Call for nominations 2023 South African Women in Science Awards
The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) calls for nominations for the 2023 South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA). The awards recognise and reward excellence by women scientists and researchers, and profile them as role models for younger women. The awards will be made to women who are South African citizens or permanent residents.
The theme for the 2023 SAWiSA is Harnessing technological change and innovation to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls. This is derived from the theme of the 67th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) held from 6 to 17 March 2023, which is "Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls". The UNCSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. It monitors UN Member States' global standards for achieving gender equality and, through UN Women, works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to ensure that the standards are effectively implemented to truly benefit women and girls worldwide. UN Women ensures that the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals is a reality for women and girls and stands behind women's equal participation in all aspects of life.
Awards will be made in the distinguished young woman researchers and distinguished woman researchers categories in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), and Natural (Life and Physical) and Engineering Sciences categories, as well as in any field aligned with the theme.
The SAWiSA also incorporates awards to currently registered master's and PhD students, namely, the DSI Fellowships. The fellowships are not restricted to the theme.
The 2023 SAWiSA will be presented on 25 August 2023 as part of the Department's celebration of Women's Month. The awards will be made in the following categories:
- Awards for Distinguished Woman Researchers
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Natural (Life and Physical) and Engineering Sciences
- Research Leading to Technological Change and Innovation in Achieving Gender Equality and Empowering Girls and Women
- Awards for Distinguished Young Woman Researchers
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Natural (Life and Physical) and Engineering Sciences
- Research Leading to Technological Change and Innovation in Achieving Gender Equality and Empowering Girls and Women
- DSI Fellowships
- Six master's students: two in Natural Sciences, one in Engineering Sciences, one in HSS, one in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and one in Astronomy.
- Six PhD students: two in Natural Sciences, one in Engineering Sciences, one in HSS, one in IKS and one in Astronomy
NOMINATION/ APPLICATION PROCESS
Nominations and applications must reach the Department of Science and Innovation by Monday, 19 June 2023. No late submissions will be accepted.
The nomination form, CV template and submission checklist for researchers are available here.
The application form and submission checklist for DSI Fellowships are available here.
The application or nomination forms should be accompanied by the documentation specified for each category. To meet the requirements, all the abovementioned forms and supporting documents must be completed, clearly indicating the category, and submitted electronically to SAWiSA@dst.gov.za.
PLEASE NOTE: Only shortlisted finalists will be contacted.
For more information, contact Dr Maphuti Madiga on 079 510 9279 or at Maphuti.Madiga@dst.gov.za.
AWARD CATEGORIES
- DISTINGUISHED YOUNG WOMAN RESEARCHERS
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Natural (Life and Physical) and Engineering Sciences
These awards will be made to emerging woman scientists or researchers for their outstanding contribution to advancing science and building the knowledge base in their areas of research not necessarily aligned with the theme.
Nomination criteria
Nominations are requested for emerging woman scientists or researchers under the age of 40 or turning 41 during the year of the awards, who have PhDs and whose research projects have contributed to advancing science and building the knowledge base.
NB: Overall winners in the past 10 years are not eligible to be nominated in the categories in which they have previously won.
Who may make a nomination?
Any person who knows the nominee and her work well can make a nomination. The nominator should provide the motivation as required in the nomination form.
Adjudication criteria
In the context of being early-career scientists, nominees will be judged on their research publication record, their national and/or international stature (as evidenced by their presentation of keynote addresses or papers at international conferences), their experience in supporting younger students, the relevance and impact of their research, and/or the potential exploitability of their research outputs (i.e. the possibility of using research results to develop or improve products, processes and services).
Value of each award
Winner: R80 000
First runner-up: R55 000
Second runner-up: R30 000
Use of award
There are no restrictions on the use of the award by the recipient.
Documents required –
- A completed and signed nomination form;
- A completed CV template;
- Proof of scientific/research publications: The first page of each of the nominee's five to 10 best articles, and the title pages of her books or book chapters;
- Short profile(see sample);
- Proof of innovation or applied knowledge outputs(if applicable): List of intellectual property outputs with relevant registration numbers;
- Letters of referencefrom three people discussing the nominee's professional competence and other personal or professional qualities or interests that qualify her for the award; and
- A certified copy of ID.
DISTINGUISHED WOMAN RESEARCHERS
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Natural (Life and Physical) and Engineering Sciences
These awards will be made to woman scientists or researchers for their outstanding scientific contribution to advancing science and building the knowledge base in their areas of research not necessarily aligned with the theme.
Nomination criteria
Nominations are requested from established woman scientists or researchers with at least five years of postdoctoral experience, and who are actively involved in research.
NB: Overall winners in the past 10 years are not eligible to be nominated in the categories in which they have previously won.
Who may make a nomination?
Any person who knows the nominee and her work well can make a nomination. The nominator should provide the motivation as required in the nomination form.
Adjudication criteria
Nominees will be judged on their research publication record, their international stature (as evidenced by their presentation of keynote addresses or papers at international conferences), their experience in supervising postgraduate students and researchers, the relevance and impact of their research, and exploitability of their research outputs (i.e. the possibility of using the research results to develop or improve products, processes and services).
Value of each award
Winner: R90 000
First runner-up: R65 000
Second runner-up: R40 000
Use of award
There will be no restrictions on the use of the award by the recipient.
Documents required –
- A completed and signed nomination form;
- A completed CV template;
- Proof of scientific/ research publications: The first page of each of the nominee's 10 best articles, and the title pages of her books or book chapters;
- Short profile(see sample);
- Proof of innovation or applied knowledge outputs(if applicable): List of intellectual property outputs with relevant registration numbers, or list of outputs with inclusive growth and development impact;
- Reference lettersfrom three people discussing the nominee's professional competence and other personal or professional qualities or interests that qualify her for the award; and
- A certified copy of ID.
- THEME: DISTINGUISHED YOUNG WOMAN AND DISTINGUISHED WOMAN RESEARCHER
"For Research Leading to Technological Change and Innovation in Achieving Gender Equality and Empower Women and Girls"
These awards will be made to women in any field whose research led to technological changes and innovation towards achieving gender equality and empower women and girls.
Nomination criteria
- Distinguished Young Woman Researcher
Nominations are requested for emerging woman scientists or researchers, under the age of 40 or turning 41 during the year of the awards, who have PhD degrees and whose research led to technological changes and innovation towards achieving gender equality and empowering girls and women.
- Distinguished Woman Researcher
Nominations are requested for established woman scientists or researchers with at least five years' postdoctoral experience, whose research led to technological changes and innovation towards achieving gender equality and empowering girls and women.
NB: Overall winners in the past 10 years are not eligible to be nominated in the categories in which they have previously won.
Who may make a nomination?
Any person who knows the nominee and her work well can make a nomination. The nominator should provide the motivation as required in the nomination form.
Adjudication criteria
Nominees will be judged on their (i) research publications; (ii) scientific contribution and impact; (iii) technological changes and digital innovation (products, services, processes or solutions); and (iv) development and implementation of relevant policies that advocate and promote the participation of women and girls.
Value of each award
Distinguished Young Woman Researcher: R90 000
Distinguished Woman Researcher: R100 000
Use of awards
There are no restrictions on the use of the awards by the recipients.
Documents required –
- A completed and signed nomination form;
- A completed CV template;
- Proof of scientific/research publications: First page of each of the nominees' five to 10 best articles, and the title pages of their books or book chapters;
- Short profile (see sample);
- Proof of technologies, innovation or applied knowledge outputs: List of intellectual property outputs with relevant registration numbers, or list of outputs with inclusive growth and development impact of technologies and innovations;
- Reference letters from three people discussing each nominee's professional competence and other personal or professional qualities or interests that qualify the nominee for the award, and
- A certified copy of ID.
- DSI FELLOWSHIPS
These awards will be made to 12 women who are currently involved in full-time study or research leading to master's or PhD degrees. The fellowships recognise the awardees' outstanding ability and potential in research, enhance their research experience and output, and encourage more young women to complete research degrees.
Postgraduate fellowships will be awarded to:
- Six master's students: two in Natural Sciences, one in Engineering Sciences; one in HSS, one in IKS and one in Astronomy.
- Six PhD students: two in Natural Sciences, one in Engineering Sciences; one in HSS, one in IKS, and one in Astronomy.
Application criteria
The fellowships are open to women who are involved in full-time study towards master's or PhD degrees and are registered at South African universities. Applicants should be women who are:
- South African citizens or permanent residents;
- under the age of 35; and
- high performers in their current and previous degrees.
NB: Previous fellowship awardees cannot apply or be nominated for the same degree of study.
Adjudication criteria
Applicants will be judged on the quality and performance in their studies; past and present achievements; quality and feasibility of their proposed study/research plan and time schedule; relevance of their research (potential to provide solutions to immediate problems and scarcity of researchers in the field pursued); and their career plans as per the application criteria given.
Value of the awards
R70 000 for a master's degree (x6)
R90 000 for PhD degree (x6)
Conditions of award
The fellowship may be used to top up an existing postgraduate scholarship awarded by the National Research Foundation or other agencies. It may be used for attending or presenting a paper in a local or international conference, publishing a research paper, registering a patent, or obtaining personal equipment to conduct research.
Documents required –
- An application form;
- Proof of research publications or outputs: copies of one to five relevant research publications (showing potential to provide solutions to immediate problems and scarcity of researchers in the field pursued), and title pages of the applicant's books or book chapters;
- Short profile (see sample);
- Reference letter. The letter must reflect the relationship of the referee with the applicant, the contact details of the referee, and highlight the following about the applicant:
- evidence of excellence in current studies,
- technical accomplishments and relative standing of the candidate among her peers (publications, conferences, mentoring etc.),
- relevance of research being pursued (potential to provide solutions to immediate problems and scarcity of researchers in the field pursued),
- her role in encouraging and supporting young women,
- personal or professional qualities or interests that make the applicant specially qualified to receive a fellowship, and
- any other indicators of outstanding ability;
- A letter of support from a supervisor who has knowledge of the applicant's work. This letter should outline the applicant's suitability to receive the award, and the quality of and performance in their studies;
- Letter of intent and applicant statement, which must indicate:
- The applicant's desire to be considered for the fellowship,
- how the applicant qualifies for the fellowship, and
- a demonstrable need for the specialised knowledge and skills that she plans to acquire;
- Full academic record;
- Certified copies of qualifications; and
- A certified copy of ID.
PROFILE SAMPLE: RESEACHERS
This sample is a guide for the critical information required for your profile to be published in a newspaper supplement. You may use a different choice of words from those in the sample.
DISTINGUISHED RESEARCHERS: A MAXIMUM OF 500 WORDS
DISTINGUISHED YOUNG RESEARCHERS: A MAXIMUM OF 400 WORDS
NB: All acronyms must be written in full on first use.
XXX is a full professor of YYY and the South African Research Chair Initiative chair in the ZZZ (research area/specialisation), hosted by the AAA (Unit or Division) at BBB (university/institution). XXX is also the Director of the CCC (entity/programme), and Vice President of the DDD (society/organisation).
XXX's research focus is on EEE (expand on the research area focus/purpose). XXX formally established FFF (institution or programme) as Founding Director in 20XX (year), where she led some of the first prospective multidisciplinary studies in this field in Africa. Her research findings have contributed to GGG (state impact of research focusing on the theme of the awards).
With a National Research Foundation (A1/B2 or C3?) rating, XXX is the author of nearly HH (number) peer-reviewed publications, including papers in leading international journals such as III and JJJ. She is a frequent keynote speaker for international audiences and has received several national and international scientific awards (expand and name the awards, separating the international and national awards). XXX has successfully mentored (number of) postdoctoral fellows, supervised (number of) PhD, (number of) master's and (number of) honours students, and currently supervises (number of) PhD and (number of) master's students.
A medical/engineering/(whichever is applicable) research scientist registered with the KKK (relevant professional/voluntary association), XX is a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa and a member of the South African Young Academy of Sciences. She serves on the editorial board of established journals like the LLL (journals).
PROFILE SAMPLE: POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS
This sample is a guide for the critical information required for your profile to be published in a newspaper supplement. You may use a different choice of words from those in the samples.
DSI FELLOWSHIPS
(A MAXIMUM OF 300 WORDS)
NB: All acronyms must be written in full on first use
Ms XXX obtained a BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics (year 20XX) and a BA Honours in Philosophy cum laude (year 20XX) from the YYY (University). She is currently enrolled for a Master of Arts in Philosophy at the same institution, with a focus on ZZZ (state research area focus).
In her current research, XXX is investigating/exploring/looking at AAA (elaborate on the research). XXX hopes that her research will help (expand on its impact and relevance in relation to the awards theme).
XXX was named the best (state all academic achievements and awards, and the years obtained).
XXX has published (number of) papers in renowned journals such as BBB (name journals) has presented her research at the following international conferences (name them) and national conferences (name them).
