universit y of kw azulu-na tal research repor t 2008/2009 - UKZN ...

Prolific reSearcherS 2008/2009Prolific reSearcherS 2008/2009Professor Andrew ForbesProfessor Thirumala GovenderSchool of PhysicsAForbes1@csir.co.zaSchool of Pharmacy and Pharmacologygovenderth@ukzn.ac.zaPProfessor Andrew Forbes received his PhD (1998) from the formerPUniversity of Natal, and subsequently spent several years working asPan applied Laser Physicist, first for the South African Atomic EnergyPCorporation and then later in a private laser company where he wasPTechnical Director. PHe is presently Chief Researcher at the CSIR National LaserCentre, a member of the CSIR’s Strategic Research Panel, and isthe Research Group Leader for Mathematical Optics and AdvancedPhotonic Materials. Professor Forbes sits on several internationalconference committees and chairs the SPIE international conferenceon Laser Beam Shaping. He is a member of the South African InstituteProfessor Max du PlessisFaculty of Lawduplessism2@ukzn.ac.zaof Physics Council, a Senior Member of SPIE, and holds an honoraryposition at UKZN. Professor Forbes has published more than 90research papers, avidly popularises science and presently supervisesor co-supervises 12 postgraduate students.Professor Forbes’ research interests include laser beam propagation,laser beam shaping and laser resonators. His research includes bothpure and applied aspects of these fields, from the quantum to theclassical. Applications of his work include: novel laser systems, opticalcontrol of the micro world, and delivery of high energy laser beams todistant targets.PPSchool of Pharmacy and Pharmacology holds a National ResearchProfessor Thirumala Govender, a Professor in Pharmaceutics at thePSchool of Pharmacy and Pharmacology holds a National ResearchPFoundation C2 rating.PNovel drug delivery systems have captured the interest of ProfessorPGovender over the past 16 years. She has explored drug systemsthat are applicable to diseases such as HIV and AIDS, hypertension,respiratory diseases and cancer. These include the use of nanoparticles,nanomicelles, microspheres, electrospun fibres and matrix tablets forapplication in areas such as controlled drug release; drug targeting;and mucosal delivery.“This area of research was chosen since it has significant benefitsto patients and the pharmaceutical industry and it also contributes tocapacity for stimulating the local pharmaceutical industry to designand manufacture cost-effective, superior medicines,” said ProfessorGovender. A keen interest in designing, manufacturing and evaluatingnew medicines was the reason behind Professor Govender’s careerchoice. She earned her PhD in Pharmacy at the University of Nottinghamin the United Kingdom; and was conferred with a Masters degree cumlaudein Pharmacy at the former University of Durban-Westville.The Journal of Controlled Release; European Journal ofPharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics; and the International Journalof Pharmaceuticsare among the ISI (International Scientific Index)journals that have published some of the 35 research papers producedby Professor Govender.Professor Govender, who has presented her research atinternational and local conferences was awarded the Johnsonand Johnson Distinguished Teacher Award from the Academy ofPharmaceutical Sciences of South Africa in 2008 and the organisationpresented her with the Adcock Ingram Best Research PublicationAward in Pharmaceutics in 2009. The Goho Life Sciences InternationalFund in Japan funded a Distinguished Visiting Scientist award toTohoku University in Japan in 2009. Her research secured her fundingamounting to R1.3 million from the Medical Research Council, the NRFand the Africa-Asia programme.PProfessor Max du Plessis’s research interests include internationalP Plaw and international criminal law, human rights and comparativePconstitutional law. Professor du Plessis also practices as an advocatePand has appeared in a number of leading cases in the ConstitutionalPCourt and other courts in South Africa.PProfessor du Plessis is affiliated as a senior research associate tothe International Crimes in Africa Programme at the Institute for SecurityStudies (ISS) in Pretoria and Matrix Chambers, London, as a researchassociate. He is a regular commentator in the media (domestically andabroad) on issues of human rights and international law, has consultedto the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Institute for Security Studies,and the SADC Lawyers Association, and has advised governmentsand international organisations on questions of international law.In 2008/2009 Professor du Plessis was part of a team of internationallawyers and other scholars that produced a report for the HumanSciences Research Council of South Africa on whether Israel’s practicesin the Occupied Palestinian Territories amounted to a violation of theinternational law prohibitions on apartheid and colonialism. The report waslaunched in London and Cape Town. During the same period Professordu Plessis edited The African Guide to International Criminal Justice2008, published by the ISS, which was launched in The Hague with anaddress by the Deputy Prosecutor of the ICC, Ms Fatou Bensouda.Professor du Plessis is currently working on a book entitled: Africa’sResponse to the International Criminal Court, and together with anumber of leading international experts has completed for the Institutefor Security Studies a study on the relationship between the UnitedNations Security Council and the International Criminal Court in thecontext of the African Union’s calls for deferral of the ICC’s investigationof President al-Bashir of Sudan.Professor John HiltonSchool of Literary Studies, Media and Creative Artshilton@ukzn.ac.za64 UKZN Research Report // 2008/2009UKZN Research Report // 2008/2009 65