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Prof Abdon Atangana ranked as the world’s second best mathematician

09 November 2022 | Story André Damons | Photo André Damons

AD-ProfAbdon-Atangana2 copy — 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

Number of NRF-rated researchers increases in 2012

2012-10-29

29 October 2012

Three researchers at the University of the Free State received B-ratings for 2013 from the National Research Foundation (NRF). Prof. Johan Henning, Dean of Law, obtained the highest rating in his field of mercantile law in South Africa, a B1.

Prof. Jackie Naudé from Classical and Near Eastern Studies and Prof. Dingie Janse van Rensburg, Professor Extraordinary at the Centre for Health Systems Research and Development, also obtained B3-ratings. Prof. Naudé is the first B-rated researcher in the Faculty of Humanities.

Prof. Helene Strauss obtained the highest rating (Y1) for a UFS young scholar in the Humanities.

In total, the NRF rated researchers at the UFS grew from 95 in 2011 to 109 in 2012, a growth of almost 15 percent.

The NRF ratings committee consist of three reviewers from South Africa and three from abroad. A rating is valid for six years and researchers must reapply for rating before the end of that period.

For a B1-rating all reviewers must be firmly convinced that the applicant enjoys considerable international recognition for the high quality of the researcher’s recent output, with some indicating that the researcher is a leading international scholar in a field. For a B3-rating most of the reviewers must be convinced that the researcher enjoys international recognition for the high quality and impact of the research.

Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, said in the UFS Research Report “The UFS now has among the highest number of NRF-rated scientists per size of the academic faculty and we have seen the productivity graph bear witness to a record growth in our funded research outputs; we have won our first-ever NRF/DST Research Chairs. In each of these achievements, the excellence we seek comes with and through the diversity we celebrate.”

More ratings and renewals were expected by the time of Bult went to print.. More than 35 researchers applied for ratings or renewal of ratings.

Colleagues who were admitted to the prestigious Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) are Profs. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, Driekie Hay, Heidi Hudson, Lodewyk Kock, Odireleng Ntwaeaborwa, Hugh Patterton, Ian Phimister and Melanie Walker. ASSAf was established in 1996 with the mission of using science for the benefit of society. New members are elected after nomination by four existing members (at least two of whom do so from personal knowledge of the candidate). ASSAf has some 350 members and represents South Africa in the international community of science academies.
Dr Marieka Gryzenhout of Plant Sciences became a member of South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS). SAYAS celebrated its first year in 2012. It was launched as a means to enable South Africa’s young scientists to fully participate in locally and internationally relevant research and development agendas. Prof. Aldo Stroebel, Director: Internationalisation, is also a member of SAYAS.

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