On the 5th of April 2024, The DVC, Dr Nomakwezi Mzilikazi presented Professor Julie Coetzee with the Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Senior Research Award for 2023. Below are the words of Dr Mzilikazi on the day.
The Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Senior Research Award is made annually to a staff member of Rhodes University, to recognize their indisputable academic status, engagement in research and general scholarly activity. Prof Julie Coetzee obtained her PhD in Entomology from the University of Witwatersrand in 2004 and has been in the employ of Rhodes University for the past 15 years. She is currently the Deputy Director of one of Rhodes’ flagship research entities, the Centre for Biological Control. She is one of our country’s most prominent and respected Entomologists, being the President of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa between 2021 and 2023. Her academic standing is evidenced by external supervision roles at various south African universities, and her role as an invited reviewer for more than 20 journals of national and international repute. Prof Coetzee research focuses on understanding the interactions between freshwater aquatic plants and insects and applying this knowledge to develop sustainable management strategies for invasive species in aquatic ecosystems.
In nominating Prof. Coetzee for this award, Prof, Iain Paterson describes the direct and tangible benefits of Prof. Coetzee’s work to society in South Africa. He highlights that the work reduces the negative impacts of invasive alien plants, which results in the protection of ecosystems and the biodiversity that they hold, and allows the ecosystems to provide the essential services, such as provisioning of clean water, buffering of diseases and nutrients cycling, to South Africa’s people. Prof. Coetzee’s work has also resulted in a reduction in the use of harmful pesticides that damage ecosystems and have negative health implications for people.
Evidence of the direct and relevant impact that her work has for the people of South Africa can be found in the over 20 news articles about her research over the last 3 years, and her interviews on national television and radio stations. This positive press attention has been very beneficial to our university, showing the country that we have researchers of the highest quality who are working for the betterment of society. Prof Coetzee’s research has thus far resulted in over 100 academic papers in peer-reviewed journals. She has also inspired the younger generation of scientists, particularly women scientists, having supervised to completion, 10 PhD students and 24 MSc students. Many academics of Prof. Coetzee’s stature build large research groups of postgraduate students, postdoctoral fellows and research fellows. This work requires inordinate amounts of time writing research funding proposals to multiple agencies and potential industry partners. Building an impactful research career requires time, financial resources, networks, infrastructure and strategic partnerships. Prof. Coetzee generated more than 70 Million Rands in funding for her research into Rhodes University in the 15 years she has been employed at this institution.
In recognition of her contributions to the field, Prof Coetzee has just been awarded the prestigious DSI/NRF SARChI Tier 1 Chair in Biological Control and Freshwater Alien Invasive Species Management. The research chair is co-hosted by the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) and Rhodes University. Her innovative research and dedication to preserving aquatic ecosystems make her a leader in her field.