NEW  Prize sponsor: proSET (Professionals in SET), a sector of the NSTF representing more than 40 professional societies

• Prof Ryan Blumenthal – Senior Specialist Forensic Pathologist and Associate Professor: Department (Dept) of Forensic Medicine, University of Pretoria (UP); and also in the Communications category*
• Prof Novel N Chegou – Professor: Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Dept of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University (SU)
• Prof Andrew Green – Professor: Marine Geology, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN); and Visiting Professor: University of Ulster, Northern Ireland; and also in the Special Annual Theme category*
• Prof Ajay K Mishra – Group Leader: Research Area “Nanomaterials and Wastewater”; and Professor: Dept of Chemistry, Durban University of Technology (DUT); and also in the Water Research Commission category*
• Prof Marlo Möller – Professor: Centre for Tuberculosis Research, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC); and Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) / National Research Foundation (NRF) Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Biomedical Tuberculosis, Research Division, Molecular Biology and Human Genetics (MBHG), Dept of Biomedical Sciences, SU; and Associate Member: Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, SU
• Prof Nosipho Moloto – DSI / NRF / Nedbank Chair: South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) in Energy Materials, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits); Research Professor: Inorganic Chemistry, Wits; and Deputy Director: African Research Universities Alliance, CoE in Materials, Energy and Nanotechnology, Wits; and also in the Engineering Research Capacity Development category*
• Prof Samuel O Oluwafemi – Project Leader: Nanomaterials Synthesis and Applications Laboratory, Dept of Chemical Sciences (formerly Applied Chemistry), University of Johannesburg

NEW  Prize sponsor: South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS)

• Dr Kimberley (Kimi) Chapelle – Postdoctoral Fellow: Department (Dept) of Science and Innovation (DSI)/ National Research Foundation (NRF): GENUS Next Generation Palaeoscientist Grant, Evolutionary Studies Institute (Inst), University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
• Dr Terusha Chetty – Specialist Clinician Scientist: HIV and Other Infectious Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC); and also in the Clinician-Scientist category*
• Dr Rachael Dangarembizi – Senior (Sr) Lecturer: Dept of Human Biology/Neuroscience Inst, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town (UCT)
• Prof Usisipho Feleni – Associate Professor and Thematic Area Leader: Applied Electrochemistry, Inst for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, University of South Africa (Unisa)
• Dr Mubeen Goolam – Lecturer: Human Biology, Dept of Human Biology, UCT
• Dr Daniel W Hart – Sr Research Fellow: Zoology and Entomology Dept, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria (UP)
• Prof Shahida Moosa – Head of Dept: Medical Genetics, Tygerberg Academic Hospital; and Associate Professor: Medical Genetics, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Stellenbosch University (SU); and also in and the Clinician-Scientist category*
• Dr Edward C Netherlands – Sr Lecturer: Dept of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State (UFS)
• Dr Michael Pienaar – Specialist Paediatrician: PICU Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital, Free State Department of Health; and Senior Lecturer: Dept of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS; and Co-Convenor: Ethics and Governance Group, Interdisciplinary Centre for Digital Futures, UFS; and also in the Clinician-Scientist category
• Dr Daniel Ramotsoela – Sr Lecturer: Dept of Electrical Engineering, UCT
• Dr Fidele Tugizimana – Lecturer and Research Scientist: Dept of Biochemistry, University of Johannesburg and Specialist Scientist: International Research and Development Division, Omnia Nutriology, Omnia Group Ltd, South Africa
• Dr Charl Verwey – Sr Lecturer: Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits; and Head of Division: Paediatric Pulmonology, Wits; and Consultant Paediatric Pulmonologist, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg; and also in the Clinician-Scientist category*

• Prof Isabelle Ansorge – Professor and Head of Department: Oceanography, University of Cape Town; Principal Investigator: SEAmester; and also in the Special Annual Theme category*
• Prof Paxie W Chirwa – Chair and Director: Forest Postgraduate Programme, University of Pretoria
• Dr Robin Drennan – Director: Research Development, University of the Witwatersrand
• Prof Judy van Biljon – Chair: Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) / National Research Foundation (NRF) South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) in ICT4D; and Research Professor: School of Computing, University of South Africa (Unisa); and Chairperson: SA Chapter, International Network for Postgraduate Students in the area of ICT4D (IPID); and Chairperson: International Development Informatics Association and also in the Lifetime category*

Sponsored by Eskom since 2003

• Prof Denis Kalumba – Associate Professor: Geotechnical Engineering, University of Cape Town (UCT); and Director: Postgraduate Studies, Dept of Civil Engineering, UCT; and Head: Geotechnical Division, UCT; and Director: Geotechnical Research Laboratory, UCT;
• Prof Soraya P Malinga – Associate Professor and Co–Director: Joint Research Centre for Water, Environmental Science and Technology, University of Johannesburg
• Prof Nosipho Moloto – Chair: Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) / National Research Foundation (NRF) / Nedbank South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) in Energy Materials, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) ; Research Professor: Inorganic Chemistry, Wits; and Deputy Director: African Research Universities Alliance, Centre of Excellence in Materials, Energy and Nanotechnology, Wits and also in the Researcher category*
• Prof Onisimo Mutanga – Professor: Remote Sensing, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN); and Chair: DSI/NRF SARChI in Land Use Planning and Management, UKZN; and also in the Lifetime category*

Sponsored by the WRC since 2017

• Prof John G Annandale – Group Leader: Mine Water Irrigation Research Group, Department (Dept) of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria (UP)
• Prof Kirsty Carden – Associate Professor: Dept of Civil Engineering, University of Cape Town (UCT); and Interim Director: Future Water Research Institute, UCT
• Centre for Water Resources Research (CWRR), University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) – Prof Jeff Smithers, Director: CWRR; and Umgeni Water Chair in Water Resources Management, Innovation and Research, School of Engineering, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, UKZN
• Prof Patricia Forbes – Full Professor and Rand Water Chair: Dept of Chemistry, UP
• Prof Ajay K Mishra – Professor and Group Leader: Research Area “Nanomaterials and Wastewater”, Dept of Chemistry, Durban University of Technology (DUT); and also in the Researcher category*
• Prof Craig Sheridan – Professor and Director: Centre in Water Research and Development; Claude Leon Foundation Chair in Water Research, School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand

NEW  Sponsored by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)

• Dr Terusha Chetty – Specialist Clinician Scientist: HIV and Other Infectious Diseases Research Unit, SAMRC; and also in the Emerging Researcher category*
• Prof Salome Maswime – Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and Head: Global Surgery, Dept of Medicine, University of Cape Town
• Prof Shahida Moosa – Head: Medical Genetics, Tygerberg Academic Hospital; and Associate Professor: Medical Genetics, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Stellenbosch University (SU) and also in the Emerging Researcher category
• Dr Michael Pienaar – Specialist Paediatrician: PICU Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital, Free State Department of Health; and Senior (Sr) Lecturer: Dept of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State (UFS); Co-Convenor: Ethics and Governance Group, Interdisciplinary Centre for Digital Futures, UFS; and also in the Emerging Researcher category
• Dr Leigh van den Heuvel – Specialist Psychiatrist: Tygerberg Hospital; and Sr Lecturer: Dept of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SU
• Dr Charl Verwey – Sr Lecturer: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits); and Head of Division: Paediatric Pulmonology, Wits; and Consultant Paediatric Pulmonologist: Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg and also in the Emerging Researcher category

• Mammal Research Institute (MRI) Whale Unit – Dr Els Vermeulen, Research Manager: Department (Dept) of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria; and also in the Special Annual Theme category
• Prof Andrew Thatcher – Professor: Psychology Dept, School of Human and Community Development, University of the Witwatersrand
• Prof Rachel Wynberg – Chair: Dept of Science and Innovation / National Research Foundation, South African Research Chair Initiative in Environmental and Social Dimensions of the Bio-economy; and Professor: Environmental and Geography Sciences, University of Cape Town

• Prof Karen I Barnes – Professor: Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department (Dept) of Medicine, University of Cape Town (UCT); and Head: Pharmacology Module, Worldwide Antimalarial Resistance Network; and Founding Director: UCT/ South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Collaborating Centre for Optimising Antimalarial Therapy; and Honorary Visiting Research Fellow: Oxford University
• Coronavirus COVID-19 (2019 – nCoV) Data Repository for South Africa (SA) – COVID19ZA Volunteers – Prof Vukosi Marivate, Principal Investigator and Leader: Data Science for Social Impact Research Group, Dept of Computer Science, University of Pretoria (UP)
• Freshwater Biodiversity Information System (FBIS) Team: Freshwater Research Centre (FRC) and Kartoza – Dr Helen Dallas, Executive Director: FRC; and Team Leader: FBIS, and also in the Non-Governmental Organisation category*
• Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy (IDIA), a partnership of UCT, University of the Western Cape (UWC), and UP, as well as the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory – Prof Russ Taylor, Director: IDIA; and Professor and Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Research Chair, UCT and UWC

• There are no finalists in this category

Sponsored by the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO) since 2019

• LignOrganic – Mr Tshepo Mangoele, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder, Johannesburg
• Pegasus Universal Aerospace Team – Dr Mohamed Reza Mia, Chairman and Founder, Johannesburg
• Zambezi Analytics (Pty) Ltd – Mr Tabani Mtombeni, Founder and CEO; and Prof Caliphs Zvinowanda

• Prof Ryan Blumenthal – Senior Specialist Forensic Pathologist and Associate Professor: Department (Dept) of Forensic Medicine, University of Pretoria (UP); and also in the Researcher category*
• Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) – Mr Chris Campbell, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Johannesburg
• Prof Roger Deane – Director: University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) Centre for Astrophysics; and Wits Digital Dome Working Group, Chair: Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) / National Research Foundation (NRF) South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) in Radio Astronomy
• Mrs Shakira Hoosain – Campaign Strategist and Senior Copywriter: Research Matters, UP
• Dr Martina Jordaan – Head: Community Engagement Research and Postgraduate Studies, Mamelodi Campus, UP
• Prof Pat Mfanelo Ntsobi – CEO: Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, Johannesburg; see also in the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) category
• Prof Refilwe Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya – Professor: Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg (UJ); and Director: South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)/ UJ Pan African Centre for Epidemics Research (PACER) Extramural Unit
• South African Child Gauge – Ms Lori Lake: Communication and Education Specialist, Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town

• Community Keepers – Mr Gerrit Laning, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and NGO Representative, Stellenbosch
• Freshwater Research Centre (FRC) – Dr Helen Dallas, Executive Director, Kirstenbosch, Cape Town; and also in the Data for Research category*
• Sci-Bono Discovery Centre – CEO: Prof Pat Mfanelo Ntsobi see also the Communication category*

• Prof Isabelle Ansorge – Professor and Head: Department(Dept) of Oceanography, University of Cape Town (UCT); and Principal Investigator: SEAmester; and also in the Management category*
• Prof Andrew Green – Professor: Marine Geology, University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN); and Visiting Professor: University of Ulster, Northern Ireland; and also in the Researcher category*
• Prof Juliet Hermes – Professor: Dept of Oceanography, UCT; and Honorary Professor: Institute of Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University; and Manager: Egagasini Node, South African (SA) Environmental Observation Network (SAEON); and Acting Manager: SA Polar Research Infrastructure, SAEON; and also in the Lifetime category*
• Mammal Research Institute (MRI) Whale Unit – Dr Els Vermeulen, Research Manager: Dept of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria and also in the Green Economy category*