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11 January 2018 Photo Charl Devenish
UFS researcher publishes the highest-cited Maths paper in the world in 2017
An article by Prof Abdon Atangana from the University of the Free State’s Institute for Groundwater Studies received New Hot Paper status from Clarivate Analytics.

An article on Applied Mathematics, published by Prof Abdon Atangana from the University of the Free State’s Institute for Groundwater Studies in 2017, was recently named New Hot Paper by Clarivate Analytics.

Hot paper status
Essential Science Indicators (ESI) is a unique and comprehensive compilation of science performance statistics and science trends. Data is based on journal article publication counts and citation data from Clarivate Analytics that enables researchers to conduct ongoing, quantitative analyses of research performance and track trends in science. Covering a multidisciplinary selection of 1 2000+ journals from around the world, this in-depth analytical tool offers data for ranking papers, scientists, institutions, countries, and journals. 

ESI from Clarivate Analytics is updated every two months. The New Hot Papers, which are papers published in the past two years, are in the top one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) for their field and publication period. Prof Atangana’s paper had the highest cite count in the field of Mathematics. 

His article that received the New Hot Paper status is titled: “The new fractional derivative and application to nonlinear Fisher’s reaction-diffusion equation”.

The concept of fractional differential operators with non-singular kernel has captured the minds of several researchers in the past year due to their wider applicability in almost all fields of science, engineering and technology. The new fractional differential operators have opened new windows to model complex real-world problems that could not be modelled using the Newtonian and the well-known Riemann-Liouville fractional differential operators. 

“These operators are the way forward in modelling real-world problems in all disciplines, as they are able to include into mathematical formulation the effect of memory,” Prof Atangana said.

The Atangana-Baleanu fractional derivative
The professor developed a new fractional differential operator, called the Atangana-Baleanu fractional derivative. This derivative is able to describe real-world problems with different scales or problems that change their properties during time and space, for instance, the spread of cancer; the flow of water within heterogeneous aquifers, movement of pollution within fractured aquifers and many others.”

News Archive

Centre for Africa Studies launches its ANC Centenary Seminar Series
2010-12-10

Prof. Chris Landsberg, Dr Pule Matjoa, Prof. Kwandiwe Kondlo and Herbert Maserumule, the main speakers during the launch of the ANC Centenary Seminar Series.
Photo: Christiaan van der Merwe

The Centre for Africa Studies at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently launched its series of seminars commemorating the centenary celebrations of the African National Congress (ANC). The launch of the series took place on 30 November 2010, with the seminar series running from February 2011 until February 2012, the year of the centenary celebrations of the ANC.

Along with UFS staff members and students, various special guests also attended the launch of the seminar series, including former Premier Ms Winkie Direko, representatives of the office of the current Premier and the Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS, Prof. Jonathan Jansen. Prof. Jansen praised the Centre for Africa Studies for its vision in establishing the seminar series and added that he would be a regular attendee when the seminars kicked off in 2011.

The seminar series is the brainchild of Prof. Kwandiwe Kondlo, Head of the Centre for Africa Studies at the UFS. Prof. Kondlo explained that the aims of the seminars were to delve into the legacy of the ANC from a firm historical perspective, as well as to develop a firmer understanding of the dynamics of contemporary South Africa. He stressed the scholarly and academic nature of the seminars, hoping for robust and critical debate amongst future audiences about the topics at hand. Publications in journals and books at the end of the series will be the secondary objective of the Centre.

The three guest lecturers for the launch were Dr Pule Matjoa, Prof. Chris Landsberg and Herbert Maserumule. Dr Matjoa, an ANC veteran, elucidated the history of the party from an insider’s perspective while Prof. Landsberg spoke about the past and present foreign policy of the ANC. Mr Maserumule examined the ruling party’s economic thinking, with special focus on the distinctions between a democratic and developmental state.

The question-and-answer session after the lecture produced lively debate, which set a premise for the rest of the series. The first seminar in the series will take place on 4 February 2011.
 

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