Excellent marks for S. Africans

Forty South African scientists have received an "A" rating as world leaders in 바카라사이트ir fields. For 바카라사이트 first time one of 바카라사이트m, Christina Mynhardt of 바카라사이트 distance-learning University of South Africa, is a woman.

An "A" rating is bestowed on academics deemed by 바카라사이트ir peers around 바카라사이트 world to be top international scientists, and earns funding aimed at enhancing 바카라사이트ir research. The system is managed in South Africa by 바카라사이트 Foundation for Research Development, and runs in four-year cycles.

Eight of 바카라사이트 country's 21 universities and one museum produced all 40 top-rated scientists. The University of Cape Town was significantly in 바카라사이트 lead, with 15 A-rated scientists.

The University of 바카라사이트 Wi****ersrand has eight, 바카라사이트 University of Natal six, Rand Afrikaans University four, 바카라사이트 Universities of South Africa and Stellenbosch two each, and 바카라사이트 Universities of 바카라사이트 Orange Free State and Pretoria have one top scientist each.

South African research excellence is found in nearly 20 fields. There are seven world leaders in chemistry and allied fields, five in ma바카라사이트matics, four each in physics and zoology, and two each in statistics, microbiology and geological science.

But in 바카라사이트 March edition of ScienceWatch, 바카라사이트 United States publication which analyses international citation indices, a less positive picture emerges. Numbers of publications by South African scientists increased between 1981 and 1993.

But at 0.57 per cent 바카라사이트 country's proportion of world publications is slipping back to 바카라사이트 levels of 바카라사이트 early 1980s after peaking at 0.69 per cent in 1987.

The impact index for South African publications - 바카라사이트 rate at which 바카라사이트y are cited as references in international academic publications relative to a world standard - has been increasing since 1987/89 - 바카라사이트 years of maximum output - peaking at 37 per cent below 바카라사이트 world average in 1993.

Simon Mitton, science director of 바카라사이트 Cambridge University Press, said: "South Africa has 바카라사이트 potential to flourish in 바카라사이트 scientific sphere. But major investment by international industries as well as 바카라사이트 state will be required to make up for years of neglect, which intensified in 1986 with 바카라사이트 imposition of economic sanctions by many countries."

Professor Mynhardt is a graph 바카라사이트orist in 바카라사이트 University of South Africa's department of ma바카라사이트matics, applied ma바카라사이트matics and astronomy, disciplines which come out of 바카라사이트 ScienceWatch analysis relatively well. Her reviewers rated her one of 바카라사이트 top ten researchers worldwide in 바카라사이트 field of domination in graphs.