Awards

List of previous award recipients

Honorary Life Membership

An honorary member is a person whom the Society wishes to honor by reason of meritorious services rendered to and for the realization of the objectives of the society.

Fellow of the SAWSS

Award winners will be known as Fellows of the SAWSS. Fellows will be members that have been selected on account of their professional achievements and services to the Society and weed science in South Africa. To qualify for nomination, the individual must be in high repute and an active member of the Society for at least 8 years. Fellows will share in all rights and privileges enjoyed by ordinary members.

SAWSS Shield

The award is for outstanding service to weed science in South Africa. It is not an award for research achievements per se, but seeks to also recognize exceptionally meritorious contributions to weed science in fields such as teaching, management, administration, etc.

SAWSS Dave Annecke Research Award

The award consists of a certificate and a cash amount. This award will be made solely on the grounds of outstanding research in the field of weed science. Dr Dave Anneke was an entomologist who worked for the Department of Plant Protection and was the first president of the SAWSS.

SAWSS Certificate of Merit

The certificate will be awarded for outstanding contributions in any field of weed science made by persons not in possession of a university degree, irrespective of his/her occupation.

SAWSS full-time postgraduate bursary

The SAWSS annually awards two bursaries of R25,000 each to students from SADC countries who are registered for a full-time postgraduate degree (not diploma) at a South African university in the broad field of weed science. To be considered for the bursary, a candidate must be a paid-up student member of the society, complete and return the application form (download here) together with their latest university academic records and a letter of recommendation by their supervisor, to "The SAWSS Secretary, PO Box 180, ELSENBURG, 7607, before 30 September each year. If applicable, an average mark of at least 60% should have been achieved for the previous study year's course work that forms part of the postgraduate study. The SAWSS executive committte will evaluate all applications before a decision on bursaries is made. The SAWSS reserves the right not to award bursaries if applications do not meet the minimum conditions. Successful candidates must submit proof of university registration before any payment is made and submit official results at the end of the study year.

SAWSS award for the best postgraduate dissertation in the field of weed science in the period preceding a congress

The award of R5,000 is sponsored by the SAWSS. Students must submit their dissertations to the SAWSS Executive Committee at least 3 (three) months prior to a congress.

SAWSS student travel grant

The SAWSS annually awards one student travel grant, up to a maximum of R5,000, to students from SADC countries who are registered for a postgraduate degree (not diploma) at a South African university in the broad field of weed science, for attendance of a South African conference, To be considered for the bursary, a candidate must complete and return the application form (download here) together with proof of paper acceptance from the conference organisers to "The SAWSS Secretary, PO Box 180, ELSENBURG, 7607".

SAWSS award for the best paper presented in the field of weed science during a congress

The award of R1,000 and a floating trophy is sponsored by CropLife South Africa.

SAWSS award for the best paper presented by a student in the field of weed science during a congress

The award of R1,000 and a floating trophy is sponsored by Syngenta.

SAWSS award for the best poster presented in the field of weed science during a congress

The award of R1,000 is sponsored by the SAWSS and a trophy is sponsored by Monsanto South Africa.

Bayer Herbicide Resistance Management Award

The Bayer resistance management award consists of a floating trophy and a cash prize component of R10,000. The award winner must be a paid-up member of SAWSS who presents a paper at an official SAWSS conference. A Bayer representative must serve on the judging panel together with a minimum of 4 SAWSS committee members. An entrant in the award category may not be one of the judges. The study should be innovative and an original work. The study should make a meaningful contribution to overcoming the problem of herbicide resistance in cultural practices in any given production system in South Africa. The work is not restricted to herbicides or chemistry but may pertain to any practice that may lead to the management of herbicide resistance such as crop rotational systems, tillage systems or any other cultural practice. The prize would only be considered if a presentation is made that meets the accepted standard (not necessarily awarded at every conference). SAWSS is to advise Bayer as soon as possible if a winner has been identified. SAWSS is to invoice Bayer (Pty) Ltd for the prize money of R 10,000. The money will be transferred electronically to the recipient’s bank account, the details of which is to be supplied by SAWSS. The Winner must undertake to present his/her paper at a Bayer / Bayvolution Conference within 12 months of winning the award. Bayer is to be supplied with copies of all presentations entering the award category. SAWSS Committee may apply additional criteria to the above for the judging and allocation of the award provided the intention of Bayer in the matter is not reduced. Bayer undertakes to support the Award for a minimum of 5 years (i.e. 2010-2015).