Professor Michael Claeys

Engineering Research Capacity Development Award

Claeys, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and director of the South African national DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Catalysis, known as c*change, was recognised for his lifework on the development of capacity and research capacity in catalysis, which lies at the heart of 90% of production processes for chemicals.

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Professor Michael Claeys - Two new NRF A-ratings for UCT 

The University of Cape Town (UCT) recently welcomed two new additions to its growing list of A-rated researchers. They are Professor Michael Claeys from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Professor Giona Tuccini from the Department of Italian Studies.

A-ratings are awarded to researchers acknowledged as leading international scholars in their fields. The rating of individuals is based primarily on the quality and impact of their research outputs over the past eight years, taking into consideration the evaluation made by local and international peers.

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Professor Michael Claeys - New Inductees to the College of Fellows

Induction to the College of Fellows at UCT is one of the highest recognitions an academic staff member can receive for their work. It signals original, distinguished academic work that merits special acknowledgement.

This year the university welcomes nine new fellows who have broken boundaries to get to where they are today and have reached an esteemed level of success in their respective fields.

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A/Prof Nico Fischer on receiving the UCT College of Fellows Young Researcher Award

Associate Professor Nico Fischer’s research focuses on the development of novel materials for heterogeneously catalysed synthesis gas conversion and oxygen activation processes.

A distinguished researcher and co-inventor of seven patent families which resulted in 15 granted patents in various countries, A/Prof Fischer is one of the seven 2020 College of Fellows Young Researcher awardees. He works in the Catalysis Institute hosted by the Department of Chemical Engineering, more specifically in the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Catalysis c*change.

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Professor Eric van Steen - Waste-to-fuel project an IChemE Global Awards 2020 finalist

UCT’s Professor Eric van Steen, based at the Catalysis Institute and the holder of the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair in Reaction Engineering, is one member of the scientific group leading the initiative.

“It is of course great to be named a finalist for this IChemE award. We are excited to present our design to this world audience and get greater publicity for this project,” said Professor van Steen.

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Professor Eric van Steen - Nine new fellows a sign of UCT's 'research strength'

Nine fellows were inducted into the prestigious College of Fellows this year, "a great sign of the strength of research" at UCT, said Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price at the College of Fellows' annual dinner on 9 October 2014.

"You are role models," he said. "You are the reason why people come here to do postgraduate degrees. You are the reason why we have a high number of citations and get praised for the creative work that gets done at the university."

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