“One has to discover creative ways of finding alternative routes and processes which are eco-friendly and green alternatives to conventional chemistry,” said an elated Professor Robert Gengan, who was given full professorship at an official ceremony where he also delivered his inaugural lecture at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Mansfield Hall, last Friday, 24 August 2018.

Various academics, staff members, family and friends of the University all gathered at the inaugural lecture to commemorate the ascension of Prof Gengan to the position of full professor.

Welcoming guests to this auspicious occasion, Prof Sibusiso Moyo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, congratulated him for the passage to full professorship at DUT and thanked him for all the support he has given the research support staff over the years who continue to look up to him for his guidance and assistance where necessary.

Dr Krishan Ramluckan-Head of the Department of Chemistry: Faculty of Applied Sciences, also congratulated Prof Gengan on his inauguration into professorship and entry to an elite group of professionals who are not only making a difference in research at DUT, but also on a national and international scale. “Your valuable contribution and unparalleled expertise in Organic Chemistry combined with your qualities as a good educator make you an excellent role model to your students,” he added.

The C3-rated Prof Gengan from the Department of Chemistry: Faculty of Applied Sciences, who has dedicated his research work on evaluating environmental and health impacts of chemical processes, in the pursuit of the design for safer reactions and products, delivered his inaugural lecture on: ‘Green Chemistry: Perspectives and Challenges For Synthesising Potential Pharmaceutical.’

His lecture highlighted the concept of green Chemistry in South Africa as well as some aspects of his multi-disciplinary research particularly in natural product chemistry and nanoparticle chemistry.

“An unnoticed connection between chemicals and their effects on the environment and human health existed since the dawn of civilisation. Concomitantly, the thirst for new chemicals to enhance the standard of living resulted in adverse effects on the environment. Eventually an environmental perspective grounded in science captured the public’s interest and challenged the old scientific and industrial methods, and over time, inspired significant changes in our perception and care of the environment,” he said.

He also stressed that Green chemistry is a novel philosophical approach for scientifically based environmental protection to sustain the world. “Its focus is to reduce, recycle and eliminate the use of toxic and hazardous chemicals. Green Chemistry is more than a sub-discipline of chemistry-it is actually an umbrella that encompasses not only all divisions of chemistry, but virtually all divisions of science, business and arts,” he said.

In conclusion, Prof Gengan thanked his family for their love, sacrifice and support throughout the years, and believes his journey was only possible with their unfaltering love for him.

He also thanked his colleagues and students for allowing him to champion his philosophy of Green Chemistry and to make strides scientifically to sustain the world through ongoing research in this field.

Giving the vote of thanks, Prof Suren Singh-Executive Dean: Faculty of Applied Sciences, also acknowledged the great work done by Prof Gengan and welcomed him to DUT’s cadre of distinguished scientists. “Prof Gengan has made great strides and accomplishments in the critical fields of natural product synthesis, catalysis and Green Chemistry. The faculty salutes you for these solid research contributions and further congratulates you on this inauguration and will support the greater successes in your esteemed research career,” he said proudly.

Prof Gengan is a leader of multi-disciplinary research, with almost three decades of research experience mainly in the field of Organic Chemistry encompassing synthesis, structural elucidation and chromatography. He was the first academic to introduce the idea of Green Chemistry in South Africa and has been championing this philosophy amongst his students at DUT.

Pictured: Prof Robert Gengan.

Waheeda Peters