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Stellenbosch researchers receive prestigious research chairs

Stellenbosch University has been awarded four of the first 21 prestigious research chairs in the newly established South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI).  

The SARChI programme was established by the Department of Science and Technology and heralds the single biggest injection of funding into the national research system. A total of R200 million has already been allocated to the initiative.
The four eminent researchers associated with Stellenbosch University are Prof Leonard J Barbour (Chair in Nanostructured Functional Materials); Prof Lubertus Klumperman (Chair in Advanced Macromolecular Structures); Prof Jens Kossman (Chair in Genetic Tailoring of Biopolimers), and Prof Heinrich Schwoerer (Chair in Phototonics, Ultrafast and Ultraintense Laser Science).
Prof Mzamo Mangaliso, President of the National Research Foundation (NRF) said that South Africa not only wanted to match international research standards, but wanted to set the pace for the rest of the world in key niche areas.
“These chairs will inject new and additional research capacity into South Africa – a much needed resource – that can lead to a myriad of new knowledge and technologies that can have a real and meaningful impact on the lives of South Africans – indeed, for Africans and the people of the world,” Prof Mangaliso said.
Prof Piet Steyn, Acting Senior Director: Research at SU said that the University was very proud of the four researchers that had been chosen. 
“The public announcement of the first 21 research professors in South Africa is without a doubt the most important intervention by the Department of Science and Technology to promote the national system of innovation in our country. The programme is dedicated to attract top quality researchers to South Africa, as well as to retain excellent South African researchers.
“The programme also aims to create 210 new research chairs in South Africa by 2010 and will positively impact on the practice of research practice in our country and enable South Africa to become a prominent player in the global knowledge economy. We fully support this initiative at Stellenbosch University and we salute the four researchers who were awarded Chairs,” said Prof Steyn. 


Photos: The researchers who received the SARChI research chairs are (from top to bottom): Prof Leonard J Barbour, Prof Jens Kossman, Prof Lubertus Klumperman and Prof Heinrich Schwoerer.
Cream of the crop at AgriSciences  

The Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University is one of the top agricultural research facilities in the country. This is evidenced by the fact that no fewer than 24 of its researchers currently holds a National Research Foundtion (NRF) evaluation. 
To qualify for the evaluation, all active research scientists with doctorates in South Africa are evaluated by the NRF every year.  Based on a high score and sound research proposals they are awarded special research funds, which are essential to any researcher.
The NRF evaluation is highly valued by researchers. The Department of Hortology has the highest number of holders, namely five. The departments of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Genetics, and Viticulture and Oenology each has four holders. Food Science has three, while Soil Science has two and Agricultural Economics and Animal Sciences each has one. 
The rector of SU, Prof Russel Botman, acknowledged the researchers at a special awards function and thanked them for their dedication to the promotion of research excellence at the University.



Photo: The Faculty of AgriScience boasts 24 researchers with an NRF evaluation. In front are three of the recipients, Prof Trevor Britz (Food Science), Dr Stephanie Midgley (Hortology) and Dr Corli Witthuhn (Food Science). At the back is Prof Walter Claassen (Vice-rector: Research), Prof Leopoldt van Huyssteen (Dean: Faculty of AgriScience), Prof Louw Hoffman (recipient from Animal Sciences), Prof Russel Botman (Rector and Vice-chancellor) and Prof Piet Steyn (Acting Senior Director: Research). (Photo: Anton Jordaan (SSFD)).
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