Women researchers from all over South Africa have been lauded in the country’s annual Women in Science Awards, which were handed out in Port Elizabeth on 15 August.
Six women were awarded distinguished science awards: three in the natural sciences and engineering, and three in the human and social sciences.
The theme of the 2019 awards was the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
“It is important that the power and potential of all of humanity is unleashed to benefit from the 4IR. Women, who account for more than half of the population of the world, have a major role to play," said Blade Nzimande, minister of higher education, science and technology.
In the natural sciences and engineering, the winners of the distinguished award are engineering professor Lesley Alison Cornish and geneticist Michele Ramsay, both from the University of the Witwatersrand, and social scientist Resia Pretorius from Stellenbosch University.
In the human and social sciences, the winners are health systems professor Lunic Base Khoza from the University of Venda, psychology professor Neo Ketumetse Morojele from the University of Johannesburg, and Cationa Ida Macleod, a psychology professor at Rhodes University.
There were also awards for young researchers and postgraduate students.