Professor Jacek Banasiak was recently recognised with the University of Pretoria’s (UP)  Exceptional Academic Achiever Award for his outstanding contributions to mathematics and mathematical modelling. He is the Department of Science and Innovation-National Research Foundation Chair in Mathematical Models and Methods in Biosciences and Bioengineering at UP, a position he’s occupied since January 2016.

“While true research is mostly done to satisfy one's inner curiosity, it is human nature to crave external recognition, thus it’s very satisfying to have one's work appreciated,” he says.

Prof Banasiak’s academic journey began at the Lodz University of Technology in Poland, where he obtained an MSc in Engineering in 1981; this was followed by a PhD from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland in 1989 and a Habilitation (DSc) from the University of Warsaw in 1999. His academic excellence was recognised when the president of the Republic of Poland conferred on him the state title of Professor in 2007.

With a career spanning several decades, Prof Banasiak has authored or co-authored seven research monographs and over 150 refereed research papers. His research interests encompass nonlocal, integro-differential models in kinetic theory; mathematical biology and fragmentation-coagulation theory; asymptotic analysis of multiple scale problems; and epidemiological modelling.

“We hope that our work brings about theoretical foundations for models that describe pandemics, the loss of biodiversity, climate change or weather patterns,” Prof Banasiak explains. “The measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic were based on mathematical modelling of the spread of the disease."

His dedication to academia extends beyond his own research. He has supervised or co-supervised 15 PhD students and has held visiting professorships at various prestigious institutions worldwide, including the University of Franche-Comté in France and the University of Strathclyde.

Prof Banasiak’s contributions to mathematics have been recognised with several other awards, including the South African Mathematical Society Award for Research Distinction in 2012, the Cross of Merit (Silver) of the Republic of Poland in 2013, and first prize in the competition for the Best Paper in Applied Mathematics organised by Poland’s Centre for Applications of Mathematics in 2014.

His association with reputable academic bodies further highlights his scholarly stature. He has been a fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa since 2023 and of the African Academy of Sciences since 2017, and a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa since 2006. Additionally, Prof Banasiak serves as editor-in-chief of Afrika Matematika and holds editorial positions on several other mathematical journals.

His advice to aspiring mathematicians is this: “Be true to yourself; do not follow fashionable trends you do not like and do not bend to bureaucracy. If in doubt, behave with decency.”