Three up-and-coming scientists from South Africa named “Green Talents 2011"
On December 15, three South African researchers were awarded the “Green Talents” sustainability prize by German Parliamentary State Secretary Thomas Rachel. Increasing from one South African winner for 2009, to two winners for 2010, the 2011 results reflect the growing prominence of South African scientific research. The annual international competition is aimed at exceptional young scientists active in the field of sustainable development.
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Green Talents 2011 from South Africa with Parliamentary State Secretary Rachel
(© BMBF/FONA)
“Climate change, water shortages, a loss of biodiversity and a lack of raw materials – all urgent social challenges which the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) aims to draw to the attention of science, business and politics in Germany in its second programme supporting “Research on sustainable development”.
Achieving sustainability, however, is a global undertaking. Schemes like Green Talents help to promote that cultural plurality and creativity which encourages the development of global solutions. That is why we intend to intensify global exchange between young researchers in the field of environmental and sustainability research,” explained Parliamentary State Secretary Rachel, Member of the German Bundestag, at the award ceremony in Berlin.
The year 2011 was the third time that the BMBF had organised the international competition, which is aimed at exceptional young scientists active in the field of sustainable development. A total of 331 young researchers from 58 different countries entered. A jury made up of high-ranking German experts including Professor Dr. Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director of the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam, Professor Dr. Achim Bachem, Chairman of Forschungszentrum Jülich, and Professor Dr. Jürgen Schmid, Director of the Fraunhofer IWES, selected the 20 prizewinners.
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Ms. Alanna Rebelo Green Talent 2011 from South Africa receiving prize in Berlin
(© BMBF/FONA)
The jury sought out research projects that have the potential to contend with global threats such as global warming, energy shortages and massive environmental contamination. These new Green Talents bring the number of young sustainability researchers in the BMBF’s global network up to 55 award- winners from 19 different countries.
Three of the Green Talent 2011 prize-winners are from South Africa: Dr. Dyllon Garth Randall of the University of Cape Town, Dr. Owen Horwood who earned his PhD from the University of Oxford, and Ms. Alanna Rebelo, a Masters student at Stellenbosch University.
Before the award ceremony in Berlin, the Green Talents were invited on a journey across Germany as part of a ten-day science forum hosted by Germany’s Minister of Education and Research, Professor Dr. Annette Schavan, who is also patron of the competition. The Green Talents visited internationally important research facilities, universities and companies.
“The forum week provided me with a unique opportunity to acquaint myself with pioneering projects in various areas of technology, and to network with German experts and young scientists,” said Alanna Rebelo. Rebelo, was one of 21 South African scientists who applied for the 2011 competition.
The three new award-winners bring the total number of Green Talents from South Africa up to six.
Over the coming year the prize-winners will be able to stay in Germany for several months for research purposes, the intention being to deepen a global exchange in sustainability research.
For more information about the competition, the winners and the places visited during the forum week, visit the
Green Talents website
www.greentalents.de.
On the website, video diaries by the Green Talents covering their travels through Germany are posted.
Green Talent 2011 prize-winners from South Africa
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Dr. Owen Horwood from South Africa receiving Green Talent 2011 prize in Berlin
(© BMBF/FONA)
Dr. Dyllon Garth Randall of the University of Cape Town is examining potential ways of processing waste water from mines, and has developed a completely new technology which allows the saline solutions produced there to be processed. The jury highlighted the global significance of his research work which contributes towards a sustainable solution to urgent problems such as water contamination and water shortages.
Dr. Owen Horwood completed his PhD at the University of Oxford (2009) and impressed the jury with his significant expertise in the field of water management and by his publications on the subject.
Ms. Alanna Rebelo, who is studying for a masters at Stellenbosch University, was distinguished for her interdisciplinary research work in which she is seeking solutions towards the preservation of biological diversity in the face of global development.
