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UFS researchers vie for top honours in 2023 NSTF ‘Science Oscars’

07 June 2023 | Story André Damons | Photo Supplied

Dr Michael Pienaar and Dr Edward C Netherlands — Dr Michael Pienaar, Senior Lecturer and specialist in the UFS Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, is a finalist in two categories of this year’s NSTF-South32 Awards. Dr Edward C Netherlands, Senior Lecturer in the UFS Department of Zoology and Entomology, is also in the running for his first NSTF-South32 Award.

Dr Michael Pienaar, Senior Lecturer and Specialist in the University of the Free State (UFS) Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, is a finalist in two categories of the 2023 NSTF-South32 Awards, popularly known as the ‘Science Oscars’ of South Africa.

Dr Pienaar, who has been working in paediatric critical care since 2019 and sees the care of critically ill children as his mission and calling in life, has been named a finalist in the TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher and the NSTF-SAMRC Clinician-Scientist Award categories.

Another UFS staff member, Dr Edward C Netherlands, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Zoology and Entomology, is also a finalist in the TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher category.

The NSTF-SAMRC Clinician-Scientist Award, sponsored by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), is a new award for an outstanding contribution by a clinician-scientist, with a focus on work to enhance life and improve community health. This new category is modelled on the Emerging Researcher category.

‘Validating to have research recognised’

Dr Pienaar says it is humbling to be considered for these awards alongside formidable, accomplished, and innovative clinicians and scientists. “This is all somewhat surreal, as I was not anticipating being shortlisted as a finalist. It is validating to have had my research, which I am committed to, recognised on this platform. I am very grateful to the School of Clinical Medicine and the Faculty of Health Sciences and University of the Free State for nominating me for these awards.”

He was nominated by Dr Claire Armour Barrett, Clinical Research Director and Specialist Physician in the UFS School of Clinical Medicine.

Dr Pienaar says his current research focusses on applied machine learning in paediatric critical care. He has been working on the development of machine learning models that can be used in clinical practice to improve patient care.

“The work leading to these nominations focused on triage and identification of critically ill children in South Africa. Currently, I am working towards machine learning models implemented in point-of-care ultrasonography and mechanical ventilation.

“I am pleased just to be shortlisted for these awards. I think this provides important visibility for my work, which I feel has major long-term implications for clinical practice. I am also very happy to represent the research work being done in the Faculty of Health Sciences and the UFS on this platform.”

On what it will mean to win a ‘Science Oscar’, Dr Pienaar says, “While this would advance my career, I am very aware that all the candidates would be worthy winners. As it is, the opportunity to be a scholar is reward unto itself, and I am very privileged to be able to do the research I do. As ever, I am very grateful to the University and the Faculty of Health Sciences as well as the National Research Foundation for supporting my work.”

‘Honour and privilege’

Dr Netherlands, who was nominated by Prof Corli Witthuhn, former UFS Vice-Rector for Research and Internationalisation, says, “It is a great honour and privilege to represent the UFS.”

His work as a parasitologist and herpetologist involves specialised research in the study of blood parasites. His current research focuses on the diversity, evolution, and ecological implications of blood parasites in herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians of a particular region).

“Being shortlisted as a finalist for this award will be a humbling achievement in my career, that may lead to new opportunities and new collaborations,” Dr Netherlands says. “Furthermore, being shortlisted provides a sense of validation and affirmation for the effort that has gone into conducting my research.”

The announcement of the winners will take place at the NSTF-South32 Awards Gala Event on 13 July 2023.

News Archive

Professor launches his book, opposition parties attend

2011-03-22

Prof. Hussein Solomon
Photo: Stephen Collett

“We are good in opposing people, but we’re less good in opposing ideas.” This was how Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State (UFS) introduced the book launch of Against all Odds: Opposition Politics in Southern Africa.

The event was hosted in collaboration with the publisher under the title: Are opposition parties in South Africa in a crisis? This formed part of a series of dialogue sessions, organised by the Centre for Africa Studies, in the run up to the local elections.

Amongst those interested who attended the evening in the Senate Hall of the CR Swart Building on the Main Campus were various politicians, students, staff en a panel consisting of academics and the respective provincial representatives of the ANC and DA.

Dr Mcebisi Ndletyana from the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), acted as arbiter.

Proff. Hussein Solomon, author of Against all Odds: Opposition Politics in Southern Africa, also lecturer at the UFS, as well as Dirk Kotzé, Head of the Department of Political Science at Unisa, delivered enriching lectures on the stance and positioning of opposition parties.

Prof. Hussein, who spoke first, circumscribed the context of the political climate in the country, based on his book. “The problem that political science encounters is that everybody becomes experts on the internet, while they have no experience of what is happening in South Africa.” He said that when political parties in the country are under discussion, voters often allow myths and/or stereotyping to influence their concept of it. ‘’If there are no opposition parties, there is no democracy and people are deprived of their vote.”

Prof. Kotzé stated in his speech that it was not only opposition parties who had to make the government watch its step, but also the status that the country acquired, amongst others, from its connections, i.e. collaborative agreements such as BRICSA and the country’s inclusion in the G20. He left the audience with a question about how they were going to become involved in politics, and with his rhetoric question referred to options like social networks and movements.

Mr Sibongile Besani, the ANC'S secretary in the Free State, said the DA grew due to it’s swallowing of other parties; something he claims is taking the country backwards. He also described the use of personalities by opposition parties as means of association a weakness. He added that voters will continue voting for the ANC because they can associate themselves with the party’s vision.

In contrast, Mr Roy Jankielsohn, provincial leader of the DA, said voters and parties unite under their core vision for the country as like in the case of the ANC during the liberation struggles.

During the question-and-answer session, which followed after Mr Jankielson’s speech, Prof. Kwandiwe Kondlo, upon completion and summary of the discussions, stated firmly that the opposition parties are in a crisis. “The start of the solution is to recognise the problem. That is why our democracy finds itself in the state in which it is; because the opposition does not fulfil the role that they are supposed to fulfil.“ Prof. Kondlo is the head of the Centre of Africa Studies at the UFS.

He concluded by stating that the economic basis in the country was not transformed. “We cannot say that people determine their futures if they posses nothing. Opposition parties must start to communicate at this level in order to table something new. Our democracy must become more inclusive at political and material level.”

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