Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Awards honour Professor Sunil Maharaj on his project field of gravitational process.
Sunil Maharaj's research explores the workings of gravitational processes within stars.
Professor Sunil Maharaj has been honoured with the prestigious Annual Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award, further elevating South Africa’s global standing in astronomy and astrophysics.
Prof. Maharaj of the University of KwaZulu-Natal took South Africa a giant leap forward towards becoming a global leader in these fields on June 29, at Brenthurst Library.
The award recognises the professors’ exceptional work in the field of gravitational processes within evolving stars, a pivotal area bridging science, mathematics, and astronomy. Under the partnership with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), South Africa’s strategic vision of advancing astrophysics is being realised through this groundbreaking project.
Maharaj’s research offers crucial insights into our understanding of the universe. This pursuit has been a fundamental scientific challenge since the early days of gravity research.
“Professor Maharaj’s achievement not only highlights the exceptional talent within South Africa but also underscores the nation’s commitment to fostering scientific excellence and becoming a leader in the field of astrophysics. The collaborative nature of this project serves as a testament to the power of international cooperation and knowledge sharing”, said Jonathan Oppenheimer, chairman of the Harry Oppenheimer Trust.
Upon winning the award, Maharaj said, “It has been a very humbling experience to be shortlisted for the award, and to receive it. It came as a surprise to me as I thought it would go to something more observational and practical like a product or a cure for Covid”.
The award comes at a time when South Africa is making huge strides in the field of astronomy, as SKA, the world’s largest radio telescope, is currently being constructed by South Africa jointly with Australia. Maharaj adds that although South Africa is still catching up to developed countries in astronomy, the SKA is to the advantage of the country.
University of KwaZulu-Natal vice-chancellor and principal Prof. Nana Poku expressed immense pride and congratulated Maharaj on receiving this award, “His exceptional research in gravitational processes within evolving stars is a beacon of scientific excellence, demonstrating South Africa’s progress in astrophysics. This monumental achievement is not only a testament to Professor Maharaj’s unrivalled dedication and expertise but also a clear demonstration of South Africa’s capability to be a global leader in astronomy. As we celebrate this momentous occasion, we look forward to further pioneering breakthroughs in astrophysics and other fields from our esteemed academic community.”
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