Reddy’s list of honours grows
World-renowned mathematician Professor Dayanand Reddy received a doctor of science degree from the University of Stellenbosch.
The honorary doctorate was bestowed on Reddy for his research leadership and scientific breakthroughs and exceptional contribution in strengthening and advancing science at a national and international level.
He was also recognised for sharing his knowledge and expertise to develop students in the field of computational and applied mechanics.
Reddy, an emeritus professor at the University of Cape Town, said it was a huge honour and he was not expecting it.
“I know from experience that universities senates and councils are very careful about identifying and making honorary degree awards. Stellenbosch University has high standards,” he said.
Reddy’s career spans over 40 years. The 68-year-old’s area of work is at the interface of engineering and mathematics.
He said he was concerned about the level of mathematics taught at school and the severe shortage of teachers.
“The mere fact that many young people are opting not to do maths … it’s such a foundational subject. That poses severe limitations for our ability to develop socio-economically.”
He said with a background in engineering, he has followed byways that allowed him to build bridges between the mathematical and engineering sciences and the medical sciences.
“Science is essential to addressing the existential challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and we are witnessing the roles played by not only biological health scientists but also mathematicians, statisticians, demographers, chemists, social scientists and psychologists working across disciplines,” he said.
Reddy is a South African Research Chair in Computational Mechanics and director of the Centre for Research in Computational and Applied Mechanics (Cerecam)
Reddy is the only South African to be an elected fellow or member of all four South African academies: the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAF), by legislation the official academy of South Africa; the South
African Academy of Engineering; the Royal Society of South Africa; and the Suid-afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns.
He is also a Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), of the African Academy of Sciences, and a founding Fellow of the Academy of Engineering and Technology of the Developing World.
He was elected a Fellow of the International Association for Computational Mechanics in 2008. In 2009 he received the Award for Distinguished Service from the South African Association for Computational and Applied Mechanics, and in 2016 the Award for Research Distinction of the South African Mathematical Society.
In 2004 he received the National Order of Mapungubwe (Bronze), bestowed by the president. In 2012 he received the Georg Forster Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany.