Recognising leading South African researchers

Issued by Sabinet
Centurion, Pretoria, 27 Nov 2018

Research is a critical tool to build knowledge and facilitate learning and is essential to advancements in virtually all disciplines. The annual National Research Foundation (NRF) Awards recognise and celebrate excellence among top South African researchers. Sabinet honoured the worthy recipients at a ceremony held at the Boardwalk Hotel and Convention Centre, in Port Elizabeth, this year.

Sabinet aids research across all disciplines through providing access to a broad spectrum of high-quality and credible information sources and, as such, supports the NRF's drive to encourage the continuing culture of advancing South Africa's knowledge economy.

Researchers are assessed and rated according to various criteria, including their contribution to their field of study, focusing on quality and impact. The awards are based on peer evaluation and are allocated according to international best practice. This NRF Rating System is globally respected and recipients are researchers who have distinguished themselves in their fields. For individual researchers and their institutions, an NRF rating is synonymous with respect.

Awards are presented in two categories: ratings-based and special recognition awards. The ratings-based awards are given to those who have qualified for an A or P rating. P-rated researchers are considered likely to become future leaders in their respective fields, while A-rated researchers have been recognised by their peers as leading international scholars in their respective fields. The special recognition awards, such as the NRF Lifetime Achievement Award, provide a platform to honour researchers for career achievements and contributions to knowledge creation and dissemination, as well as capacity development and transformation.

Problem-solving, inventions and new developments are the results of research and scientific thinking. This allows individuals, industries and countries to test information by transforming abstract theories into practical learning. The reward: knowledge. Dr Molapo Qhobela, CEO of the NRF, pointed out that the men and women being recognised through these awards are helping to transform South Africa into a knowledge-intensive society where all derive equitable benefit from science and technology.

Sabinet

With a sound performance history of over 30 years, Sabinet has firmly established itself as a leader in facilitating access to a wide spectrum of high-quality and credible information sources. Over the course of the last three decades, Sabinet has built a strong local and international reputation for providing Africa's information to the world and the world's information to Africa.

Sabinet's mission to support libraries' technical processes, promote resource sharing and enable access to information sources is underpinned by its commitment, partnerships, understanding and support.

Sabinet's roots are in library support services, where it is recognised for providing central platforms for collaboration and resource sharing among libraries.

National Research Foundation (NRF)

The NRF was established through the National Research Foundation Act (Act No 23 of 1998), following a system-wide review conducted for the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST). The new entity incorporated the functions of the research funding agencies that were previously servicing various sections of the research community, namely, the former Centre for Science Development (CSD) of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the former Foundation for Research Development (FRD) that included several National Research Facilities.

As an entity of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the NRF promotes and supports research through funding, human resource development and the provision of National Research Facilities in all fields of natural and social sciences, humanities and technology. The NRF provides services to the research community, especially at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Science Councils, with a view to promote high-level human capital development. The NRF aims to uphold excellence in all its investments in knowledge, people and infrastructure.

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