‘Stretch’ing the boundaries of science
NGN talks to the Northwood School Circle of Valor winner for the Academics, Science and Technology award.
PROFESSOR Derek Stretch (BScEng/MScEng/PhD Cantab) holds a PhD in environmental fluid mechanics from Cambridge University in the UK. He is a professor of hydraulics and environmental fluid mechanics in the civil engineering program at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
He currently occupies the eThekwini sponsored chair in civil engineering and is the director of the Centre for Research in Environmental, Coastal and estuarine ecosystems. After completing his PhD, Stretch spent 10 years in the USA working at the University of Washington and at the NASA/Stanford University Centre for turbulence research.
Stretch has more than 100 publications and is internationally recognised scientist with a B2 rating from the SA National Research Foundation.
The 59-year-old matriculated from Northlands Boys in 1972 and had a younger brother Rodney Stretch, two years behind him.
He is the winner of the Circle of Valour Academics, Science and Technology award.
“The recognition of this award from my peers in an honour. It is also a humbling experience since it makes one reflect on what one has been able to achieve. For me the highlight of my career so far has been the opportunity to mentor young students in the achievement of their life goals.
“I have mentored a 100 honours level students, 50 masters level students and 10 PhD students, all of whom undertook research projects in my field of expertise,” he said.
He has received a number of awards during his career and in 2012 was among the top 20 researchers at UKZN.
