Prof Olusola Ololade, Head of the Centre for Environmental Management (CEM) at the University of the Free State (UFS), has been recognised in the top 0.5% of all scholars worldwide, according to the most recent 2024 ScholarGPS rankings.

Prof Ololade, who does research in water resources management, sustainable development, land use/cover analysis, mining impacts and water-energy-food nexus, says she is glad her hard work and diligence has paid off. 

“Knowing that findings of my research are well received is satisfying. It was not something I was working towards but was more of a surprise to me. All I was interested in is to do impactful research and disseminate the findings,” says Prof Ololade.

According to a letter from ScholarGPS congratulating Prof Ololade on this prestigious achievement, it is her strong publication record, the impact of her work, and the notable quality of her scholarly contributions that placed her in the top 0.5% of all scholars worldwide. ScholarGPS recognises Top Scholars for their outstanding performance in various Fields, Disciplines, and Specialties.  

Prof Ololade has been ranked Top Scholar (with the ranking of #25,235 overall) over the previous five years. She has also been ranked number 1 756 in Social Sciences, 171 in Geography, 154 Drought and 405 in Africa. 

Encourage her to work harder

This recognition will encourage her to work even harder and give her best in all her research projects, say Prof Ololade. This year's rankings are based on the ScholarGPS database of over 30 million Scholar Profiles and 120 000 Institutional Profiles from which they derive the following ranking data: Highly Ranked Scholars, Institutional Rankings, Top Scholars by Expertise, Top Scholars by Institution, Top Scholars by Country, and Highly Cited Publications. 

These rankings highlight the most influential scholars, research institutions, and important publications in various Fields, Disciplines, and Specialties, providing valuable insights into academic and scholarly research excellence for long-term (lifetime) and prior five-year time periods. ScholarGPS recognises two categories of scholarly excellence: Highly Ranked Scholars™: Distinguished scholars who rank in the top 0.05% globally; and Top Scholars: Those whose scholarly contributions rank them within the top 0.5% of all scholars worldwide. 

Prof Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation of the UFS), extended his congratulations to Prof Ololade, saying:  “Prof Ololade’s achievement stands as a beacon of innovation and intellectual rigour. Through her pioneering research, she has not only advanced the boundaries of knowledge but also inspires other scholars to follow her example in upholding the spirit of scientific inquiry. May your journey continue to be marked by greater impact and successes. UFS is proud of the honour she brings with this recognition,” Prof Reddy said.

The central focus of her research, explains Prof Ololade, is environmental sustainability, with key areas including integrated water resource management, the water-energy-food-climate nexus, and the intersection of mining and sustainability. Her current projects explore the use of certain plants and food waste as cost-effective solutions for rehabilitating and treating polluted soil and water.