Five young South Africans nominated by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) have been included in the 400 young scientists from 76 countries selected to participate in this year’s 67th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Lindau, Germany.

ASSAf as the official partner of the Lindau Foundation and with funding from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) annually nominate young scientists to attend the Lindau Laureate meetings which are designed as a forum for exchange, networking and inspiration.  

The young scientists are: Dr Hlamulo Makelane, University of the Western Cape; Frederick Malan, University of Pretoria; Funeka Nkosi, University of the Witwatersrand; Retha Peach, North-West University, and Dr Mark Williams-Wynn, University of KwaZulu-Natal. 

Successful scientists are outstanding students, graduate students and postdoctoral students under 35 years of age, conducting research in the field of chemistry. They were selected after a multi-stage international selection process and represent 155 scientific institutes, universities, foundations and research-oriented companies from noted research nations. 

The meeting will take place from 25 – 30 June 2017 with a total of 31 laureates expected to partake. The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings have been held annually at Lindau, Germany, since 1951. 

The selected young scientists may expect a six-day programme with numerous lectures and panel discussions. Some of them will also get the opportunity to discuss their own work at one of the master classes or at the poster session. 

The proportion of women among the selected young scientists is 45 per cent. “For the field of chemistry, that is a substantial number”, says Wolfgang Lubitz, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Vice-President of the Council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings and scientific co-chairperson of this year’s meeting.

ASSAF Executive Officer, Prof Roseanne Diab, also welcomed the inclusion of an increased number of women among the participants. “ASSAf is committed to promoting women in science activities and highlighting the importance of applying a gender lens in activities that it undertakes. The Lindau Nobel Laureate programme presents a unique opportunity for young women to meet and interact with Nobel Laureates,” she says.