New Leadership Takes the Helm of the Academy of Science of South Africa

Photo Credit: University of the Witwatersrand via Facebook (President and Chairperson of ASSAf, Professor Thokozani Majozi)

The Academy of Science of South Africa has appointed new leaders to its council. The council members, each a powerhouse in their respective fields, bring a wealth of expertise and a shared passion for advancing science to address the challenges facing our nation.

South Africa (11 November 2024) – A new era dawns for the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) as a talented group of scientists and academics take the helm.

Together, these new council leaders will continue the academy’s endeavour to promote and apply scientific thinking in the service of society and address the country’s various challenges.

ASSAf, is the only national science academy that is officially recognised by the South African government and aims to provide evidence-based scientific advice on issues of public interest to the government and other stakeholders.

The new council is led by the visionary Prof Thokozani Majozi, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment and a Professor in the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Majozi will have the support of two Vice-Presidents: Prof. Roseanne Diab, Emeritus Professor in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), and Prof. Deresh Ramjugernath, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Learning and Teaching at Stellenbosch University (SU).

Professor Christian Pirk, a member of the Social Insects Research Group in the Department of Zoology and Entomology at the University of Pretoria (UP), has been elected as General Secretary. Meanwhile, Professor Julian May, the Director of the NRF-DST Centre of Excellence in Food Security at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), has been elected as Treasurer.

The other members of the Council are:

- Prof Nithaya Chetty, Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits)
- Prof Loretta Feris, Vice-Principal: Academic and Professor of Law at the University of Pretoria (UP)
- Profs Irvy (Igle) Gledhill, Visiting Adjunct Professor of Flow Physics, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
- Prof Murray Leibbrandt, UCT Research Chair in Poverty and Inequality Research within SALDRU at the University of Cape Town (UCT)
- Prof Janice Limson, Professor of Biotechnology at Rhodes University (RU)
- Prof Shireen Motala, DST/NRF South African Research Chair in Teaching and Learning (PSET), University of Johannesburg (UJ)
- Prof Linda Richter, Distinguished Professor in the Centre of Excellence in Human Development at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)

The ASSAf thanks the Council members whose terms have come to an end.

The new Council brings a wealth of expertise and a shared passion for advancing scientific knowledge. With a team of accomplished individuals, ASSAf is well-equipped to provide evidence-based advice to the government and society at large.