Nominations for SAAB Gold and Silver medals

The SAAB council hereby wishes to invite all corporate members (ordinary, life and honorary members) to nominate candidates for the following medals and award:

The South African Gold Medal for Botany
This medal will only be awarded in exceptional circumstances, to outstanding candidates and is the premier award for Botany in South Africa and will be awarded to any Botanist on the grounds of outstanding research and contributions to the advancement of Botany in South Africa.
Nominations:  A curriculum vitae of the proposed candidate must be submitted, as well as a complete list of publications and an evaluation of the candidate’s scientific contribution to Botany.

The SAAB Silver Medal for Botany
This medal may be awarded to any Botanist on the grounds of outstanding research and/or other contributions to the advancement of Botany in South Africa.
Nominations:  The same as those laid down for the South African Gold Medal for Botany.

The SAAB Certificate of Merit
The certificate will be awarded for outstanding contributions in the scientific, technical, artistic, and educational or any other botanical field, made by persons not in possession of a university degree in Botany.
Nominations:  The same as those laid down for the South African Gold Medal for Botany.

Further information regarding the nominations is explained in the SAAB constitution, Nominations must reach the secretary by email (forsaab@telkomsa.net) by no later than 31 August 2017. These awards will be presented at an awards ceremony in January 2018.

2017 SAAB Conference

The 2017 SAAB Annual Congress has come and gone after a precarious start.  The venue had to be changed from the UWC campus to the four star Lagoon Beach Hotel at the last minute. Most delegates didn’t mind the unexpected luxury although costs were considerably higher.  Next year the Annual Congress will be hosted by the Plant Science Department at the University of Pretoria.  Watch this space for more details

Big Thanks to UFS

The 42nd SAAB Congress hosted at the University of the Free State was attended by 215 delegates from all corners of South Africa. Five plenary lectures were given with special guest Jacques Vervoort from the Netherlands delivering a keynote paper on Chemical defence mechanisms in plants.  Prof William Bond was presented with the SAAB Gold Medal while Dr Rob Skelton won the Bronze.  Rabia Mathakutha cupped both the Best MSc oral presentation and the Best Young Scientist award for her paper on Understanding the role of functional traits in plant invasions in the sub-Antarctic islands. The best oral paper by a PhD went to Margaret Hulley; Honours award to Monja Berber and the Best Poster over all categories to Nelly Black. See PDF for details: First_Circular.pdf

New SAAB hats

Order from SAAB Secretary at R160 ea.

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