UP ISMC.'