The research contribution by the South African world renowned Prof Phillip Tobias in the fields of genetics through anatomical studies to pealaeonthropology led the country's Department of Science and Technology to establish an annual lecture in his honour.

This biennial lecture is to be known as the Phillip Tobias Lecture where prominent professionals and governments' representatives from all over the world will be invited to be keynote speakers.

The establishment of this lecture therefore led to the development of an award designed in his honour. The Inaugural Phillip Tobias Lecture and Award was held on 2 November 2004. Read the foreword by the Minister of Science and Technology, Mosibudi Mangena.

During the inaugural lecture, the award was bestowed on Prof Tobias himself and the invited keynote speaker, Prof Sidney Brenner.

Thereafter, only the invited keynote speaker is bestowed with the award, comprising a neck badge on a ribbon and a lapel rosette.

This year, Professor Malegapuru William Makgoba, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), will receive the award.

The lecture and award ceremony will take place during INSITE 2008, the International Science, Innovation and Technology Exhibition, on 17 September at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Are you interested in the unique medal designed especially for this award? Click here to read the motivation for this intricate design.

View the Prof Phillip Tobias gallery of relevent images, including pictures of the Professor, the medal and read the 2006 Phillip Tobias Lecture by Dr Kalam of India.