College of Science, Engineering & Technology
Outstanding Unisans celebrated at palatial science awards
Celebrating the best of women in science, technology and innovation, the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Dr Blade Nzimande, recently hosted the 2023 South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA), where two amazing Unisans, Prof Usisipho Feleni and Bambesiwe Mbesi May, bagged august recognitions. The SAWiSA are held annually to profile distinguished women researchers and scientists and excellent emerging young women researchers. This year’s theme was "Harnessing technological change and innovation to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls".
Feleni is an Associate Professor and Thematic Area Leader: Applied Electrochemistry at the Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (iNanoWS) under the College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET). She was awarded the Distinguished Young Woman Researcher – Natural and Engineering Sciences Award. Earlier this year, Feleni also received the prestigious TW-Kambule-NSTF: Emerging Researcher Award at the 2022/2023 National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-South32 Awards.
CSET’s Deputy Executive Dean, Prof Simi Dube says: "This is excellent news. Professor Feleni is making her mark in the field, and nothing defers her." Dube adds: "Congratulations to her and iNanoWS as a whole. It is refreshing to receive such good news, and we celebrate her great achievement."
Prof Usisipho Feleni |
Bambesiwe Mbesi May |
Also, May, a doctoral candidate in Chemistry under CSET, received the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)-Ndoni Mcunu Fellowship: Doctoral Award. The fellowship recognises the awardees’ outstanding ability and potential in research, enhances their research experience and output, and encourages more young women to complete research degrees.
May explains: "The award comes with a monetary value of R90 000 for doctoral students. It can be used to top up an existing postgraduate scholarship awarded by the National Research Foundation or other agencies." She continues: "The monetary value can also be used for attending or presenting a paper in a local or international conference, publishing a research paper, registering a patent, or obtaining personal equipment to conduct research."
According to May, the award means her hard work and research engagements are recognised. "This also serves as a testament to my dedication to advancing knowledge in the chemistry and material science fields, and it affirms my commitment to empowering women and girls in science," she remarks.
May is also a Pre-Doctoral Fellow at the DSI/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre (NIC), where she conducts research as part of her doctoral study. She states that her study focuses on producing magneto-fluorescent nanomaterials to monitor pollutants and water remediation in industrial wastewater. Among others, May has published four peer-reviewed journal articles from her doctoral work and co-authored three book chapters and three peer-reviewed journal articles.
Elated to receive the news, Prof Bhekie Mamba, CSET’s Executive Dean, notes: "Well done to Ms May. It is heart-warming to see our students winning awards." Mamba continues: "They should be encouraged to participate in such awards as they become drawcards to other students." May’s doctoral supervisor, CSET’s Prof Edward Nxumalo, also says: "I congratulate Ms May for receiving the fellowship award as it is an incredible milestone to celebrate." Nxumalo attests that the award is well-deserved as May demonstrates excellence and commitment to her studies. "I do not doubt that she will continue to make a huge impact in the science and innovation arena. I thank all involved stakeholders for providing the platform for her to exercise her craft," adds Nxumalo.
Unisa’s Vice-Principal: Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation and Commercialisation, Prof Thenjiwe Meyiwa, remarks: "The increasing number of research awards that Unisa wins not only recognises the institution as a centre of research excellence but also as a critical role-player in South African research." Meyiwa concludes: "This is a significant achievement and progress for an open distance and e-learning institution. Congratulations to Professor Feleni and Ms May."
#Unisa150
* By Nancy Legodi, Acting Senior Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement
Publish date: 2023-09-27 00:00:00.0
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