Prof Pieter Meintjes
Photo: Johan Roux
Prof Pieter Meintjes an astrophysics pioneer in SA
Prof Pieter Meintjies introduction: video Professor Pieter Meintjes from the Department of Physics is one of the South African pioneers in the field of astrophysics. He is also a member of the HESS consortium’s research group on gamma rays.
He spent a post-doctoral year at the Max Planck Institute for Space Science near München in Germany. He is a member of the South African Institute for Physics (SAIP), and was also co-chair of the astrophysics and space science group of SAIP. He serves on the executive committee of the National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme (NASSP) and is often a visiting lecturer on astrophysics at the University of Cape Town. He is an NRF-supported researcher and author and co-author of about 80 publications in high-profile international journals and published conference contributions.
During 2011-2014 he presented six papers with his students on invitation at the International Frascati Conference on the island Vulcano and Palermo (Italy) respectively. He was also a speaker at international conferences in Heidelberg (Germany) and South Africa.
He authored and co-authored 25 publications in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS), as well as several publications in the Astrophysical Journal in support of an international planet-search programme. Fifteen publications also ensued from international conference contributions. His research is highly relevant, as proven by the H=15-citation index.
In 2013, Prof Meintjes was included in the highly-regarded international HESS and CTA high-energy astrophysics co-operations. He is also a member of the management committee of the SA-GAMMA consortium, a research cooperation between NWU, Wits, UFS, UJ and the NRF, aimed at the development of high-energy astrophysics in Southern Africa.