Image 1: Dr Lizel Hugo- Coetzee; Mr Dawie de Swardt; Dr Michael Bates and Mrs Sharon Snell
National Museum CEO, Sharon Snell, recognised three scientists for research excellence in the financial period 24/25. They excelled in the number of academic publications they authored/ co- authored in the 12-month period. The Museum has built strong research capabilities across significant fields with four NRF rated researchers on the team. The National Museum contributes to South Africa’s scholarly output and participates in multiple national and international research collaborations. The vision of the National Museum is to be known as the best heritage centre in Africa, and it intend to achieve this by excelling in its conservation, research, and educational functions across a broad spectrum of disciplines in the Natural Sciences, Human Sciences and Fine Arts.
Image 2: Mrs Portia Phiri, Dr Gimo Daniel; Mrs Sharon Snell and Dr Lizel Hugo-Coetzee
First Place in Scholarly Research Excellence
Dr Michael F. Bates – HOD: Plant and Animal Systematics. He authored/co- authored 8 publications during 24/25
Joint Second Place in Scholarly Research Excellence
Dr Gimo M. Daniel – Principal Museum Scientist, Terrestrial Invertebrates. He authored/co- authored 5 publications during 24/25.
Mr Dawie H. de Swardt – HOD: Ornithology. He authored/co- authored 5 publications during 24/25.
Dr Michael F. Bates is a Specialist Scientist and Head of the Animal and Plant Systematics Department at the National Museum, where he has worked since 1983. Michael’s focus is taxonomic studies of snakes and lizards.
Dr Gimo M. Daniel is an entomologist and is Principal Museum Scientist working in the Terrestrial Invertebartes Department at the National Museum. Dr Daniel’s research interest is focused on systematics and biogeography of dung beetles (Scarabaeinae), as well as zoological nomenclature. He is an NRF rated scientist and since 2021, a National Geographic Explorer.
Mr Dawie H. de Swardt is a Senior Museum Scientist and Head of the Ornithology Department of the National Museum, where is has worked since 1988. His research projects deal with bird species such as Northern Black Korhaan, Gurney’s Sugarbirds, Malachite Sunbirds, Karoo and Drakensberg Prinias and African Rock Pipits.
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