The University of Cape Town (UCT) is celebrating a massive milestone in research and innovation. Nine of the university’s leading academics and research teams have been named official finalists for the prestigious 2025/2026 National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-South32 Awards.
Widely regarded as South Africa’s “Science Oscars”, these accolades honor extraordinary contributions to science, engineering, technology, and innovation.
UCT Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mosa Moshabela, extended his highest praise to the finalists, noting that their work spans critical fields like health sciences, astronomy, sport science, biodiversity, and data stewardship.
“This remarkable achievement affirms the quality, relevance, and impact of research at UCT. This reflects not only individual excellence but also the collaborative spirit, innovation, and public purpose that define our university,” said Professor Moshabela.
Meet UCT’s “Science Oscars” Finalists
The UCT innovators turning groundbreaking research into real-world solutions include:
- Professor Sudesh Sivarasu (UCT MedTech Head): Nominated across an incredible five categories (including Innovation, Engineering, and Management) for closing the gap between African clinical needs and globally competitive medical device technology.
- Professor Elena Moore (Sociology): Finalist for the Special Annual Theme Award: Healthy Ageing, recognized for turning evidence on family elder care into practical policy solutions.
- Professor Jonathan Peter (Lung Institute): Finalist for the TW Kambule-NSTF Researcher Award for his policy-changing, Africa-relevant allergy and immunology science.
- Professor Laura Heathfield (Biomedical Forensic Science Unit Head): Finalist for the TW Kambule-NSTF Emerging Researcher Award for developing Africa’s first molecular autopsy assay to uncover hidden genetic causes of infant deaths.
- Dr. Sharief Hendricks (Human Biology Senior Lecturer): Finalist for the TW Kambule-NSTF Researcher Award for research driving policy changes to enhance global athlete welfare and safety.
- Thandokazi Maceba (UCT Libraries Data Curation Officer): Shortlisted for the Data for Research Award for championing open science and making UCT’s research and cultural heritage globally accessible.
Revolutionizing Research Software
UCT also dominated the Research Software categories with cutting-edge digital toolmakers:
- Professor Rob Simmonds & The CARTA Team: Finalists for creating software capable of visualizing massive radio astronomy datasets, helping global scientists explore the universe.
- Dr. Simthembile Dlamini (Astronomy Postdoctoral Fellow): Developed a pipeline predicting how precisely future cosmic surveys will measure properties of the universe.
- Associate Professor Shakti Pillay (Neonatology): Recognized for creating software designed to strengthen neonatal healthcare and specialist medical training.
The winners will be announced at the upcoming national gala event, showcasing the minds actively shaping the future of South African and global knowledge.
