College of AES Dominates UKZN Top Publisher List

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The list of UKZN’s Top 30 published researchers for 2014 is dominated by the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science (CAES), with 19 of the prime slots going to researchers working in the College’s five Schools.

The Schools are Life Sciences; Chemistry and Physics; Engineering; Mathematics; Statistics and Computer Science; and Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences.

The list comprises those academics who have published the highest number of SAPSE Units in DHET accredited, peer-reviewed journals. According to information from UKZN’s Research Office, the University has experienced a 7.56% increase in publications from 2013. This trend is clear evidence of UKZN’s ambition to be known as a research-led institution, with advancement in the sciences leading the charge.

Among the top researchers in the CAES were those renowned for their significant contributions in their scientific fields and who have been recognised for being at the forefront of producing new knowledge in their respective arenas.

The No 1 researcher - a slot he has held for many years - is Professor Johannes van Staden of the School of Life Sciences, whose research concentrates on fields of plant hormones, seed germination, senescence, stress physiology, post-harvest physiology, biotechnology and plant tissue culture, ethnobotany, secondary products and ethnomedicine. Well-known for being the author or co-author of over 1 200 published papers, van Staden fell within the top 0.5% of internationally most cited authors in 2002.

In the fields of Chemistry and Physics, several UKZN academics are making strides in their research publications.

Professor Fernando Albericio is working with other UKZN researchers to develop a new family of peptides with antimicrobial and anti-tuberculosis properties and has published more than 750 papers, filed more than 50 patents, and co-authored four books. Other top published researchers in the School have won renown for their work in quantum technology, chemical kinetics and organometallics.

Professor Steven Johnson of the School of Life Sciences recently received his second NRF A-rating award from the National Research Foundation, in recognition of his excellent research on pollination biology, evolution, plant speciation, insect-plant relationships and floral deception and mimicry.

Professor Colleen Downs, also in the School of Life Sciences and the top published female researcher at UKZN, is well known for her research on terrestrial and avian vertebrates and contributed to research that resulted in the re-classification of the Cape Parrot as its own distinct species. She was also recently appointed the South African Research Chair of Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

In the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, numerous researchers are exploring novel fields such as those of mathematical biology, global optimisation and artificial intelligence, methods for solving complex differential equations and general relativity, cosmology and astrophysics.

In Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, researchers are charting new territories as they publish their work on GIS and earth observation, increased productivity and better livelihoods for small-holder farmers and a diverse array of other topics like managing dwindling water resources, increasing crop resilience and improving food security.

Engineering researchers such as Professor Deresh Ramjugernath and Professor Amir Mohammadi are publishing work related to their research on chemical process development and optimisation and petroleum engineering respectively.

The Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UKZN, Dr Albert van Jaarsveld, thanked staff and students as well as the research community and funders specifically for their commitment and contributions to the reputation and recognition of UKZN as a research-led institution.

Christine Cuénod