Renowned University of the Western Cape (UWC) scientist and researcher, Prof Priscilla Baker, will next week be among 38 distinguished South Africans honoured with National Orders by President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria.
Ramaphosa this week announced that Prof Baker, an analytical chemistry scientist and UWC’s Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, will receive the Order of Mapungubwe – Bronze, for her outstanding contribution to scientific research and leadership in science and technology, particularly in the field of electro-analytical chemistry. The prestigious award recognises South Africans who have achieved excellence and made exceptional contributions that benefit the country and the world. National Orders are the highest awards that a country, through its President, bestows on its citizens and foreign nationals.
Prof Baker thanked the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) for nominating her and said the award is a collective achievement shaped by the many people and communities who have supported her throughout her life.
“It’s a great honour for me to be the recipient [of this award], but I’m fully aware that I do not stand alone,” she said, acknowledging the role of her family and the diverse cultural and faith communities that have been part of her journey.
“All of the people who have crossed my path in one way or another have been part of the making of a moment. I receive this award for all of us,” she said, citing that the honour is a reminder of hard work, excellence, commitment and the importance of uplifting one another.
Well-known for her groundbreaking research in electrochemistry, some of Prof Baker’s outstanding projects that could potentially solve world problems include the development of a biosensor for detecting uric acid in gout patients. As the co-director of the SensorLab research group at UWC with Prof Emmanuel Iwuoha, she is at the forefront of developing cutting-edge electrochemical sensors capable of detecting health biomarkers and environmental contaminants. These devices could revolutionise healthcare, particularly in underserved regions like rural Africa, by enabling early detection and continuous monitoring of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
