The 2017 Annual Research and Innovation Awards (ARIA) ceremony celebrates excellence in both research and innovation based on 2016 Research and Innovation output. It is an annual event widely anticipated by the DUT researchers and postgraduate students.
The guest speaker for the evening was the Director General of the Department of Science and Technology, Dr Phil Mjwara. In addition the event was attended by VIP guests, viz: US Consul General Ms Sherry Zalika Sykes, Judge Vuka Tshabalala, Chancellor of the DUT and Dr Mahmoud Youssef Baker, Chairman of the IQRAA Trust, Executive Deans, Deputy Deans and DUT staff and students. Guests at the event were entertained by the very talented Mr Xolani Khowa, who is a third year DUT Drama student. Professor Megandhren Govender from the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Applied Sciences also added his magical touch to the evening by presenting “Riddles in my soup mug” – a science presentation on quirky ideas on reality and life in general.
For the year 2017 the Directorate received over thirty applications. All the finalists had gone through a round of selection based on a set of assessment criteria. Applications were received in the following categories:
- Senior Researcher of the Year Award
- Junior Researcher of the Year Award
- Woman Researcher of the year
- University Research Initiative of the Year
- Innovator of the year
- Research Group of the year
- Faculty Researcher of the year
- Masters Student of the year Award
- Doctoral Student of the Year Award
AWARDS WERE PRESENTED IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
TOP UNIVERSITY JOURNAL PUBLISHERS FOR ACCREDITED OUTPUTS 2016 – In this category, these were researchers who produced 2 units and above of DHET accredited publications.
| NO | RESEARCHERS | UNITS | NO OF JOURNALS | POSITION |
| 1. | Professor Faizal Bux | 7. 09 (15.97 centre units) | 14 | 1 |
| 2. | Dr Ivan G Govender | 5.00 | 5 | 2 |
| 3. | Professor Dimov Ilcev | 5.00 | 5 | 2 |
| 4. | Professor Robert M Gengan | 4.61 | 11 | 3 |
| 5. | Professor Krishnan Kanny | 4.34 | 8 | 4 |
| 6. | Dr Akwesi Assensoh-Kodua | 4.33 | 6 | 5 |
| 7. | Professor Krishna Bisetty | 4.29 | 12 | 6 |
| 8. | Professor Gan G Redhi | 4.20 | 10 | 7 |
| 9. | Prof Tosin O A Ijabadeniyi | 3.81 | 5 | 8 |
| 10. | Professor Suren Singh | 3.49 | 15 | 9 |
TOP JOURNAL PUBLISHERS FOR 2016 ACCREDITED OUTPUTS (Post-Doctoral Fellows, Research Associates & Research Fellows) – In this category these were researchers who produced 2(3) or more DHET accredited publications.
| No | Name | Affiliation | No of Journal Articles |
| 1 | Dr Krishnan Anand | Department of Chemistry | 8 |
| 2 | Dr Suvardhan Kanchi | Department of Chemistry | 7 |
| 3 | Dr Obiora Cornelius Collins | Institute for System Science | 5 |
| 4 | Dr Deepal Sharma | Department of Chemistry | 5 |
| 5 | Abhishek Sanjay Guldhe | Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology | 4 |
| 6 | Dr Suresh Babu Naidu Krishna | Biomedical and Clinical Technology | 3 |
| 7 | Dr Sanjay Gupta | Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology | 3 |
| 8 | Dr Natesh Kumar Bhajanthri | Department of Chemistry | 2 |
| 9 | Dr Rohit Misra | Department of Chemistry | 2 |
| 10 | Dr Mahmoud Nasr | Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology | 2 |
RECOGNITION OF DUT NEWLY RATED & RE-RATED RESEARCHERS
The NRF rating system is a key driver in the NRF’s aim to build a globally competitive science system in South Africa. It is a valuable tool for benchmarking the quality of researchers against the best in the world. The rating system encourages researchers to publish high quality outputs in high impact journals/outlets. Rated researchers are expected to impart cutting-edge skills to the next generation of researchers and contribute to mentoring others.
| Name and Surname | Department | Faculty | RATING |
| National Research Foundation (NRF) newly Rated Researchers | | | |
| Professor Robert M Gengan | Chemistry | Applied Sciences | C3 |
| Professor Nokuthula Sibiya | Faculty of Health Sciences | Faculty of Health Sciences | C3 |
| Professor K Bharuth-Ram | Department of Physics | Applied Sciences | C1 |
RECOGNITION OF SUPERVISORS – This category recognised Supervisors who have successfully supervised the most number of students in the 2016 graduations.
| FACULTY | DEPARTMENT | NAME | Total studs | UNITS |
| Accounting & Informatics | Management Accounting | Dr H Garbharran | 2 | 2.00 |
| | Information Technology | Prof D Ilcev | 1 | 1.50 |
| | Information Technology | Dr D Heukelman | 2 | 1.50 |
| Applied Sciences | Food & Nutrition Sciences | Prof C Napier | 6 | 4.50 |
| | Biotechnology & Food Technology | Prof B Odhav | 5 | 4.50 |
| Arts & Design | Media, Language & Communication | Dr R L Makhubu | 4 | 2.50 |
| | Media, Language & Communication | Prof D Pratt | 2 | 2.00 |
| Eng. & the Built Environment | Chemical Engineering | Prof S Rathilal | 4 | 3.50 |
| | Electronic Engineering | Dr P Govender | 3 | 2.00 |
| Health Sciences | Nursing | Prof N Sibiya | 8 | 7 .00 |
| | Homeopathy | Dr CM Hall | 6 | 5.00 |
| Management Sciences | Peace Studies | Prof GT Harris | 9 | 14.50 |
| | Peace Studies | Dr S Kaye | 7 | 8.50 |
SENIOR RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR AWARD was awarded to PROFESSOR STOJCE DIMOV ILCEV in the Space Science focus area. The criteria for this award required at least 4 accredited publication units for the award year.
JUNIOR RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR AWARD was awarded to DR FIROZA HAFFEJEE from the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences. The criteria for this award required at least 2 accredited publication units for the award year.
WOMEN RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR AWARD was awarded to PROFESSOR NIRMALA DORASAMY from the Department of Public Management, Faculty of Management Sciences. The criteria for this award required a minimum of 3 accredited publication units for the award year. The recipient of this award could not be simultaneously awarded this and Top Senior Researcher Award.
INNOVATOR OF THE OF THE YEAR AWARD was awarded to MR SIYABONGA NDWALANE in the student category and in the staff category the awarded went to Professor Vincent Bisetty from the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Sciences. The criteria for this award was that the application must have any new technical product or process that was first available for purchase or licensing between 1 January and 31 December of the previous calendar year. Proof-of-concept prototypes do not qualify and previous recipients of this award are not eligible for nomination within two years of award. Previous recipients of this award include Prof Eric Amonsou from the Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology.
RESEARCH GROUP OF THE YEAR AWARD was awarded to PROFESSORS FAIZAL BUX & PROFESSOR THOR A STENSTROM, the group had a total unit value of 15.97 units.
CREATIVE OUTPUTS OF THE YEAR AWARD was awarded to MS NIRMA D MADHOO-CHIPPS, Department of Fashion and Textile, Faculty of Arts and Design currently conducting research and/or engaged in creative productivity.
FACULTY RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR AWARD. The criteria for this award was that the applicant must be an academic staff currently conducting research and/or creative productivity; must be at the DUT for a minimum of 1 academic year before applying and have a minimum of 1.5 accredited publication units for the award year.
A certificate of recognition was presented to Dr Celani John Nyide from the Department of Finance and Information Management, Faculty of Accounting and Informatics.
Faculty of Applied Sciences: PROFESSOR ROBERT M GENGAN from the Department of Chemistry received the award.
Faculty of Arts and Design: DR TABITHA G MUKEREDZI from the School of Education received the award.
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment: PROFESSOR KRISHNAN KANNY from the Department of Mechanical Engineering received the award.
Faculty of Health Sciences: DR FIROZA HAFFEJEE from the Department of Basic Medical Sciences received the award. A certificate of recognition was presented to Dr Anisa Vahed from the Department of Dental Technology and Dr Dorcas Rosaley Prakaschandra from the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Technology.
Faculty of Management Sciences: PROFESSOR NIRMALA DORASAMY from the Department of Public Management received the award.
MASTERS STUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARD was awarded to MS GRACE AGBEDE from the Department of Media, Language and Communication, Faculty of Arts and Design. The criteria for this award was that the applicant must be currently studying towards their Masters; involved in research and/or creative work and published 0.5 accredited publication units.
DOCTORAL STUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARD was awarded to MR VASANTHAKUMAR ARUMUGAM from the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Sciences. The criteria for this award was that the applicant must be a full time student who is currently studying toward their doctorate; should have registered for their programme at DUT for at least a year before the application; should be conducting research and/or creative productivity and should not be a staff member
A certificate of recognition was presented to Dr Charlette Tiloke and Ms Lethiwe Mthembu from the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Sciences for the L’ORÉAL-UNESCO FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA REGIONAL FELLOWSHIP. The programme which commenced in 2010 honours outstanding research work by female scientist in the African region. These researchers are recognized for their original research projects which unlocks societal and global issues. The research varies across different scientific disciplines.
Pictured: Prof Moyo and Dr Firoza Haffejee
Report supplied by: Vaneshree Govender
