Prof Addmore Shonhai, a professor who is based in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, was recently elect-ed as a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa. Fellows are elected from persons who have done outstanding work in the furtherance of science in South Africa as evidenced by original publications. Candidates for Fellowship are proposed and recommended by a written motivation, which shall be signed by four or more Fellows or Members, of whom two shall certify their recommendation from personal knowledge Prof Shonhai’s research focuses on understanding the stress response mechanisms of infectious agents. He is also interested in the design and identification of antimicrobial drugs targeting the stress response pathways of malaria and tuberculosis causing agents. He is a current council member of the South African Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SASBMB). As chair of the lo-cal organising committee (LOC) of the SASBMB 2024 Congress, he organised the most suc-cessful SASBMB congress in history. The congress took place in July 2024 and was held at the Protea Ranch Hotel in Polokwane. The congress was attended by record numbers of del-egates (over 400) and exhibitors in the history of the society. Prof Shonhai is a recipient of a prestigious Georg Foster Fellowship, awarded to him by the Alexander von Humboldt Foun-dation of Germany. He is life-time member of the Cell Stress Society International (CSSI).
His election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa aligns with the Uni-versity of Venda’s strategic thrust on ‘’engaged scholarship’’. The roles of the Roy-al Society of South Africa include promoting, recognising and rewarding excel-lence in research and scholarship; promoting international contacts and collaboration; providing independent expert advice on significant issues that require scientific analysis;
initiating the debate on matters of public importance that affect science or arise from its application; foster science education; encourage the study of the history of science in South Africa; arrange lec-tures and symposia on appropriate topics; publish scientifically valuable work; maintain a library of scientific value. To this end, Prof Shonhai was appointed to the editorial board of the Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, a journal that is published by the Royal Society of South Africa publishes.
Issued by:
Department Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
