The International Council for Science (ICSU) has appointed South African mathematician professor Daya Reddy as its new president from October 2017.
The ICSU is a non-governmental organisation mobilising the world's science and technology knowledge for public benefit.
The body taps into the resources of around 141 member countries and aims to strengthen science and technology cooperation for sustainable development solutions.
Reddy will take over from Canadian meteorologist Gordon McBean, whose tenure was also announced three years before it began.
SA's science and technology minister Naledi Pandor says Reddy's appointment means a lot for the country and the continent as it "recognises the excellent work of our researchers and scientists and their contribution to global bodies".
Reddy works for the University of Cape Town's mathematics and applied mathematics department, and also heads up the Academy of Science of SA. He serves as co-chairman of the InterAcademy Council - a body reporting on scientific, technological and health issues for governments and global organisations.
Reddy says the ICSU is in a "special position" to promote the values of science and provide leadership in searching for new approaches to the world's problems. "I am particularly keen to ensure ICSU becomes as inclusive as possible, so that, as the 'voice' of science, we are in fact able to involve the entire community worldwide," he says.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) describes Reddy's research interests as positioned at the intersection of applied mathematics and engineering sciences.
"Much of his work is concerned with analysis and computational simulation in solid and fluid mechanics, and concerns the development of mathematical models of material behaviour, analysis of these models, and the construction and implementation of algorithms for their numerical solution," the DST says.
Chinese scientist Li Jinghai has been elected VP for scientific planning and review, while the USA's Michael Clegg will serve as VP for external relations, according to the ICSU.
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