The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Prof Hassina Mouri has once again been lauded for her research work in Medical Geology.
Prof Mouri is one of 10 awardees for the second edition of ΥπIA (Hypatia International Award).
A professor in the Faculty of Science, Prof Mouri is the UNESCO Chair for Medical Geology in Africa.
Among the aims of the Hypatia International Award is rewarding researchers who have contributed or are contributing with their research to the progress of scientific knowledge and improvement of life.
Prof Mouri’s research in the emerging field of Medical Geology, and the focus on African issues, are in line with the aim of the award.
The international award is presented by the CICOP Net Confederation which is a Network of International Centre’s for the Conservation of Architectural Heritage.
The candidates are nominated based on their profile and research background and motivated by the founders of the award. The applications are then submitted the to the Presidents of the Hypatia International Award (ΥπIA) and to the Executive Director, then transmitted for the requisition to all the members of the Steering Committee of the award, who motivate and endorse the final decision.
“I feel honoured and privileged that my research is recognised at International level through this award. Being one of the winners of this award, is a confirmation that shifting my research to a totally new field of research in the last 10 years, with a strong societal impact and alignment with the UN sustainable goals as well as with the vision of the University of Johannesburg, was the right decision to make,” said an elated Prof Mouri.
She added: “This is indeed very motivating and encouraging to continue with the development of Medical Geology in Africa through training a young generation of scholars. I am confident that this award will enable the discipline to gain more visibility, interest, and support in future, and that the University will continue to be the Pan-African destination of choice for many more Postgraduate students from all over Africa to be trained in this field.”
In 2020 Prof Mouri became the first African female elected as the Vice President (2020-2024) for the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), one of the world’s largest scientific organisations. And in 2022, she was awarded a UNESCO Chair in Medical Geology in Africa, also the first time a chair for this discipline is awarded by UNESCO.
Prof Mouri is an NRF B Rated Researcher, and she also sits as the Vice-Chairperson of the International Geoscience Programme Council (IGCP) jointly funded by UNESCO and IUGS.
The Hypatia International Award ceremony will take place in Florence, Italy on 16 October 2023.