2.11 The DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion
Biology (2004–Present)
In 2004, the then South African Department of Science and Technology (DST, now
Science and Innovation, DSI), through the National Research Foundation (NRF),
established six Centres of Excellence, after wide consultation and a highly competitive selection process. Centres of Excellence are physical or virtual centres which
concentrate and strengthen existing research capacity and resources to address issues
of national and international importance, enabling researchers to collaborate across
disciplines and institutions on long-term projects that are locally relevant and
internationally competitive. The goal of DSI-NRF Centres of Excellence is to
enhance the pursuit of research excellence and to develop trained scientific capacity
for the country. One of the six inaugural centres was the Centre for Invasion Biology,
or CÁIÁB (van Wilgen et al. 2014; Richardson et al. 2020). The CÁIÁB is led from
Stellenbosch University, with a satellite hub at the University of Pretoria, and was
founded by its first director, Prof. Steven L. Chown (Fig. 2.12). A network of about
20 core team members was then appointed at several South African universities and
institutions, to provide a cohort of researchers united by a common interest in aspects
of invasion science. This inter-institutional arrangement allowed for a broad spectrum of research interactions involving a wide diversity of research associates,
postdoctoral fellows and students (van Wilgen et al. 2014).
Prof. Steven Chown, Director of the CÁIÁB between 2004 and 2012, has a
background in insect physiology, with a keen interest in Antarctic and
sub-Antarctic research. He and many of his students worked on aspects of invasions
Fig. 2.11 Lesley
Henderson, who initiated
the South African Plant
Invaders Atlas (SAPIA), and
has maintained it for almost
40 years. Henderson is
holding her book on
invasive alien plant
distributions in
South Africa, which is based
on SAPIA records.
Photograph courtesy of
Lesley Henderson
2 A Brief, Selective History of Researchers and Research Initiatives
51
Biology (2004–Present)
In 2004, the then South African Department of Science and Technology (DST, now
Science and Innovation, DSI), through the National Research Foundation (NRF),
established six Centres of Excellence, after wide consultation and a highly competitive selection process. Centres of Excellence are physical or virtual centres which
concentrate and strengthen existing research capacity and resources to address issues
of national and international importance, enabling researchers to collaborate across
disciplines and institutions on long-term projects that are locally relevant and
internationally competitive. The goal of DSI-NRF Centres of Excellence is to
enhance the pursuit of research excellence and to develop trained scientific capacity
for the country. One of the six inaugural centres was the Centre for Invasion Biology,
or CÁIÁB (van Wilgen et al. 2014; Richardson et al. 2020). The CÁIÁB is led from
Stellenbosch University, with a satellite hub at the University of Pretoria, and was
founded by its first director, Prof. Steven L. Chown (Fig. 2.12). A network of about
20 core team members was then appointed at several South African universities and
institutions, to provide a cohort of researchers united by a common interest in aspects
of invasion science. This inter-institutional arrangement allowed for a broad spectrum of research interactions involving a wide diversity of research associates,
postdoctoral fellows and students (van Wilgen et al. 2014).
Prof. Steven Chown, Director of the CÁIÁB between 2004 and 2012, has a
background in insect physiology, with a keen interest in Antarctic and
sub-Antarctic research. He and many of his students worked on aspects of invasions
Fig. 2.11 Lesley
Henderson, who initiated
the South African Plant
Invaders Atlas (SAPIA), and
has maintained it for almost
40 years. Henderson is
holding her book on
invasive alien plant
distributions in
South Africa, which is based
on SAPIA records.
Photograph courtesy of
Lesley Henderson
2 A Brief, Selective History of Researchers and Research Initiatives
51