DUT’S executive dean a ‘distinguished woman of science’
A DURBAN academic has become a “distinguished woman in science” after scooping the top award at the 2018 SA Women in Science Awards.
Professor Nokuthula Sibiya, who is the executive dean in the faculty of health sciences at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), this week won the Distinguished Woman Scientist Award in the Humanities and category.
The event in Polokwane, which was hosted by the Department of Science and Technology, saw several women from across the country gather to recognise female scientists who have made their mark in the industry.
Sibiya’s win came after she delivered her inaugural lecture at DUT earlier this month where she will supervise doctoral Social Sciences and Master’s students.
She is DUT’S first black female scientist.
Sibiya is the author of 49 peer reviewed publications, two books and 10 book chapters, with primary health care, specifically maternal and child health research being at the core of her interests.
“Besides contributing a new body of knowledge through research, the resultant research output subsidy also contributes to the financial sustainability of our university. So I take research seriously as this is one of my core businesses as an academic at DUT.” Sibiya has presented her papers at national and international conferences, and successfully supervised more than 70 students in the health field. The theme for the SA Women in Science Awards this year was “100 years of Mama Albertina Sisulu: women united in moving South Africa forward”.
“Of the 53 postgraduate students I have successfully supervised, 47 were women.
“The majority of those graduates were appointed as lecturers in higher education at institutions and colleges.
“One of my female PHD graduates holds a senior position in the Department of Correctional Services.
“As women academics, we need to join hands and support each other in pushing the boundaries,” she said.
At her inaugural lecture, Sibiya warned against “PHD Syndrome”. “As women, we have this ‘PHD’ syndrome which means ‘pull her down’, instead of supporting and uplifting each other.
“There is a special place in hell for women who don’t support other women. We need to empower each other,” she said.