NSTF-BHP Billiton award goes to innovative communicator

	Professor Valerie Corfield (centre), winner of the NSTF-BHP Billiton award sponsored by SAASTA, shares the stage with the Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor (right) and the Managing Director of SAASTA, Dr Jabu Nukeri.

The winner of this year's NSTF-BHP Billiton Award is ... Professor Valerie Corfield, for her outstanding contribution to science, engineering, technology and innovation (SETI) through science communication for public awareness over the last five years. The prize is sponsored by SAASTA.

Valerie received the award for a package of innovative SETI-based public engagement activities she produced and shares with other scientists and science communicators through training workshops and printed/electronic/DVD resources.

Valerie was nominated by Dr Therina Theron, Senior Director: Research and Innovation, University of Stellenbosch, who says, "Professor Corfield is a scientist with a passion for developing ways to engage the public in a greater appreciation of the impact of SET in their lives. She has produced a package of innovative activities with a biomedical focus, including workshops and exhibitions showcasing DNA, the science of HIV and tuberculosis, drug abuse, genetically modified organisms, enzymes, and biology of skin, as well as Murder Mystery events stimulating discussion about DNA profiling, biodiversity, biopiracy and indigenous knowledge systems. She believes in the ripple effect and in sharing her innovative activities with scientists and science centres across South Africa, through training workshops and printed/electronic/DVD resources."

SAASTA is proud to sponsor the category Communication for Public Awareness of the competition. This award is made annually to South African journalists, researchers, writers, educators, academics, specialist science communicators or science centre staff who excel in creating awareness of science, engineering, technology and innovation issues among the public.

Other finalists in this category were:

Professor Lee Berger
Reader in Human Evolution and the Public Understanding of Science, Palaeosciences Centre, Institute for Human Evolution, University of the Witwatersrand

Professor Lee Berger is an award winning palaeo-anthropologist, author and speaker whose research has made international headlines in the context of studies of human evolution. Professor Berger, with his son Matthew, discovered the site of Malapa in 2008. As the Director and Principal Investigator of the Malapa Project, he leads over 80 scientists in what has been described as the largest palaeontological project in recent history. He also discovered the new species of early human ancestor, Australopithecus sediba. His work has been featured in major articles in National Geographic, Time and Scientific American among many other prestigious periodicals. His publications have stimulated extraordinary interest of newspaper, radio and TV media world-wide.

Professor Nceba Gqaleni
Director: Biomedical and Traditional Healing Collaboration on HIV and AIDS, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Professor Gqaleni has promoted collaboration between traditional health practitioners (THPs) and the public health sector in KZN; and has encouraged THPs to embrace modern science in communicating HIV prevention and in the care of their patients and communities. The project is a partnership between the KwaZulu-Natal THPs, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, eThekwini Municipality and the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine. It has contributed towards strengthening the contribution of the THP sector in the fight against HIV and AIDS with a particular focus on prevention, referral for HIV counselling and testing, and palliative care. It has developed a public campaign using various methods including the use of multimedia such as radio and TV, cellphone and internet messaging, where THPs give culturally appropriate prevention messages.

Professor Gavin Maneveldt
Head of Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape

Professor Gavin Maneveldt is a scientist who, in researching seaweed diversity and marine plant-animal interactions, documents the marine diversity along the South African coast and provides an understanding of this diversity for the public and for education. He has been communicating widely about science for nearly 20 years since his first magazine article as an Honours student. He has a passion for telling ordinary people about and getting them to understand the wonders of the natural environment. Professor Maneveldt is also a university teacher who uses his gifts for explaining in the simplest way to enthuse his students.

Ms Ginny Stone
Author and Secretary to SAASTEC

Ginny Stone is the author of the Sibo series of educational books for children. She has written and published 11 books in the Sibo series. Approved by the Department of Education as educational resources, these are being read in schools around South Africa. While the books are written in wacky rhyme and a predominant "green theme" prevails, pertinent facts about various different scientific subjects have been woven into the storylines. In addition, Stone has designed fun board games for use in both secondary and primary schools around the topic of science. She also designs and gives science-related workshops. Posters and worksheets relating to her books are freely available on her website.

The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) celebrated its 14th awards ceremony this year, for the second time with BHP Billiton as partner. This prestigious event recognises, acknowledges and promotes the wealth of excellence in the South African research and development community across all sectors, levels, genders and race groups.