Research rock stars dazzle at 'Science Oscars'

15 July 2024 - Wits University

Wits researchers won in six out of 15 categories at the prestigious NSTF-South 32 Research Awards.

Dr Tiisetso E Lephoto, Associate Professor Claudia Polese, Dr June Fabian, Professor Irvy (Igle) Gledhill, and Professor Jennifer Fitchett were winners in their categories, announced at a glittering ceremony hosted simultaneously in Johannesburg and Cape Town on 11 July.

Furthermore, OLICO Mathematics Education won the Non-Governmental Association (NGO) Award. Dr Lynn Bowie is the Director of Mathematics at OLICO, a Visiting Research Associate in the Wits School of Education, and a Wits alumna.

Themed The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in South Africa, the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) and sponsor, South 32, 2023/24 awards represented the ultimate in new research developments in technology and its uses, globally and in South Africa, which affect people’s lives and opportunities

Identifying insect-killing microscopic worms

Dr Tiisetso E Lephoto was one of two winners in the Kambule-NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher category. A  Lecturer and Principal Researcher in the  School of Molecular and Cell Biology in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Lephoto won for her investigation of biological control agents (natural enemies for pests), which can help solve identified challenges and the identification of new insect-killing microscopic worms (“entomopathogenic nematodes”), which have the potential to infect and kill problematic soil-dwelling insects in farms within 24 to 48 hours upon invasion.

Lephoto says, "Winning the NSTF award means a lot to me. I am particularly grateful to my mom and dad for supporting my love for science at the tender age of five. I am filled with gratitude for the countless sacrifices they’ve made, the endless hours they’ve spent encouraging me, and the unconditional love that has sustained me through it all. To all the young scientists out there and to over 400 mentees I am mentoring,  never under-estimate the power of your potential."

Growing the next generation of SA engineers

Claudia Polese was one of two winners in the Engineering Research Capacity Development category. An Associate Professor in Aerospace Manufacturing and Design and Head of the Aeronautical Engineering Stream in the School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, Polese is also Advisory Aerospace Research Director at Wits’ National Aerospace Centre.

Polese was awarded for her leadership of several strategic South African initiatives to strengthen the research in advanced manufacturing technologies, and primarily the cutting-edge Laser Shock Peening (LSP) process, furthering substantial infrastructural and human capital development.

“An amazing part of my work has been to be constantly involved in the innovation space, with the creation of a fast-growing, young and diverse team and a local multidisciplinary network of researchers that allowed me to foster industrial and scientific cooperation between South Africa and other countries,” says Polese, who is also Deputy Director of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Centre of Excellence in Materials, Energy, and Nanotechnology.

She adds, “But the most fulfilling experience has been seeing my students grow into well-rounded individuals, great engineers and researchers, who achieved several prizes and awards, graduated with their MSc and PhD and made their mark in several research centres and industries around the world. Therefore, I am deeply honoured to receive such an award. It feels like a wonderful recognition of the many efforts spent on supporting and growing the next generation of South African engineers, with a substantial impact on the country’s knowledge-based economy. I am sincerely grateful to Wits University and all the people who played key roles over these years and supported me at each step of this endeavour.”

Challenging outdated and biased diagnostic tools in kidney disease

A nephrologist and Lecturer in the Department of Internal Medicine in the School of Clinical Medicine, and Research Director at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, Dr June Fabian’s NSTF-SAMRC Clinician Scientist Award recognises her leadership and coordination of the multi-country and multi-dimensional African Research on Kidney Disease (ARK) project. These findings challenged outdated, biased, and unscientific diagnostic tools and developed new, evidence-grounded methodologies to achieve greater impact in the early detection and management of chronic kidney disease.

“Kidney disease in Africa remains silent, deadly, and misunderstood. The only way we can change this is to develop a strong, sustainable network of research excellence in Africa and to ensure we capacitate the next generation of African scientists,” says Fabian. “I hope to contribute research that accurately represents African populations in global science, redresses inequities, and improves human life and the care we provide in Africa and more broadly.”

Fabian is also a co-lead of the clinical platform at Wits’ rural campus, officially the SAMRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Wits-Agincourt), where the South African component of the African multinational ARK research was undertaken.

“The NSTF Awards showcase the work being done in South Africa, and its potential for impact," says Fabian. "I would hope that winning the award would assist me to progress in my career, enhance my credibility, and assist with procuring funding and developing collaborations and networks that enable me to do more research that makes a difference. My work is only possible because of so many people in so many ways, for which I am deeply grateful.”

Sounding the siren for science as solution

An Honorary Adjunct Professor in the School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, Irvy “Igle” Gledhill won the Science Diplomacy for Africa Award, which recognises impactful solutions and/or collaborations for the benefit of South Africa and the African continent.

Gledhill was awarded for her work to build vibrant, supportive environments in which women and men as scientists can make real contributions. She says, “Scientists and engineers do find a way across political boundaries, because of their overriding common interest in solving challenging problems.”

Her leadership contributions include the international Women in Physics working group, the Global Gender Gap Project, and convening African and South African scientists to engage with wicked problems.

“I’d like to state clearly that science is not a belief system. It’s a process of questions, reasoning, and testing. Bias and illusion are quickly discarded. Science is a process of continuous exploration and challenge,” says Gledhill. “Science diplomacy across Africa is more important than ever before. We are the continent most vulnerable to climate change and we are in the crisis now. Crops are failing. Floods and heatwaves are more frequent. Displacement and migration are rising. We are sounding the warning now: it’s time to adapt and prepare.”

Translating science into action through communication

For her involvement in both communicating her own science to the public and in training early career researchers in science communication, Professor Jennifer Fitchett won the Communication Award.

A Professor of Physical Geography in the School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, Fitchett shared her science notably through a science blog, by writing articles in The Conversation Africa, and podcasts.

“Science communication has always been an integral component to my scientific process,” says Fitchett. “Communicating our work to a general audience requires us to think it through more thoroughly, and with a more critical eye. Doing so effectively allows science to translate into action.”

This is the third time that Wits University has won the NSTF-South32 Communication Award. Professor Roger Deane, SKA Chair in Radio Astronomy, Director of the Centre for Astrophysics and of the Wits Digital Dome Working Group, won the award in 2022/23. The University’s Communications department (Wits Communications Services), led by Shirona Patel, won the award in 2018/19.

Maths education = award for NGO OLICO

OLICO Mathematics Education, an NGO that offers a variety of programmes supporting learners and teachers in mathematics from grade R through to grade 12, won the Non-Governmental Association (NGO) Award.

Dr Lynn Bowie is the Director of Mathematics at OLICO and a Visiting Research Associate in the Wits School of Education.

“Across all our programmes, we strive to offer a sense-making and confidence-building approach to make maths accessible, meaningful and enjoyable for all South African children,” says Bowie.

During lockdown in 2021, Bowie pioneered the OLICO/Two Minute Tango app, which was developed at Wits University, which helps young mathematics learners build confidence and competence in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Bowie is also a Wits University alumna, having earned a PhD in Mathematics Education in 2013. She says that OLICO values its association with the University.

"We benefit from this through being able to link research with our practical experience on the ground, being able to draw on the knowledge of colleagues in the School of Education, and because of the fact that a number of our teaching staff are drawn from the pool of talented Wits students and graduates.”

Bowie says that OLICO is staffed largely by inspirational young people who go above and beyond when working with learners, sharing not only their mathematical knowledge but also expending an enormous amount of emotional energy to ensure the learners remain motivated and have a safe and supportive space in which to learn.

“The NSTF Award is a wonderful recognition of their work and commitment," she says.