As part of Women`s Month, the Division for Research Development (DRD) would like to acknowledge, honour and celebrate our Women in Research. Our research community includes women researchers with exceptional talent and innovative ideas, who deliver excellent research with relevant outcomes. Their research and research-related activities include instances where they are able to influence decision-making processes, where direct contributions are made to improve the lives of people, where innovative ideas lead to technological developments, and where new concepts lead to more sustainable practices. The DRD created an online platform dedicated to the accomplishments of our Women in Research over the past few years https://bit.ly/suwomen.
According to Dr Therina Theron, Senior Director: Research and Innovation at SU, the inspiring and vibrant group of women researchers at SU actively contributes to the overall research endeavour of SU as a leading research-intensive institution on the African continent. She added: “As scientist and first-time woman Nobel laureate Marie Curie once said: 'Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood'. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less. SU's women researchers are making indispensable contributions to the ongoing quest to understand more in order to fear less, and through their research and its impact on addressing societal challenges, they bring hope for a better world".
Research for Impact is one of SU's six institutional strategic themes that positions the institution to attain its Vision 2040. This includes the pursuit of excellence and relevance, informed by a diverse group of people and ideas. We believe that this is a prerequisite for understanding and addressing the most complex and pressing challenges of the future. Such research requires critically reflective and inquisitive minds. It requires scientific approaches and methodologies grounded in excellent basic science as well as creative imagination.
As builders of hope on and from the African continent, our women researchers continue to do exceptional work to put their expertise at the service of human and environmental needs, covering the full spectrum of fundamental to applied research. They are committed to making a difference, and for this we pay tribute to them. Witnessing how their new knowledge shapes and changes our society will continue to inspire us, as a research‑driven university, to drive the cycle of critical evaluation, discovery and action.
To read more on Research at SU:
Research-related publications (sun.ac.za)
