At the annual conference of the South African Institute for Computer Scientists and Information Technologists held in Limpopo last week, Prof Pat Terry received the prestigious 2010 Pioneer in Computer Science and Information Technology award.Â
The purpose of the award, which was instituted last year, is to honour persons that have made major contributions over a lifetime to the disciplines of Computer Science and IT in South Africa. Prof Terry becomes the second person from Rhodes to receive the award, with Dr Derek Henderson being one of the first two recipients last year.
Prof Terry obtained his undergraduate degree and his MSc in Physics with distinction at Rhodes, before taking up a scholarship at Cambridge University where he completed his PhD in 1972. His postgraduate studies in Physics, both at MSc and PhD level, were largely dependent on computer simulations and led him into the related field of Computer Science.
He started his career of almost 40 years at Rhodes as a Lecturer in Applied Mathematics, moved on to Senior Lecturer in 1977 and in 1981 was appointed as Professor of Computer Science in the newly-created Department of Computer Science. In 1992 he was awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Teaching in recognition of his dedication and excellence in teaching.
Prof Terry is well-known internationally for his many textbooks on the topics of compilers and computer languages, but has also published many journal articles and conference papers that focus on pedagogical issues in Computer Science. He has served on a number of standards-setting bodies, but his most significant contribution to the South African academic community has probably been his facilitation of email and networking connections between South African universities and the rest of the world.
The Pioneers in Computing Award was presented to Prof Terry and two other recipients at a gala dinner in Bela-Bela last week, with his citation being done by Prof George Wells, HOD of Computer Science at Rhodes.