The University of Pretoria (UP) held the Academic Achievers Awards Ceremony virtually on Thursday 28 October 2021. Due to the restrictions and environment created by the COVID-19 pandemic, this is the second time the awards were hosted online.

The evening celebrated 141 winners across nine categories. This includes 119 academics who were acknowledged for being included on the list of the National Research Foundation (NRF)-rated scholars or for the outstanding work they had done over the past year. There were three A-rated researchers, 25 B-rated researchers, 74 C-rated researchers and 17 Y-rated researchers honoured on the evening.

In his address, UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Tawana Kupe noted the successes that the university has enjoyed, despite the pandemic creating global uncertainty for the second year in a row.

“This is the second consecutive year that this awards ceremony is taking place in a hybrid mode, as COVID-19 is still a feature in our lives. While there is a campaign to get our population vaccinated, UP has risen to the challenge again in the face of this global health crisis, by being one of the first in the higher education sector to open a vaccination site at the Faculty of Health Sciences’ Prinshof campus. This site services students and staff, and the bookings are easy to make,” he said.

The prestigious event’s keynote speaker, an A-rated researcher and South African epidemiologist Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim, used her keynote address to reflect on the last 18 months and what the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been.

“We’ve also seen the importance of science in society. The scientific knowledge that has been generated in an unprecedented timeline has set a new bar in terms of knowledge generation. In less than a year we have come up with new diagnostics, new treatment modalities and six new vaccines. That is amazing. It has highlighted not only the importance of science in society, but also has increased public engagement in science, public appreciation of science and of what is possible,” Professor Karim said.

She also took the opportunity to congratulate UP’s researchers, for the achievements that they would get recognition for during the ceremony. 

Among the notable award winners of the evening was the recipient of the Chancellor’s Award: Research which is awarded to a researcher in recognition of exceptional achievement in the field of research aimed at the advancement of science, and the associated promotion of the interests of the University of Pretoria.

Professor Brenda Wingfield was given the award for her pioneering work in Fugal Genomics in South Africa. In her acceptance speech, Professor Wingfield said she receives the Chancellor’s Award with humility and pride.

“This award recognises more than just one person, and extends to my collaborators, colleagues and students. They have contributed hugely to the research and outputs that I have achieved over a lifetime. This award also recognises excellence. Excellence is not achieved easily, or rapidly. In contrast, excellence requires a lifetime of investment and of focus in doing the very best that one can do. I hope I can inspire those who come after me to shy away from just enough, but rather to take the higher road, the longer road, the road to the stars,” Professor Wingfield said.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellent Supervision is another prestigious award which is given in recognition of the contribution of members of academic staff who excel as supervisors of postgraduate research students. The award is made on the grounds of exceptional performance measured in terms of the students’ academic achievement. Professor Namrita Lall, of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences received this honour.

Professor Lall said she is overwhelmed with gratitude for the honour.

 “I am so honoured to have my work recognised in this way by the University of Pretoria. Many hours went into students’ supervision, and it means so much to me that the work that I am so passionate about also resonates with others. This accomplishment is not something that I did alone, and there are many others who deserve to share this award. This award is a result of the collective efforts of many of my collaborators, friends, students, and funders. I therefore want to share this recognition with you and thank you all for all the support you have given me,” she said.

In its second year, the Conversation Africa Science Communication Awards category honoured three academics for the performance of their articles on the Conversation Africa website. Conversation Africa gives all higher education institutions an opportunity to share their research outputs with fellow academics across the globe as well as with civil society. This year’s recipients are Professors Wanda Markotter, Henning Melber and Daniel Bradlow.