Dr Reinette (Oonsie) Biggs has been awarded a Research Chair in “Social-Ecological Systems and Resilience” as part of the South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI). The Research Chair Initiative was established in 2006 by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Research Foundation (NRF), with the aim of attracting and retaining excellence in research and innovation at South African public universities. Since then, a total of 197 Chairs have been awarded in diverse disciplines across the natural sciences, engineering, humanities and social sciences. To be chosen as a recipient, researchers have to demonstrate substantial international recognition for their research contributions.
This year, a total of 42 Chairs were awarded to outstanding women researchers across the country, representing an important step towards transformation of South African universities, where women are still underrepresented at the senior level. As Dr Therina Theron, Senior Director: Research and Innovation at Stellenbosch University puts it: “The sector now has 42 new female SARChI role models who will do transformative research, train large numbers of postgraduate students, and hopefully inspire large numbers of female students to enter the area of academic research.”
Along with Dr Biggs, other esteemed women scientists in the social-ecological research field were awarded this year, including Prof. Heila Lotz-Sisitka from Rhodes University, Prof. Mary Scholes from the University of the Witwatersrand, and Dr Mandy Lombard from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. One of the main responsibilities of the Research Chairs is to produce high-quality postgraduate students and seek strategic partnerships within the international research community, in order to advance the frontiers of knowledge. Oonsie is one of four chairs awarded in an interdisciplinary domain spanning natural and social sciences.
SAPECS congratulates Dr Oonsie Biggs on this remarkable achievement!
Dr Reinette Biggs (front left) with other SARChI chair recipients from Stellenbosch University. (Front: Dr Reinette Biggs, Profs Amanda Gouws, Kathy Myburgh and Dr Therina Theron. Back: Profs Eugene Cloete, Vice-Rector: Research and Innovation, Cherryl Walker and Anneke Hesseling)
