Three TUT teachers and researchers have been named finalists in four categories in this yr’s prestigious National Science and Technology Forum-South32 (NSTF-South32) Awards scheduled for 16 July 2026.
Prof Topside Mathonsi
Dubbed the “Science Oscars” of South Africa, the NSTF-South32 Awards recognise excellent contributions to science, engineering, know-how and innovation by people, groups and organisations.
Prof Topside Mathonsi – the Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Information Technology – is a finalist in two categories: the TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher and the Management Award.
Prof Mathonsi is recognised for his work in growing clever applied sciences that leverage AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) to guard essential sources, together with water, agriculture, and important infrastructure.
Prof Alvaro Viljoen, TUT’s highest-ranked NRF-rated researcher and creator of greater than 300 articles in peer-reviewed publications, is a finalist for the Lifetime Award.
Prof Alvaro Viljoen
Prof Viljoen – who’s the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation-National Research Foundation (DSTI-NRF) Chairholder in Phytomedicine underneath the auspices of the South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) – is recognised for his work in advancing protected and high quality natural medicines to strengthen SA’s bioeconomy. Also the Director of the Herbal Drugs Research Unit on the South African Medical Research Council, Prof Viljoen has constructed an internationally revered analysis profession devoted to medicinal crops and pure merchandise, contributing to evidence-based phytomedicine and supporting the event of domestically related healthcare options.
Prof Raymond Jansen, Full Professor of Zoology and Ecology in the Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences in the Faculty of Science, is a finalist for the Communication Award. Prof
Prof Raymond Jansen
Jansen is revered for reworking cutting-edge pangolin analysis into highly effective public consciousness and anti-trafficking motion, serving to to guard the pangolins, one of many world’s most endangered and trafficked mammals.
Winners of the 2025-2026 NSTF-South32 Awards will likely be introduced at simultaneous occasions in Cape Town and Johannesburg, underneath the theme “Healthy Ageing”, in line with the United Nations’ proclamation of 2021-2030 because the Decade of Healthy Ageing. This yr additionally marks the 28th anniversary of the awards.