In the category A: Over a lifetime
Prof Timothy D Noakes, UCT and Sports Science Institute of SA
Listen to the interview conducted during October 2006.

Prof Noakes' contribution to the field of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine has revolutionised the scientific approach in this area. He has contested, sometimes alone, erroneously held practices such as that athletes should drink "as much as tolerable" during exercise. In 1985 he described the world's first case of exercise-associated hyponatraemia (EAH) and concluded that the potentially fatal condition was due to voluntary over-drinking during exercise. His views were vindicated in 2005 by studies in New England and the guidelines revised. He has also driven the development of a novel model known as the Central Governor Model of Exercise for the regulation of bodily function during exercise. 

In the category B: Through research and its outputs over the last five years or less
Prof Gideon P Greyvenstein, Faculty of Engineering Univ NW, Potchefstroom
Listen to the interview conducted during October 2006

He created the network Computational Fluid Dynamics code known as Flownex which is used extensively within the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) as the main thermal-hydraulic design code. He also invented a unique cycle concept for application in the PBMR. He initiated the Pebble Bed Micro Model (PBMM) project, did the overall conceptual thermal-hydraulic design of the system and led the project team that built and commissioned the plant in September 2002 to demonstrate the viability of the PBMR itself.       

In the category C: Through activities other than research and its outputs over the last five years or less
Dr Khotso Mokhele, President and CEO NRF Pretoria

Dr Mokhele has engineered SA's successful re-entry into the international science community, initiated and developed ongoing international partnerships and brought in substantial overseas funding and Parliamentary support for projects such as the South African Large Telescope (SALT) now hailed as a flagship science project. The research funding system in SA has been developed under his leadership to support strong competitive, quality research, to encourage academic and industry collaboration and to facilitate affirmative action. He was recently elected to the position of the Vice President for Scientific Planning and Review of the International Council for Science (ICSU) and has served on the board of UNESCO.

In the category D: Corporate organizations over the last ten years
CYFSD (Child, Youth, Family and Social Development Programme) Research Programme, HSRC (Linda Richer from the CYFSD accepted the award)
Listen to the interview conducted during October 2006.

CYFSD studies various aspects of the life course, from infancy to old age, with an emphasis on understanding how contexts and policies shape and distribute life opportunities. It is now the largest multidisciplinary group of social scientists researching these issues on the African continent and is unique in its diffused network of collaborators. Much of the work of the unit has provided essential background to policy and programme initiatives. Examples range from tobacco policy to protect minors, to the development of National Family Policy, to understanding teacher workloads, to costing programmes for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

In the category E: Organisation - SMME over the last three years
Cerdak (Pty) Ltd, Mtunzini KZN (Mr. Kotze received the award on behalf of Cerdak)
Listen to the interview conducted during October 2006.

Cerdak has developed a revolutionary approach to wound healing. The discovery of the use of the physical properties of ceramic, which can be engineered to control the healing environment of a wound, led to the establishment of the company to exploit this discovery. Cerdak devices, which are now being manufactured under controlled conditions, hold out the prospect of an enhancement of the quality of life of patients suffering from chronic wounds in hospitals, as well as a reduction in hospital days.

In the category F: Not-for-Profit organization over the last two years
Mindset Network, Johannesburg
Listen to the interview conducted during September 2006

For the provision of high quality, multimedia educational resources using a range of delivery strategies to support teaching and learning in under-resourced schools. Mindset Learn aims to provide curriculum-aligned, multimedia content for educators and learners focused on the last three years of formal education. Video content is currently broadcast on Mindset Learn to selected high schools in previously disadvantaged communities with funded receiving equipment in over a million homes in Southern Africa via the DStv platform.

In the category G: Researcher, for Research Capacity Development over the last 5-10 years       
Male winner: Prof Neil Coville, Dept of Inorganic Chemistry Wits
Listen to the interview conducted during October 2006.

Prof Coville has supervised or co-supervised more than 90 students over the past 25 years. More than half of these were either black or female. Over the last 10 years many black students received hands-on training in international laboratories, courtesy of Prof Coville's extensive international associations. He has published over 230 publications during his career.

In the category G: Researcher, for Research Capacity Development over the last 5-10 years       
Female winner: Prof Candy Lang, Assoc Prof Dept of Materials Engineering and Dept of Mechanical Engineering UCT
Listen to the interview conducted in July 2006.

Internationally, few graduate engineering programmes have more than 50% black female graduates. Prof Lang has achieved this consistently and continues to increase her output. She has supervised 16 black postgraduate students, who have produced over 24 scientific publications.  The majority of the students are now working in the South African engineering industry, while the remainder are completing their PhD research.

In the Category H: Senior Black Researcher over the last 5 to 10 years
Male winner: Prof Phuti E Ngoepe, Dir of Materials Modelling Centre at Univ of Limpopo, Mankweng Sovenga
Listen to the interview conducted in September 2006.

The Centre, founded by Prof Ngoepe in 1995, aims to train a critical mass of black students in applications of computer modelling focused towards energy storage devises, minerals, polymers, and metal alloys. Graduates include 40 honours students and seven PhD students. More than 20 scientific papers have been published and various local and international conference presentations given.

In the Category H: Senior Black Researcher over the last 5 to 10 years
Female winner: No award

In the category J: Distinguished Young Black Researcher over the last 2 to 5 years 
Male winner: Prof Deresh Ramjugernath, School of Chemical Engineering UKZN
Listen to the interview conducted in September 2006.

He has established the Thermodynamics Research Unit as the leading research group in the country in chemical thermodynamics and separation. Contributions towards equipment, experimental methods, development of theory and human resources have been significant. Some of the theory developed is being adopted as the international standard. Graduates in the last five years include 23 Masters and four PhDs.

In the category J: Distinguished Young Black Researcher over the last 2 to 5 years
Female winner: Dr Tania S Douglas, Senior Lecturer, Dept Health Sciences, UCT
Listen to the interview conducted in July 2006.