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‘Science Oscar’ nomination is exciting and validating

16 May 2025 | Story André Damons | Photo Supplied

Being nominated for a ‘Science Oscar’ is exciting and validates nominees’ efforts, particularly in a field as challenging and essential as infectious diseases, for which they are recognised at the highest level.

This is according to Prof Wynand Goosen, Professor and Lead for One Health in the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry at the University of the Free State (UFS). He was nominated in the TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Researcher category of the 2024/25 NSTF-South32 Awards for his landmark discovery of Mycobacterium bovis infection in humans in South Africa – the first confirmed cases in the country.

Prof Goosen, who previously won the NSTF-South32 Emerging Researcher Award, says the nomination is a powerful affirmation of the impact that focused, interdisciplinary research can have. It reflects not only his personal commitment but also the dedication of a talented and hard-working team. “I am honoured and humbled to be nominated. It is also a testament to the support and vision of UFS, particularly as we position ourselves as leaders in One Health research in South Africa,” he says.

Focus of research

He was nominated by Prof Vasu Reddy, UFS Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation, and Prof Paul Oberholster, Dean for the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS) at the UFS, and Prof Nico Gey van Pittius and Prof Elmi Muller from Stellenbosch University (US). The NSTF Awards, known as the ‘Science Oscars’of SA, honour, reward, celebrate, profile and promote outstanding contributions to science, engineering and technology (SET) and innovation in South Africa.

“The nomination,” Prof Goosen continues, “recognises our work in the field of zoonotic tuberculosis (TB) and other emerging infectious diseases at the human-animal-environment interface. Our research focuses on the molecular detection and characterisation of pathogenic mycobacteria in wildlife, livestock, and human populations, with the aim of informing better surveillance, diagnostics, and control strategies — particularly in high-risk ecosystems. This includes novel applications in wildlife TB surveillance and understanding the transmission dynamics between animals and people.”

Establishing a Kovsie One Health Research Unit

This research is critically important as South Africa continues to face a high burden of tuberculosis, including zoonotic TB, which often goes under-detected in rural and wildlife-rich areas. Understanding how these pathogens circulate between humans, animals, and the environment, explains Prof Goosen, is essential for effective disease control and to mitigate future pandemics. This work directly supports national health priorities, informs policy, and contributes to global strategies for One Health.

Prof Goosen and the team are in the process of laying the groundwork for the establishment of a Kovsie One Health Research Unit, which will serve as a collaborative platform for research spanning human, animal, and environmental health. One of their key projects involves expanding TB and AMR surveillance in wildlife-livestock-human interfaces, using cutting-edge diagnostics and genomic tools. They are also initiating partnerships with industry and international institutions to address emerging zoonoses and environmental pathogens in a transdisciplinary manner.

News Archive

Ensure your place at the UFS

2010-10-27

The University of the Free State (UFS) appeals to all prospective South African students who want to come and study at the UFS in 2011 to submit their applications no later than Tuesday, 30 November 2010.

The UFS is aware of the fact that learners will not have received their final Grade 12 results by Tuesday, 30 November 2010; therefore provisional admission will be granted based on learners’ most recent Grade 12 results. Final admission will take place upon receipt of the final Grade 12 results, which will be available early in January 2011.

Prospective students can obtain application forms for admission at the following places:

The UFS’s web site at www.ufs.ac.za,
The Information Office (Unit for Prospective Students) at the Thakaneng Bridge on the UFS’s Main Campus in Bloemfontein,
You may also send an e-mail to info@ufs.ac.za or
Phone 051 401 3000 and the necessary forms will be posted to you.

Senior undergraduate students (that is all students who were registered up to and during 2010 at the UFS) as well as post-graduate students, must self-register electronically on-line from Monday, 1 November 2010 until Tuesday, 4 January 2011. This includes master’s and doctoral students.

In order to encourage senior students to register online, the UFS offers 20 laptops as incentives for the senior students who successfully register online from 1 November 2010. These laptops will be handed over to the winners after the registration process in 2011.

Registration of first-year students:

The Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jonathan Jansen, will welcome first-year students on Friday, 14 January and Saturday, 15 January 2011, respectively, in the Callie Human Centre. The Faculties of Economic and Management Sciences, the Humanities and Education will be welcomed on 14 January 2011 and the students of the Faculties of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Law and Theology shall be welcomed on 15 January 2011. The compulsory orientation programme for new first-years will also then commence.

From 17 to 21 January 2011 first-year students will receive academic advice at the Callie Human Centre, whereafter they will be referred for self-registration. These processes will take place according to the set timetable. This timetable is available in the Kovsie Guide that will be sent to learners as soon as we have received their applications, as well as on the web site of the UFS at www.ufs.ac.za/register2011.

First-year students’ fees must be paid prior to arrival on 14 and 15 January 2011.

Registration of senior students:

Senior students who experience problems with the electronic on-line self-registration process have the opportunity to resolve problems within a programme on campus from Wednesday, 5 January until Wednesday, 12 January 2011. This programme will be sent out to students and is also available at www.ufs.ac.za/register2011. The specific scheduled day for senior students to resolve problems is the last and only day to resolve the problem.

Senior students can also contact 051 401 9111 for more information in this regard.

Students may register for prescribed modules for 2011, even though the November 2010 examination results are not yet available. Changes resulting from examination results that are made available later can be done up to and including 28 January 2011.

In terms of applications for senior students, only students who have interrupted a calendar year of study need to re-apply for admission.

Registration of students at the UFS’s Qwaqwa Campus:

Senior and first-year students of the UFS’s Qwaqwa Campus register from Wednesday, 12 January until Friday, 28 January 2011 in the Nelson Mandela Hall on this campus.

Registration of students at the UFS South Campus:

First-year students from the UFS’s South Campus in the University Preparation Programme and the Extended Programme (only Natural and Agricultural Sciences) register from Monday, 24 January till Friday, 28 January 2011 in the Arena Hall on the South Campus.

Students who have successfully completed the University Preparation Programme register with the first-year students on the UFS Main Campus on Friday, 14 and Saturday, 15 January 2011 – according to faculties (cf. paragraph 6).

Lectures for all students shall commence on Monday, 24 January 2011.

MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication (actg)
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl@ufs.ac.za
26 October 2010

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