Category 1 consists of the 25 SU researchers making the biggest contributions in terms of the publication units of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). Category 2 consists of the 25 SU researchers who produced the highest number of accredited research publications in collaboration with their national and international research partners and students.

 

Each received R50 000 as an incentive for further research, with an additional R50 000 going to the 11 researchers meeting both criteria. Only research publications that appeared in DHET-accredited journals, conference proceedings or books were taken into account.

 

The announcement was made at an event held at Lanzerac Estate in Stellenbosch. SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Russel Botman congratulated the group with their achievement.
 

"Thank you for your contribution. In our new Vision 2030 we say Stellenbosch pre-eminently wants to be an innovative university – a place where research and knowledge and technology is taken to the next level. You are our pacesetters."

Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation Prof Eugene Cloete said research publications are among the most important products delivered by SU staff. It enhances the University's international reputation as an excellent research university and shows that new knowledge is generated here.

 

Earlier this year, for the fourth consecutive time, the DHET acknowledged SU as the university with the highest weighted research output per fulltime academic staff member in the country. And the past three years SU has repeatedly been included into four rankings of the world's leading universities.

 

According to Cloete, publication does not only make it possible for research to be applied, but it also makes a significant contribution to SU's annual subsidy income from the State.

 

"It stands to reason that researchers who publish their findings in quality expert sources are therefore regarded as some of the most important assets at any university. I consider it my duty and privilege to give recognition to our top achievers in this regard."

 

The awards are currently only for staff occupying ordinary positions within an academic department, and not researchers who are already involved in research chairs and centres of excellence.

 

"The reason is that our budget is limited, and the fact that the latter group already work in environments where research funding is more readily available," Cloete said.

 

Prof Ashraf Kagee of the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences said he is very grateful for the award. "It indicates the seriousness with which the university acknowledges and supports research."

 

Prof Johan Cilliers of the Department of Practical Theology and Missiology in the Faculty of Theology says the secret is passion for your research field. "For me, research is not work; it is like eating pudding – absolutely delicious. You push open spaces that you did not think existed, and you discover new things."

 

Prof Louw Hoffman of the Department of Animal Science in the Faculty of AgriSciences agrees. "I get a tremendous amount of job satisfaction from my work. This award gives me 'go' to put in some more late nights."

Prof Juanita Pienaar of the Department of Private Law in the Faculty of Law said: "It takes some planning to publish a lot. And you must use every opportunity. If you can use a few hours here and half a week there for your research, take the gap."

 

Cloete said the incentive prizes for research are now going to be awarded annually. And he plans to extend it further. "We are considering a category for researchers under 40, and we are looking at recognising other outputs besides publications."

 

Botman expressed the hope that the awards will encourage other researchers.

 

"I would not have been able to achieve 80% of what I managed to do in academia without [my mentors] Jaap du Rand and Dirkie Smit. They would say, 'There's a conference in Johannesburg – what's your theme?' And that gets you thinking and working. That is what gives you confidence – if others look out for you."

 

The following people received awards on 4 June 2013 based on their 2011 publication outputs (* indicates those who fall in both categories):

Akdogan, G (Process Engineering)
Bitzer, EM (Curriculum Study)
Cilliers, JH (Practical Theology and Missiology)
Cornelissen, S (Political Sciences)
Cotton, MF (Paediatrics and Child Care)*
De Villiers, AJ (Chemistry and Polymer Science)
Diacon, AH (Medical Physiology)
Dzama, K (Animal Sciences)*
Havenga, JH (Logistics)*
Hesseling, AC (Paediatrics and Child Care)
Hoffman, LC (Animal Sciences)
Kagee, SA (Psychology)*
Kling, S (Paediatrics and Child Care)
Knoetze, JH (Process Engineering)
Le Grange, LLL (Curriculum Study)
Mouton, H du Toit (Electric and Electronic Engineering)
Ndlovu, MC (Curriculum Study)
Nell, IA (Practical Theology and Missiology)
Pienaar, JM (Private Law)
Pienaar, WJ (Logistics)
Plaatjies-van Huffel, MA (Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology)
Prodinger, H (Mathematics)*
Punt, J (Old and New Testament)*
Quinot, G (Public Law)
Rabe, L (Journalism)
Rabie, H (Paediatrics and Child Care)
Reader, HC (Electric and Electronic Engineering)
Robinson, TJ (Plant and Animal Sciences)
Samways, MJ (Conservation Ecology and Entomology)*
Schaaf, HS (Paediatrics and Child Care)
Scheffer, C (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering)
Slabbert, M (English)
Swartz, L (Psychology)*
Terblanche, JS (Conservation Ecology and Entomology)*
Terblanche, NS (Business Management)*
Waghid, Y (Education Policy Studies)
Wagner, S (Mathematics)*
Walzl, G (Molecular Biology and Human Genetics)
Warren, RM (Molecular Biology and Human Genetics)