Call for nominations now open: NSTF- South32 Awards 2018/2019 Register nominations online by 14 December 2018! #NSTFawards2019

The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) calls fornominations for the 21stNSTF-South32 Awards. These prestigious awards focus on science, engineering and technology (SET) and innovation.

Special Annual Theme Award: The NSTF’s theme for 2019 is the ‘International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements’ (#IYPT2019), as declared by the United Nations (UN). Aligned with this, the Special Annual Theme Award for 2018/2019 will be made for an outstanding contribution to materials for inclusive economic development.

Register nominations for individuals, teams and organisations for an outstanding contribution to SET and innovation in South Africa: The contributions recognised are in the following broad areas.

• Scientific research
• Management of SET and innovation
• Capacity building in engineering research
• Research and innovation towards the Green Economy
• Water management solutions
• Data for research
• Innovations and their research and/or development
• Communication and creating awareness of SET and Innovation
• Technology transfer activities, as well as education and training through a non-governmental organisation (NGO)
• Materials for inclusive economic development, through the 2018/2019 Special Annual Theme Award

WHATS NEW THIS YEAR?

There are a few changes to categories and criteria this year.

1. Special Annual Theme Award: The NSTF is making a special theme award this year for a contribution to SET and innovation for materials for inclusive economic development. This is in recognition of the UN’s celebration of the ‘2019 International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements’. The theme provides a focus on research in Materials Science and the development of materials to support relevant aspects of economic development in South Africa. The scope could include:

• All areas of science, engineering, mining and agriculture, where new materials have been developed, including new uses or combinations of the elements
• New applications or reconfigurations of older applications directed towards improvement in South Africa’s economic growth
• New developments in industry, particularly for job creation and the alleviation of poverty
  

The work can be theoretical or practical. It should include analyses of the approximate or relative costs involved to establish or maintain an industry based on the materials being researched.

1. Communication award for outreach and communicating awareness of SET and innovation within the last 5 years: note that a leaning towards professional science communicators will apply.
2. Innovation awards: We introduced a major change to the Innovation Category last year and continue to do so this year, with greater emphasis on ‘innovation’. These awards are now called the ‘Awards for Innovations and their research and/or development’ over the last 5 to 10 years through either an SMME or a corporate organisation.
3. Research categories: The time periods for each category are now clearly anchored to the commencement of the research. We continue to have no requirement for a PhD. All research categories are now open to anyone currently involved in research. We have continued with the strengthened focus on the further development of outputs towards innovations.

THE NSTF'S VISION

A transformed country where SET and innovation contribute to a high quality of life for all who live in South Africa, where the profile of SET professionals is representative of the population’s profile and where the education system is effective, particularly in terms of performance in SET subjects and promoting innovation.

The NSTF Awards are one of the ways in which the NSTF strives to realise its vision.

AWARDS NOMINATION PROCESS

This is a two-stage nomination process:

Stage 1 – Register a nomination by 14 December 2018

• Please note that registering a nominee is only the beginning of the two-stage nomination process. When you register a nominee, the NSTF Office will respond with the official category nomination form to be completed by 1 March 2019 (Stage 2).
• Notify the nominee that you intend to nominate him/her/them (team/organisation). Ensure that you receive their agreement to participate.
• Complete and submit the online registration. The nominee will receive an email notification confirming receipt of your registration and the NSTF Office will respond with the full nomination form/s as an attachment to complete. Please alert the NSTF Office at enquiries@nstf.co.za should you (the nominee) not receive this notification and the relevant forms.

Stage 2 – Submit completed nomination documents by 1 March 2019

• Ensure that the fully-completed nomination form/s are emailed to the NSTF before the final deadline and that you receive a confirmation from the NSTF Office.
• Please note that planning and time are required to complete the nomination document. Hence there is a 11-week period (December to March) provided for this preparation.

AWARDS CATEGORIES