Two outstanding CPUT researchers have been selected as finalists in the NSTF-South32 Awards, known as the ‘Science Oscars’ of South Africa.

The awards celebrate the top South African minds in science, engineering and technology and winners will be announced at a gala dinner at Emperors Palace tonight (June 28).

The two finalists are Prof Tandi Matsha, who was recently awarded the National Research Foundation’s SARChI Research Chair in Cardiometabolic Health and Prof Jeanine Marnewick, who was recently appointed as Research Chair of the Institute of Biomedical and Microbial Biotechnology.

Matsha is the founder and lead researcher of CPUT’s Cardiometabolic Health Research Unit in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences and was nominated in the category: TW Kambule-NSTF Awards: Researcher (contribution to research and its outputs over a period of up to 15 years as a researcher, predominantly in South Africa).

Her current research focuses on diabetes and cardiovascular risk in the coloured community of Bellville South.

Marnewick has made a concerted effort to get the word out about the research she is doing into how rooibos is useful as a way to reduce and protect against the impact of non-communicable diseases because of the tea’s antioxidant activity.

EXCELLENT: Prof Jeanine Marnewick

She heads up the Oxidative Stress Research Centre and was nominated in the category Communication for outreach and creating awareness of SET and innovation award.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Faculty of Informatics and Design’s Prof Izak van Zyl has been upgraded from a Y2 to a C2-rated researcher by the National Research Foundation (NRF).

Van Zyl works across disciplines, mainly in communication science and educational technology.

“I feel extremely proud and excited! I was nervous I would not get upgraded, but I am very relieved at the outcome,” he said.

According to the NRF, the ratings are allocated based on a researcher’s recent research outputs and impact, as international peer reviewers perceive. The rating system encourages researchers to publish high-quality outputs in high-impact journals/outlets.

The ratings that are awarded fall within the following categories:

A – Leading international researchers

B – Internationally acclaimed researchers

C – Established researchers

P – Prestigious Awards

Y – Promising young researchers

Van Zyl’s most recent work concerned using WhatsApp as a teaching and learning tool for postgraduate students during the height of the pandemic in 2020. He worked with Prof Johannes Cronje on this initiative with students across the university.

His most outstanding achievements have included being rated for the first time, being appointed an associate professor at a young age, being a finalist at the 2019 Science Oscars, and being upgraded to an Established Researcher.

 “I am just honoured to be recognised for what I do and to be able to contribute to the university's work.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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