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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

UFS releases draft charter to accelerate transformation
2007-02-02

The University of the Free State (UFS) today released a draft Institutional Charter which is intended to enhance and accelerate the ongoing transformation of the institution towards a non-racial, non-sexist future.

Speaking at the official opening of the university today, the Rector and Vice-chancellor, Prof Frederick Fourie, said the draft Institutional Charter, was an important milestone in the transformation debate for the university and the country.

“The draft charter acknowledges that black people, women and people with disabilities have been marginalised from job and developmental opportunities, within the higher education sector and at this university,” Prof Fourie said.

The charter commits the university to meeting the challenges of a transforming higher education institution in a developing society, in particular the challenges of nation-building, reconciliation, redress, non-racialism and non-sexism – and ultimately normalisation – within a high-quality academic institution.

The principles of the draft charter firmly signal the university’s commitment to diversity – attaining and maintaining substantive and sufficient diversity (including multiculturalism and multilingualism) – in its quest for quality and excellence. 
Prof Fourie said the draft charter seeks to build consensus among staff and students at the UFS about the ultimate goals of transformation at a higher education institution.

The charter proposes several basic values and principles that should guide the transformation process and at the same time serve as a basis for a future, normalised university - a promised land to transform towards.

The discussion document says academic quality is intrinsically linked to transformation and it commits the university to strengthening the core competencies of research, teaching and learning as well as community service so as to ensure a robust university for future generations.

“Indeed the thousands of matriculants, black and white, who apply to study at the UFS want to study at a good university, and a good university wants to attract the best black and white students and the best black and white staff, male and female,“ Prof Fourie said.

He said the draft charter also seeks to safeguard academic freedom and institutional autonomy as the foundation of critical inquiry and scholarship.

Regarding the critical issue of creating a new institutional culture, the draft charter commits the UFS to creating a sense of belonging for all members of the university – black and white, male and female, of whatever language, religious, cultural or economic background, as well as people with disabilities.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel:  (051) 401-2584
Cell:  083 645 2454
E-mail:  loaderl@mail.uovs.ac.za
02 February 2007

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