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09 November 2022 | Story André Damons | Photo André Damons
Prof Abdon Atangana is Professor of Applied Mathematics in the Institute for Groundwater Studies at the University of the Free State (UFS), and was ranked No 2 in general mathematics in the world and No 188 in all of science, technology, and engineering in the University of Stanford’s Top 2% Scientists in the World.

Prof Abdon Atangana, Professor of Applied Mathematics in the Institute for Groundwater Studies at the University of the Free State (UFS), is ranked No 2 in general mathematics in the world and No 188 in all of science, technology, and engineering in the Stanford University’s Top 2% Scientists in the World.

Stanford University has created a list of the top 2% of world-class researchers based on citations over their full careers. The list was published in September and features 195 605 researchers who make up the top 2%. They have developed a database of highly cited scientists that is freely accessible to the public and offers standardised data on citations, h-index, co-authorship adjusted hm-index, citations to publications in various authorship positions, and a composite indicator (c-score). Data for impact across a lifetime and impact in a single recent year are displayed separately.

It is encouraging

Aside from Prof Atangana, the UFS has 22 researchers on the list; including Prof Ivan Turok (Research Chair in City-Region Economies in the Department of Economics and Finance and the Centre for Development Support, ranked 21,680), Prof Jorma Hölsä (Research Fellow: Department of Physics, ranked 84 593), Prof Melanie Walker (NRF Chair in Higher Education and Human Development: Centre for Development Support, ranked 67 313), Prof Maxim Finkelstein (Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, ranked 76 745), Prof Hendrik Swart (Department of Physics, ranked 49 504), Prof Deborah Posel (Department of Sociology, 151 656), Prof Ted Kroon (Physics, 162 769), Prof David Motaung (Physics, ranked 150,223), Prof Maryke Labuschagne (Plant Breeding and SARChI chair in disease resistance and quality in field crops, 133 124), Prof Jeanet Conradie (Chemistry, ranked 89 746), and Prof Johan Grobbelaar (Plant Sciences, ranked 82 692) amongst others. 

“It is always encouraging to see a researcher from a developing nation at the top of the list in a difficult scientific field like physics, chemistry, or mathematics. Many academics from the global South made it into this list, dispelling the myth that only researchers in the global north are capable of doing high-quality research. 

“Being an African Black individual and the second-ranked mathematician in the world shows that the subject of mathematics is not limited by geography or race; as David Hilbert stated. Mathematics is a subject that transcends all national boundaries. The No 1 in general mathematics is from Stanford, however his real speciallity is computer science,” says Prof Atangana.  

Creator of various concepts in epidemiological modeling

He was placed 188th in the world in all of science, technology, and engineering, which is also significant as it demonstrates that the influence of his study can be compared to other fields that are still ranked among the top 200 in the world and is not limited to mathematicians. 

Says Prof Atangana: “I am the author of various crucial mathematical ideas that are applied and pure mathematics. For instance, I created the Atangana-Baleanu fractional derivatives and integrals, which constitute a novel calculus and are based on the general Mittag-Leffler kernels. Since its inception in 2016, this fractional calculus has been employed in various fields of science, technology, and engineering. 

“I am the creator of various concepts in epidemiological modelling, numerical analysis, and integral transformations. I am also the pioneer of the fractal-fractional calculus, which is employed in all domains of applied sciences. I developed the most recent ideas known as piecewise differentiation and integration.”

Other UFS researchers who made list: 

• Prof Carla Sharp (Visiting professor in the Centre for Development Support, 11,527)
• Prof Deanna Kemp (Visiting professor in the Centre for Development Support, 59, 169)
• Prof Johan Carranza (Department of Geology,ranked 6884)
• Prof John Boardman (Geography, ranked 68 630)
• Prof Robert Schall (Department of Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science, 183 742)
• Michael D MacNeil (179 175)
• Bradley Ridoutt (71 822)
• Prof Ian Phimister (Centre for Africa Studies)
• Muhammad Altaf Khan (Prof Atangana’s Pos-doc researcher, ranked 33 975)
• Koen Luyckx (Unit for Professional Training and Service in the Behavioural Sciences (UNIBS, 55 711)
• John R Owen (56 253)
• Prof Johann Beukes (Philosophy & Classics, 200 397)
• Prof Charles Haddad (Zoology and Entomology, 200 010)
• Prof Anofi Ashafa (Plant Sciences, 191 214)


News Archive

New building for Centre for Financial Planning Law
2012-04-23

 

A graphic illustration of the new building for the Centre for Financial Planning Law.
19 April 2012

 

During a recent tree planting ceremony, the Centre for Financial Planning Law in the Faculty of Law officially handed over the site for a new building for the centre. The building should be complete by the end of 2012.

The Centre for Financial Planning Law’s present premises has become too small for the needs of the centre, thus a decision was taken to build a new building.

The centre, which was opened in 2001 with three staff members, grew during the past 11 years to a centre with 13 permanent staff members. Some 1 300 students – 120 undergraduate and 1 200 postgraduate students in the Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning Law and the Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning Law respectively – are enrolled at the centre. Undergraduate students attend weekly contact sessions while the postgraduate students all study electronically through distance education.

According to Mr Rudolf Bitzer of Bitzer Design Studio, one of the two architecture firms involved in the development of the building, the new building was planned in order to to make provision for future extensions. “The opportunity for the centre to function independently was important from the beginning and facilities had to be positioned in such a way that the lecture hall and committee room could be hired out commercially when lectures were not being presented.

“The building consists of a large reception venue, which gives access to a lecture hall (which can be subdivided), a committee room, public amenities and a reception counter. The centre will present about ten lectures annually in its own building and the lecture hall can accommodate 80 students. Exams will also be written in the venue,” said Mr Bitzer.

The usable inside area of the building totals 827 square metres.

The staff function in their own section of the building, with the offices arranged around a courtyard. Security access makes it a secure environment. In addition, staff have access to a staff room with a service hatch to the reception room, reception counter, personal assistant’s office, nine individual offices and a large open plan office, a storeroom, a cleaners’ room and facilities for staff.

“With the design, an attempt was made to make the building stand comfortably in the landscape without disappearing into the natural landscape. It is an unpretentious building, which seeks to provide well articulated architecture,” said Mr Bitzer.

The architecture firms involved are Bitzer Design Studio and Roodt Architects.

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