Six of the twelve individuals from the University of Pretoria (UP) who have been announced as finalists in the 2023/2024 NSTF-South32 Awards, popularly known as the “Science Oscars” of South Africa, hail from the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS). The six NAS finalists are: Prof Nigel Bennett, Prof Andre Ganswindt, Prof Irene Barnes, Prof Cobus Visagie, Prof Bernard Slippers and Prof John Annandale.

The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) Awards honour and celebrate outstanding contributions to science, engineering, technology (SET), and innovation.

The winners will be announced at the 26th annual Awards Gala Event on 11 July 2024 with the theme” Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in SA.”

Lifetime Award category:
Prof Nigel C Bennett is the Chair of the Austin Roberts of Mammalogy and a Full Professor in the Department of Zoology and Entomology and the Mammal Research Institute
AND
Prof Andre Ganswindt is a Professor and the Director of the Mammal Research Institute in the Department of Zoology and Entomology.

TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Researcher: 
Prof Irene Barnes is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology and a Research Leader at the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute. 

TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher: 
Prof Cobus M Visagie is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology at the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute.

Management Award
Prof Bernard Slippers is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Director of the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme, Director of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute and Director of Innovation Africa @UP.

NSTF-Water Research Commission (WRC) Award
Prof John G Annandale is a Professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Group Leader of the Mine Water Irrigation Research Group.

An adjudication panel of independent judges, assembled annually by the NSTF executive committee from member nominations, together with a panel of experts appointed by the NSTF executive committee, is responsible for shortlisting the finalists and selecting winners for these distinguished awards.