Four of the Faculty of Science's top researchers were honoured with Chancellor's Awards for research excellence during Stellenbosch University's graduation ceremonies recently.
Prof. Dave Richardson, a world leader in invasion biology, and Prof. Helmut Prodinger, one of the founding fathers of the modern analysis of algorithms and analytic combinatorics, received their awards during the March 2016 graduation ceremony.
On Wednesday 16 March 2016 Prof. Prodinger was also awarded a Doctor of Science-degree for his significant contribution to the analysis of approximate counting over several decades. Approximate counting is a classical technique in computer science to handle large quantities of data with limited capacities. The Doctor of Science degree follows after a PhD and is awarded for published work of an exceptional standard, containing original contributions to the advancement of knowledge and learning which has given the candidate international distinction in their field.
The physicist, Prof. Hendrik Geyer, and the chemist Prof. Harald Pasch, received their Chancellor's Awards during the December 2015 graduation ceremony.
Another special mention is the achievement of Dr Ronalda Benjamins, who received her Phd in Mathematics op 16 March 2016. This former learner from Breërivier High School in Worcester registered for a BSc in Mathematics in 2007 with the dream of obtaining her PhD and become an academic, despite difficult financial and domestic circumstances. In 2015 she realised both dreams. Apart from receiving her PhD, she was also appointed as a lecturer in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at SU.
For 2015, the Faculty of Science boasts with a record number of 50 PhD degrees and the most honours degrees over the past five years – 150 in comparison with 136 in 2012.
More about Prof. Helmut Prodinger
Prof. Prodinger is described as one of the founding fathers of the modern analysis of algorithms and analytic combinatorics. He has made fundamental contributions to virtually every aspect of this relatively young research area. Prof. Prodinger's work has also greatly improved understanding of the asymptotic properties of digital systems by introducing novel techniques such as the Mellin transform to the subject. His fundamental paper on applications of the Mellin transforms to digital sums has already been cited more than 100 times and is still the main reference in its field. He has published over 300 articles in peer-reviewed journals with over 60 co-authors worldwide. He has supervised 6 PhD-students in Austria and about 15 MSc students in Austria and South Africa. Prof. Prodinger has held an A-rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF) since 1999 and has received numerous awards. More at
More about Prof. Dave Richardson
Professor David Richardson is a world leader in the field of invasion science and Director of the NRF/DST Centre of Excellence in Invasion Biology (C•I•B) based at Stellenbosch University. He has published 335 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, including numerous game-changing contributions. In 2009 Scientometrics rated Prof. Richardson the most influential researcher in this field worldwide. Since 2014 he has also been on Thomson Reuter's list of most cited researchers in the field of invasion biology.
One of his major contributions to invasion science, and to ecology in general, has been the thorough development and exploitation of new model systems for the elucidation of all the diverse perspectives that need to be considered to understand and manage invasive species.
Professor Richardson is also one of the pioneers of the field of "conservation biogeography" which seeks to apply biogeographical principles, theories, and analyses to diverse problems related to the conservation of biodiversity. Since 1998 he has been Editor-in-Chief of the premier journal in this field, Diversity and Distributions.
His work has been recognised through the Hans Sigrist Prize for 2006, an award made annually by the University of Berne in Switzerland; in 2007 and again in 2013 he was awarded A1 ratings by the National Research Foundation. He has received several awards in South Africa, notably the 2012 John F.W. Herschel Medal, the top award of the Royal Society of South Africa, and the 2013 Havenga Prize for Life Sciences from the South African Academy for Science and Arts. He serves on several international committees, including the IUCN (World Conservation Union) Species Survival Commission's specialist group on Invasive Species (since 1996). In 2015 he was elected Vice President of the Royal Society of South Africa.
More about Prof. Hendrik Geyer
Prof. Hendrik Geyer was recognised for his outstanding contributions to the community, leadership in the university environment and professional bodies, and excellent research. He served as chair of the Department of Physics, director of the Institute for Theoretical Physics, chair of the Organisation of Theoretical Physicists, as well as board member of the South African Institute of Physics (SAIP). His dedicated efforts led to the establishment of the National Institute for Theoretical Physics (NITHeP) in 2008, where he served as interim director. Since 2008, he has also been director of the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Studies (STIAS), where he champions interdisciplinary research. Accolades recognising his research include the Alexander von Humboldt fellowship and the SAIP silver medal.
More about Prof. Harald Pasch
Prof. Pasch joined SU in 2008 as holder of the SASOL research chair and head of the Polymer section. Over the next seven years he developed the analytical chemistry group in the Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science into an internationally recognised centre of excellence for advanced polymer analysis. With more than 300 peer-reviewed articles behind his name, his present research focuses on multidimensional liquid chromatography, advanced spectroscopy, the development of analytical methods for nanomaterial, and high-throughput experimentation. He has supervised more than 50 postgraduate students in Germany and South Africa.
