Ten of the fourteen University of Pretoria (UP) finalists for the 2024/2025 National Science and Technology Foundation (NSTF) Awards hail from the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS).

The NAS researchers are Prof Nigel Bennett, Prof Lise Korsten, Prof Tjaart Kruger, Prof Namrita Lall. The Department of Animal Science and the Mammal Research Institute (MRI) Whale Unit is also on the list of NSTF finalists.

Prof Lise Korsten (Department of Plant and Soil Sciences) is a finalist in four categories. She and Prof Nigel Bennett (Department of Zoology and Entomology) are finalists in the Lifetime Award category.

Prof Korsten is also a finalist for the NSTF-Water Research Commission (WRC) Award, the Science Diplomacy for Africa Award, and the NSTF-Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Award.

Prof Tjaart Krüger (Department of Physics) is also a finalist in two categories: TW Kambule–NSTF Awards: Researchers and the Special Annual Theme Award: Quantum Science and Technology.

The Mammal Research Institute (MRI) Whale Unit (Dr Els Vermeulen) is a finalist in the Data for Research Award, and Prof Namrita Lall (Department of Plant and Soil Sciences) is a finalist for the Innovation Award: Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME). The Department of Animal Science (Prof Carina Visser) is a finalist in the NSTF-Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Award.

The awards honour and celebrate outstanding contributions to science, engineering and technology (SET), and innovation. They aim to recognise professional, innovative research that helps to provide solutions to the challenges of South Africa’s socio-economic growth in a sustainable manner to improve people’s lives.

The 2025 NSTF theme is Quantum Science and Technology and in alignment with the United Nations (UN) proclamation of 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. The NSTF is making a special award this year for an outstanding contribution to SET and innovation through quantum science and technology in SA. The 27^th annual Awards Gala Event taking place on 31 July 2025.