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09 November 2023 | Story André Damons | Photo SUPPLIED
Prof Atangana
Prof Abdon Atangana, a professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of the Free State (UFS), is the highest-ranked UFS scientist included in Stanford University’s World’s Top 2% Scientists list.

A professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of the Free State (UFS) is again the highest-ranked scientist from the institution included in Stanford University’s annual ranking of the top 2% of scientists in the world. 

Prof Abdon Atangana from the UFS’s Institute for Groundwater is ranked number one in applied mathematics, mathematical physics, mathematics, and statistics in the world, and number 260 in all of science, technology, and engineering in the Stanford University World’s Top 2% Scientists list. He is also ranked highest (5 620) of all the UFS scientists included in the career-long data set. 

‘Africans in Africa can impact the world’

“The ranking provides us with the impact of our outputs, and it shows that Africans can contribute to the development of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while still in Africa,” Prof Atangana said. “This also shows that Africans in Africa can have impact on the world. My motivation is to tell the next generation that Africans do not always need to graduate from the top universities of the global North to make a global impact.  

“We must work hard to make our African universities reach the same level of those from the global North, such that a student from the global North will wish to enroll in our universities. The development of our continent does not rest on sport, music, and so forth alone, but on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Having the best scientists, mathematicians, and engineers in the world in Africa should be the strive of all Africans.” 

Three of the UFS’s SARChI Research Chairs have also been included in this list: Prof Hendrik Swart, Chair: Solid-state Luminescent and Advanced Materials (Applied Physics, ranked 40 269 in the single-year dataset); Prof Melanie Walker, Chair: Higher Education and Human Development (ranked 68 337); and Prof Maryke Labuschagne, Chair: Disease Resistance and Quality in Field Crops (Plant Sciences, 165 780).  

Other UFS scientists included in the single-year data set are: Prof John M. Carranza (Geology, 4 837); Prof Muhammad Altaf Khan ( Applied Mathematics, 6 366); Prof Maxim Finkelstein (Statistics/ Mathematical Statistics, 63 394); Prof Marianne Reid (School of Nursing, 72 861); Prof John Owen (Centre for Development Support, 103 368); Prof Brownhilder Neneh (Department of Business Management, 73 635); Prof Jorma Hölsä (Research Fellow: Department of Physics, 88 833); Prof Johann Beukes (Philosophy & Classics, 6 547 764); Rian Venter, (829 709); Dr Yuri Marusik (Zoology and Entomology, 553 619); Prof Robert Schall (Department of Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science, 276 681); Prof Deborah Posel (Department of Sociology, 275 535); Dr Vijay Kumar (Physics, 274 541); Dr Abhay Prakash Mishra (Pharmacology, 229 625); Prof RE Kroon (Physics, 226 554); Dr Krishnan Anand (Chemical Pathology, 235 300); Prof Andrew Marston (Chemistry, 147 147); Dr Seda Igret Araz (Applied Mathematics,125 824); Prof Jeanet Conradie (Chemistry, 106 521); Prof Louis Scott (Plant Sciences, 73 874); Prof Johan Grobbelaar (Plant Sciences, 97 722); Prof David Motaung (Physics, 53 553); Dr Samuel Nambile Cumber (Health Systems Research and Development, 555 563). 

Career-long data set 

The Stanford University rankings also include a list of the top 2% of world-class researchers based on citations over their full careers. Scientists are classified into 22 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields. Field- and subfield-specific percentiles are also provided for all scientists with at least five published papers. Career-long data is updated to the end of 2021, and single recent-year data pertain to citations received during calendar year 2021. The selection is based on the top 100 000 scientists by C-score (with and without self-citations) or a percentile rank of 2% or above in the sub-field.

The career-long data set includes the names of:

Prof Carranza (17 466); Prof Scott (55 882); Prof Reid (57 173); Prof Hölsä (64 402); Prof Grobbelaar (71 094); Prof Walker (78 239); Prof Andrew Marston (Chemistry, 84 484); Prof Schall (90 268); HA Snyman (Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, 96 374); Prof Swart (103 895); Robert WM Frater Cardiovascular Research Centre (111 896); Prof Frederick Kruger (Centre for Environmental Management,117 971); Prof Finkelstein (124 118); Prof Johan Visser (Geology, 125 331); Prof James C du Preez (Biotechnology, 168 841); Prof Posel (172 295); Prof Conradie (178 157); Prof Michael D MacNeil (Dairy and Animal Science, 184 193); Prof Khan (201 101); Prof Owen (262 897). 

“The representation of our researchers from a variety of disciplinary domains in this prestigious ranking, is confirmation of their excellence, impact, and the global esteem they hold. UFS is proud to be a home to scholars in our midst who take us incrementally forward as an institution because of their cutting-edge research,” said Prof Vasu Reddy, UFS Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation. 

  • Prof Atangana has also been shortlisted as one of the finalists for the prestigious Alkebulan Immigrants Impact Awards (AIIA) 2023, in the South African Flag Carrier category. Voting started on 1 November, and the award ceremony is set to take place on 23 November in Johannesburg. 
Prof Melanie Walker, Chair: Higher Education and Human Development, is ranked 68 337 in the single-year data set.
Prof Melanie Walker, Chair: Higher Education and Human Development, is ranked 68 337 in the single-year data set.
Prof Brownhilder Neneh, from the Department of Business Management and Vice-Dean for Research Engagement and Internationalisation, is ranked 73 635.
Prof Brownhilder Neneh, from the Department of Business Management and Vice-Dean for Research Engagement and Internationalisation, is ranked 73 635.
Prof Marianne Reid from the School of Nursing is ranked 72 861.
Prof Marianne Reid from the School of Nursing is ranked 72 861.

News Archive

Degrees and diplomas are awarded
2009-09-01



The Spring Graduation Ceremony of the University of the Free State (UFS) took place in the Arena of the South Campus in Bloemfontein this week. Altogether 832 degrees and diplomas, 34 doctoral degrees, two honorary doctorates and a Councillor’s Medal were conferred.

 
 

All smiles. Three students who received the Advanced Diploma in Disaster Management at the spring graduation ceremony of the University of the Free State, are from the left: Oboneng Cynthia Tshitannye from Vryburg, Ramapulana Nkoana from Tzaneen and Sindisiwe Myide from Pietermaritzburg. The ceremony took place on the South Campus of the university.
Photo: Leatitia Pienaar
 
 

Diploma ontvang. Sowat duisend studente het in September op die Universiteit van die Vrystaat se lente-gradeplegtigheid grade of diplomas ontvang. Hier is Adri Lourens (links) van Medi-Clinic Bloemfontein wat die Gevorderde Universiteitsdiploma in Gemeenskapsverpleegkunde ontvang het, by haar ma, mev. Helen Lourens, ook van Bloemfontein.
Foto: Leatitia Pienaar
 

Thursday, 17 September 2009

Degrees in die Faculties of the Humanities, Health Sciences, Education, Law and Theology 
 

Three students obtained their PhD degrees in Higher Education Studies. They are, from the left: Dr Liezel Massyn, Dr Andile Dandala and Dr Mpho Moagi-Jama. Dr Massyn, Teaching and Learning Manager in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, completed her thesis titled “A framework for learning design in different modes of delivery in an adult learning programme”. Prof. Annette Wilkinson is her promoter and Dr Rika van Schoor is her co-promoter. Dr Dandala, Director: Quality Assurance at the Walter Sisulu University completed his thesis on “The challenges of designing a new programme and qualification (PQM) mix for a comprehensive university in South Africa”. His promoter is Prof. Johnny Hay and the co-promoter is Dr Louis van der Westuizen. Dr Moagi-Jama, a lecturer in the Faculty of Health Sciences completed her thesis on “Designing an academic support and development programme to combat attrition among non-traditional undergraduates”. Her promoter is Prof. Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela and the co-promoter is Dr Adri Beylefeld.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
 

UFS awards degrees in health sciences

This week the University of the Free State (UFS) held its spring graduation ceremony on the  South Campus in Bloemfontein. At this occasion George Visser received his M.Med. (Anes), Wilandi Jacobs received her M.Med. (Surgery) and Deon Menge received his M.Med. (Surgery) in the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
 

Megan Murphy (left) and Danielle Rose received their B.Soc.Sc. qualifications in the Faculty of the Humanities.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
 

Dumisane Nxumalo received his Master’s Degree in Labour Law in the Faculty of Law.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
 

Former Kovsies see their daughter graduate
Mr Danie Botha and his wife Alta today attended their daughter, Marali’s graduation ceremony. Marali received her B.Ed. qualification in the Faculty of the Education at the University of the Free State (UFS). Mr and Mrs Botha are alumni of the university.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

 

Spring graduation ceremony held at the UFS

At this year’s spring graduation ceremony of the University of the Free State (UFS) that was held on the South Campus, Cordelia de Waal received her B.Soc.Sc. Honours degree and Danie de Klerk received his B.A. degree in Language Studies and English. Both these qualifications are presented in the Faculty of the Humanities.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

 

Youngest Ph.D. in education awarded at the UFS

Dr Nalize Marais (second from the left), Senior Officer at the University of the Free State's (UFS) Centre for Higher Education Studies and Development (CHESD), today became the youngest student in the history of the university to receive a Ph.D. in education. Her she is with Dr John Bowes (left), Deputy Principal at Bedelia Primary in Welkom, Prof. Rita Niemann, Associate Professor in the Department of Comparative Education and Education Management and promoter of the three students, and Dr Ben Oosthuyse, teacher at Voortrekker High School in Bethlehem. Dr Marais submitted her thesis at the age of 27. All three students received a Ph.D. in Education Management.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

Wednesday, 16 September 2009

Degrees in die Faculties of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and Economic and Management Sciences were awarded.
 
Two honorary doctorates and one Council Medal were awarded during the Chancellor’s Dinner. Prof. Johan Grobbelaar, Senior Professor in the Department Plant Sciences received the Councillor’s Medal for dedicated service to the UFS for more than 40 years, Judge Louis Harms received the degree Doctor Legum (Honoris Causa) and the degree Philosophiae Doctor (Honoris Causa) was conferred upon Mr Johan Loock. At the Chancellor’s Dinner were, from the left: Prof. Grobbelaar, Dr Franklin Sonn, Chancellor if the UFS, Judge Harms, Judge Faan Hancke, Chairperson of the UFS Council and Mr Loock.
Foto: Stephen Collett
 
The degree B.Com. Economics was awarded to Heinrich Brüssow, Springbok and Cheetah rugby player and former Shimla player. Here is Heinrich with Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor – one of his biggest supporters.
Photo: Lacea Loader
 
Prof. Helena van Zyl, Director of the UFS School for Business (in the front in the red gown) together with the group of MBA students who graduated.
Photo: Lacea Loader
 
Azar Debbo (right) received the degree B.Sc. Genetics. With him is his brother Alec, who received the degree B.A. in Drama and Theatre Arts from the UFS in 2007, and their father Al Debbo, comedian, actor and singer.
Photo: Lacea Loader
 
From the left is: Matseliso Phafoli, who received an B.Com.Hons. in Economics, Kenekwe Moumo, who received the degree B.Com.Hons. in Financial Economics and Managerial Accounting, and Teboho Maichu, who also received a B.Com.Hons. degree in Financial Economics and Investment Management.
Photo: Lacea Loader
 
The degree B.Com.Hons. in Psychological Equivalence was awarded to Robynne Sudbury and Siyabonga Nyembe received received a B.Sc. degree in Biochemistry.
Photo: Lacea Loader

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