High honour for Lewis' transformation work among researchers

Mining talent: Prof Alison Lewis has won the Champions of Transformation Capacity Development at South African Higher Institutions award from the president of the National Research Foundation. (Picture courtesy of Mail & Guardian.)

Her sterling work in training and mentoring a number of black and women students in industrial crystallisation research has won UCT orator and professor of chemical engineering Alison Lewis the Champions of Transformation Capacity Development at South African Higher Institutions award from the president of the National Research Foundation, Dr Albert van Jaarsveld.

The honour is tribute to Lewis' efforts to transform the research and community landscape. It also acknowledges her efforts to discover research talent in those from "designated groups", and in helping these individuals become world-class researchers. Sixteen postgraduate students are registered under her guidance in the Crystallisation and Precipitation Research Unit.

Van Jaarsveld praised Lewis' enthusiastic support over the past 10 years.

"Not only is she passionate about transforming the face of science in South Africa, but she is highly regarded and enjoys considerable recognition from her peers for the high quality and impact of her research outputs. The NRF is delighted to honour Professor Alison Lewis with this well-deserved award."

Lewis' accolade is one of three special awards that augment the NRF President's awards. The latter honour researchers recognised by their peers for world-class research. This rating and evaluation system enjoys great prestige among the research community. The other two special honours are the Lifetime Achievement and the Transformation of the Science Cohort Awards.