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

In 2008, UKZN was the most successful participant in the NRFThuthuka programme. A total of 79 researchers were awarded R5.72million by the NRF, which was supplemented by an institutionalcontribution of R4.99 million. About 44 percent of the researcherswere from the Faculty of Science and Agriculture, and 23 percent fromthe Faculty of Health Sciences. In 2009, only 57 continuing Thuthukaprojects were funded and these received R4.75 million from the NRFand R 2.2 million from the University. In 2008/9, about 73 percent of thefunded researchers were female and 78 percent were Black. The NRFalso funded more projects through other programmes such as: TheTechnology Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP), FocusAreas, SARChI and the Knowledge Field Development. A total of R207million was received for such programmes in 2008, compared to R87.8million in 2009. UKZN also received a grant of R2.5 million throughresearch grants to emerging researchers, about R2.04 million wasawarded as doctoral support grants and in the same period, a totalof R28 million was paid out as research incentives. Postdoctoralscholarships increased from R1.32 million (2008) to R2.9 million (2009).About 71 percent of the scholarships were to postdoctoral candidatesin the Faculty of Science and Agriculture.In 2008/9 a number of researchers received internal awards inrecognition of their scholarship and excellence in research. ProfessorsMichael Green, Grenville Hadley, Sunil Maharaj and ShunmugamGovender received the 2009 UKZN Fellowships. Dr Dean-Peter Bakerreceived the Vice Chancellor’s Award for 2008 and Dr Mihai SerbanProches for 2009. Professor Michael Chapman received the HumanitiesAcademic Book Prize for his book titled Art Talk, Politics TalkandProfessor Jacek Banasiak, the Science Academic Book Prize for theIn 2008/9 the University Library developed a model for proactivelibrarianship in support of researchers. A Research Commons spacewas established in the EG Malherbe Library on the Howard Collegecampus for the exclusive use of postgraduate students and otherresearchers. The launching of the Research Space Repository hasenabled increased public access to digitised theses and dissertations,thus contributing to the University’s mission of being a hub for thedissemination of African Scholarship. In 2008, the UKZN Presspublished 20 new books and reprinted several titles in humanities,social sciences and current affairs, which included three books byUKZN academics. In 2009, a total of 18 new books were released,seven of which were by UKZN authors. A Man Who is Not a Manby MrThando Mgqolozana, from the Research Office staff, was listed amongthe Top 10 books for 2009, by three major local newspapers.In 2009, studies conducted both by UREC and the Senate revealedthat the publications output by female and Black researchers, butespecially African females needed to be increased. In response, theResearch Office launched a number of research capacity buildinginitiatives, including the UKZN Women in Research Academy. TheResearch Office has also facilitated intensive supervision trainingworkshops to assist academics, especially those with doctoral degrees,develop supervision capacity.In 2008/9, UKZN achieved commendable progress and notablesuccesses in its research endeavours. We would like to acknowledgethe efforts of all our researchers in contributing to the institutionalresearch success. The Research Portfolio is committed to increasingresearch productivity through capacity development initiatives tobroaden the base of research active staff.the NRF National Equipment Programme to Professor Edith Elliot, forbook titled Perturbations of Positive Semigroups with Application. Thethe confocal microscope with a differential interference contrast (DIC).Prize for Edited Books was jointly won by Professor Isabel Phiri andThe equipment, which was commissioned in 2009, is used for multi-Dr Sarojini Nadar, for their book titled African Women, Religion anddisciplinary application in cell biological research.Health. In 2008, about 26 percent of the Top 30 Researchers wereExternal grants and contracts remained a major source of incomefemale and 20 percent in 2009. Professor Colleen Thelma Downs wasto the University, apart from enhancing the institutional knowledgethe top female researcher and in 2009 it was Dr Sarojini Nadar. Onproduction capacity. In 2008, the Research Office processed new grantsaverage, about 36 percent of the Top 30 Researchers were Black.and contracts worth R214 million for 155 projects. Corresponding figuresUKZN has a number of research centres that have earned nationalfor 2009 were R192 million for 123 projects. The majority of the fundedand international recognition through their excellence in research andprojects were mainly in the area of HIV/AIDS. Additionally, the UKZNscholarship. These include CAPRISA, HEARD and the Africa CentreFoundation succeeded in raising over R100 million from donors forfor research in HIV/AIDS, the Africa Centre for Crop Improvement andresearch and other activities. In 2009, UKZN and the Howard HughesAfrica Centre for Food Security for research and regional capacityMedical Institute (HMMI) signed an agreement in which UKZN wouldbuilding in Agriculture and Food Security, the Quantum Technologiesreceive R218 million for the construction of an ultra-modern researchGroup for research on communication and data transmission systems,laboratory for the KwaZulu-Natal Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV/the Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development for work onAIDS (K-RITH) and an additional US $40 million over the next ten yearsplant tissue culture and physiology, and the Centre for Civil Society andfor research and capacity development in HIV/AIDS and TB. This wasCentre for Critical Research on Race and Identity for their scholarlythe highest level of funding provided by the HMMI outside the US and itwork on socially engaging issues.was in recognition of UKZN’s excellence in HIV/AIDS research.In 2008, UKZN established the Intellectual Property and TechnologyIn 2008, UKZN committed a total of R58.5 million as a researchTransfer Office (IPTTO), with the assistance of the Department ofdevelopment grant. This included R10 million for research developmentScience and Technology. The Office has been instrumental in theequipment. It also received R10.7 million from the Department of Higherimplementation of the 2008 Intellectual Property Rights from PubliclyEducation and Training (DoHET) as a research support grant. In 2009,Financed Research & Development (IPR) Act, including engagementthe total research development budget was R70 million, including R11with researchers on identification and protection of IP, as well asmillion for equipment and R19.7 million from DoHET. The funds wereinstitutional policy development. By the end 2009, a total of 17 patentused for internal grants, awards and research incentive schemes.applications had been made. The IPTTO worked in conjunction withIn 2008/2009, a total of R2.34 million was disbursed as competitiveUKZN Innovation for the commercialisation of identified IP.6 UKZN Research Report // 2008/2009 UKZN Research Report // 2008/2009UKZN Research Report // 2008/2009UKZN Research Report // 2008/2009 7