Professor Frederik Scholtz, former Head of the Physics Department at Stellenbosch University, has been appointed the first Director of the National Institute for Theoretical Physics (NITheP) from 1August 2008.

Prof Scholtz’s appointment follows an intensive appointment process internationally, and the May inauguration of NITheP at STIAS.

At that occasion Minister of Science and Technology, Mosibudi Mangena, linked government support for NITheP to South Africa’s need “to produce a steady stream of well-educated and highly skilled citizens, especially in mathematics and science, in order to meet her social and economic needs, and compete internationally.” Stephen Hawking, on his first visit to the country, added that “the establishment of NITheP is a significant development for basic science in South Africa and on the African continent” which has his “strong and enthusiastic backing”.

Prof Scholtz is well equipped to lead NITheP. His extensive management experience includes a number of terms as Physics HoD at Stellenbosch and chair of the NRF Physics Evaluation Panel.

He has twice been awarded the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt fellowship for research in Germany and is internationally recognised as an expert in quantum field theory (QFT), including applications in condensed matter and nuclear physics. He has also made numerous original contributions to the mathematical formalism linked to QFT and is at present involved in a very successful bilateral research programme with leading Indian physicists.

Prof Krish Bharuth-Ram, Chair of the NITheP Management Committee and Acting Vice-Ptresident: National Facilities, NRF, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the NITheP appointment process and added that NITheP would make an important contribution to growing the national human capacity in physics.

In addition, it will contribute to the national transformation agenda and ensure a steady stream of PhD graduates from all population groups in support of the rapidly growing national nuclear and energy sectors as well as pure scientific areas such as astronomy and astrophysics.

Prof Bharuth-Ram also confirmed that, following internal processes, Profs Joao Rodrigues and Francesco Pettrucione had been appointed as Deputy-Directors of NITheP at Wits and UKZN.

Contact details for further information:

Prof KrishBharuth-Ram: tel (021) 460 9366 e-mail kbr@saao.ac.za

Prof Hendrik Geyer: tel (021) 808 3658; e-mail hbg@sun.ac.za

Mr Nhlanhla Nyide: tel: (012) 843 6793; email Nhlanhla.nyide@dst.gov.za