Nominees announced: 2023/2024 NSTF-South32 Awards

The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) is pleased to announce the nominees for the 26th prestigious NSTF-South32 Awards.

The NSTF-South32 Awards: The NSTF Awards were established in 1998 as a collaborative effort to recognise and promote outstanding contributions to science, engineering and technology (SET) and innovation by SET-related professionals, teams and organisations in South Africa (SA). This includes experienced researchers, engineers, innovators, science communicators, engineering research capacity builders, organisational managers/leaders, and data and research managers.

Our partner: South32 is a resource company and longstanding partner of the NSTF Awards, anchoring this endeavour to ensure the non-profit activities of the NSTF.

The ‘Science Oscars’ of SA: The NSTF-South32 Awards are known as the ‘Science Oscars’ of SA. They are the largest, most comprehensive, and most sought-after national awards of their kind in SA. They were also the first science awards in the country.

Special Annual Theme Award: The NSTF’s theme for 2024 is the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in SA. The NSTF will also present a special award to recognise contributions in this regard. The 26th annual Awards Gala Event, taking place on 11 July 2024, will celebrate this theme.

Awards categories: The awards are for individuals, teams or organisations (as applicable) nominated under any of the 15 categories listed here:

1. Individual Awards
a. Lifetime Award – contribution over 15 years or more
b. TW Kambule-NSTF Researcher Award – contribution through research and its outputs over a period from 6 years up to 15 years of research work from the commencement of the research career, predominantly in SA (Prize sponsor: proSET)
c. TW Kambule-NSTF Emerging Researcher Awards – contribution through research and its outputs over a period of up to 6 years of research work from the commencement of the research career, predominantly in SA (Prize sponsor: SAYAS)
d. Management Award – contribution through management of SET and innovation and related activities over the last 5 to 10 years in SA

2. Engineering Research Capacity Development Awards – contribution by an individual or a team over the last 5 to 10 years
3. NSTF-Water Research Commission (WRC) Award – contribution by an individual or an organisation towards sustainable water management, knowledge generation and solutions over the last 5 to 10 years (Sponsor since 2017: WRC)

4. NSTF-SAMRC Clinician-Scientist Award – contribution through research and its outputs over a period of up to 6 years of research work from the commencement of the research career, predominantly in SA, and focusing on work to enhance life and to improve the health of the community (Sponsor since 2023: SAMRC)
5. Green Economy Award – contribution by an individual or an organisation towards achieving biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability and a greener economy over the last 5 to 10 years (Sponsor since 2023: TIA)

6. Science Diplomacy for Africa Award – contribution by an individual or a team in SA, which has led to impactful solutions and/or collaboration in the SET and innovation fields, within the last 10 years, through science diplomacy between and among countries, for the benefit of SA and the African continent (Sponsor since 2024: SDCfA)
7. Data for Research Award – contribution by an individual or a team for advancing the availability, management and re-use of research data

8. Innovation Awards – for innovations and their research and/or development, through:
a. Corporate Organisation – contribution by an individual or a team over the last 5 to 10 years;
b. Small, medium and micro enterprise (SMME) – contribution by an individual or a team in an SMME over the last 5 to 10 years (Sponsor since 2019: NIPMO)
9. Communication Award – contribution for outreach and creating awareness of SET and innovation by a team or individual over the last 5 years
10. Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Award – contribution by an NGO, including technology transfer and education and training activities over the last 5 to 10 years

11. Special Annual Theme Award: 4IR Technologies – awarded according to criteria in any of the other categories. For 2023/2024, the award is made for an outstanding contribution to SET and innovation through research, development and innovation in 4IR technologies