Professor D Lortan

Professor Lortan began his career as a High School Mathematics teacher. After obtaining a Masters degree in Science from the University of Natal, he managed to secure a position at Technikon Natal.

During his tenure at the technikon, he completed his Ph.D. in Mathematics. After a number of promotions, he was appointed to the position of Executive Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences where he is responsible for the leadership and management of the Faculty.

Professor Lortan is a General Relativist. His research area is on the Theory of General Relativity, which broadly explores the origins and evolution of the Universe. His initial research interests centred on the use of Lie symmetries in obtaining solutions to the Einstein field equations. The field equations are a set of nonlinear partial differential equations which model the large scale evolution of the Universe.

Of late, his focus has been on the use of service learning as a means to enhance the understanding of the mathematical concepts that permeate engineering and the sciences. Two other projects that are at the inception phase is the use of art and design to popularise the professions that require the study of mathematical and natural sciences. The marketing and branding to High Schools of more than 70 different careers that DUT prepares its students for is an additional field of interest. A final area of focus is the impact that the popularity of Mathematical Literacy as a subject of choice at High Schools is likely to have on the size of the future pool of applicants from which Universities of Technology in particular will draw its SET students.