Academy of Science Gold Medal for Mandela University’s Professor Richard Cowling
Distinguished Professor in Botany Richard Cowling has received a Gold Medal from the ASSAf Academy of Science, the apex awards of the Academy and the South African science system in recognition of outstanding achievements by individuals.
Professor Jonathan Jansen congratulates Prof Richard Cowling
Up to two gold medals are awarded per annum for outstanding achievement in scientific thinking for the benefit of society. The other medal this year was awarded to Prof Glenda Gray, the first female President of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and an NRF A-rated scientist.
Prof Richard Cowling is a respected academic par excellence, an exemplary champion of biodiversity conservation, a phenomenal mentor and an inspiration and friend to many.
Top ICT Awards for Mandela University and its tangible coding partner
Mandela University alumnus Byron Batteson, Computing Sciences’ Prof Janet Wesson and Tangible Africa Regional Coordinator in Mpumalanga, Nomusa Keninda,
The Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA) – the professional body for ICT Practitioners in South Africa - hosted their Annual President’s Awards ceremony recently. The awards highlight the talent and commitment of individuals within the ICT industry in South Africa and nominees are received from various spheres of the industry.
Professor Janet Wesson from the Department of Computing Sciences at Nelson Mandela University was announced the winner of the Distinguished Service in ICT Award. The award, by EngineerIT and the IITPSA, recognises a significant, career-length contribution to the ICT profession and/or the ICT Industry.
Read more: Nelson Mandela University News
Nelson Mandela University hosts the second SA-JINR workshop on theory and computation
Theoreticians and experimentalists from the Joint Institute of Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, Russia, and researchers based at South African universities and iThemba LABS, will join one another at the second SA-JINR workshop on theory and computation in Gqebera.
Enhancing collaborations between the two groups, Nelson Mandela University hosted the workshop from 5 to 8 December 2023.
Another key activity of the workshop is to also foster public interest in the fundamental science behind subatomic matter, and the potential impact of scientific knowledge on us as human beings. A special public lecture on the topic of “The Science, Innovation, and Technology behind Nuclear and Particle Physics” was held on 7 December 2023.
Plenary talks by invited speakers and discussion sessions on various topics in theoretical, computational, and experimental physics, will be included.
Mandela University focuses on STEM education together with Finnish Institute
Professor Werner Olivier, Director of the Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre (GMMDC), together with Dr Kristof Fenyvesi, senior researcher at the Finnish Institute for Educational Research (FIER) recently presented two papers at conferences in Finland and Norway.
From left, Drs Carine Steyn, Kristof Fenyvesi and Professor Werner Olivier at the SANORD Conference in Hamar, Norway.
They have been working together since August as The Innovative Learning Environment (ILE) research team.
The identification and resolution of South African educational challenges by implementing innovative approaches, designed to enhance equity and quality in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning, was the topic of the one paper.
Best poster presentation prize for Mandela University at world international microscopy conference
Nelson Mandela University’s Centre for High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (CHRTEM) received a prize for the best poster presentation by Professor Mike Lee at the 20th International Microscopy Conference (IMC) held in Busan, Korea.
Professor Mike Lee together with Dr Jacques O'Connell at the microscope used for the work.
The prize-winning best poster presentation by Prof Lee and CHRTEM Director Professor Jaco Olivier was a team effort by the CHRTEM staff and made possible by our Russian collaboration with the Flerov Laboratory for Nuclear Reactions at the joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia.
Nelson Mandela University launches Giving Tuesday Campaign
Nelson Mandela University has launched a Giving Tuesday Campaign, to raise funds to tackle student hunger and provide bursaries for its postgraduate students.
Giving Tuesday is a global movement, where people are encouraged to do good. They were encouraged to donate on Tuesday, 28 November and on every other day. Every act of generosity counts and contributes to improving lives and moving towards a better world.
The Giving Tuesday Campaign is part of the University’s global Giving Campaign, which was launched on 3 July 2023, with the endorsement of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.