The University of Johannesburg is proud to celebrate this significant achievement by Prof Nicolas Beukes, from UJ’s Department of Geology within the Faculty of Science who received the prestigious lifetime achievement award at the NSTF-South32 Awards which was held in Gauteng on Thursday, 29 June 2017.
The awards were presented by the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs Naledi Pandor, who is also the event’s patron. It is the 19th celebration of this flagship project of the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF).
Prof Nicolas Beukes is an established researcher, whose career has been outstanding in relation to scholarship and global collaboration. He is seen as a significant global leader in Earth Science and is rated an A1 scientist by the National Research Foundation of South Africa since 2001. In 2002 Prof Beukes received the Draper Medal, the highest award from the Geological Society of South Africa for scientific contributions in geology. UJ can attribute its academic excellence to the contributions made by its staff such as Prof Beukes who are some of the country’s finest minds in their respective fields.
The NSTF-South32 Awards showcase the research and development capacity of South Africa as well as the excellent contributions made by nominees to the science, engineering, technology (SET) and innovation fields. Their work has brought hope for the advancement of the nation and the social upliftment of all its people.
Outstanding contributions to SET and innovation were awarded and celebrated in the following broad areas under 13 distinct categories:
- Scientific research
- Management and related activities
- Capacity building in engineering and research
- Environmental sustainability
- Water research and innovation (new award)
- Data management and stewardship (new award)
- Research leading to innovation
- Science communication
- Technology transfer, as well as education and training
- Sustainable tourism for development (special theme award in recognition of the 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development (#IY2017) declared by the United Nations)
About the NSTF
The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) is a broadly representative umbrella stakeholder body for organisations with an interest in SET and innovation.
The NSTF is the largest, most longstanding and most representative stakeholder body of its kind. It represents more than 100 organisations, councils and institutions. It spans both the private and public sectors.
Details of the award finalists, including the winners are available online at http://www.nstf.org.za/whos-who/
