Inaugural Addresses (Chemistry and Polymer Science)
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
- ItemA better mousetrap? a new look at some old issues(2015-03) Van Reenen, Albert; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Chemistry and Polymer Science.Albert van Reenen was born in Stellenbosch in 1957. He obtained both his MSc (1985) and PhD (1988) in polymer science at Stellenbosch University. He joined Stellenbosch University as a researcher at the Institute for Polymer Science in 1989 and was subsequently appointed as senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry. From his early research, which focused on polymeric membranes for waste water treatment, an interest in understanding the fundamental relationship between polymer microstructure and macroscopic material properties developed. Coupled with a long-standing collaboration with local industry, Prof van Reenen’s research has been primarily focused on the structure-property relationship in commercially important thermoplastics, in particular the polyolefins. Related to this are research projects that encompass wood-polymer composites, polyolefin nanocomposites, and the study of solution crystallisation of polymers. A new focus area that is being developed at present is the use of bioactive polymers or polymer systems in packaging applications. The collaboration with industry has also allowed him to leverage substantial funds for the purchase of analytical equipment that is essential for successful research. Professor Van Reenen has a keen interest in furthering polymer science education in Southern Africa and through a collaborative effort with colleagues regularly presents short courses and workshops in both academia and for local industry.
- ItemFrom synthetic methodology to making molecules with a mission – a research summary of the first 10 years(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2011-06) Van Otterlo, WillemWillem van Otterlo was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. As a child he moved to Southern Africa and received his primary and secondary schooling in Windhoek, Namibia, and Johannesburg, South Africa. In 1989 he started his BSc and in 1999 he graduated with a PhD that involved the synthesis of analogues of the michellamines. The PhD was performed under the mentorship of Profs CB de Koning and JP Michael at the School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), Johannesburg. He then spent two years in the research group of Prof. Stephen Hanessian (University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada) as a postdoctoral fellow, involved in projects focused on medicinal chemistry and synthesis utilising peptide-based building blocks. In 2001 he returned to his alma mater to take up a lecturing position and initiated a research programme involving the application of organometallic reagents to the synthesis of small benzo-fused molecules, eventually attaining the rank of Associate Professor. In July 2008 he joined Prof. Dr Herbert Waldmann’s Chemical Biology group at the Max Planck Institute, Dortmund, as a von Humboldt (Georg-Forster) Research Fellow for a sabbatical year to learn more about the interaction between chemistry and biology. He then took up the Chair of Organic Chemistry at Stellenbosch University, Western Cape. Since June 2010 he has been striving to nurture a team environment at the Department of Chemistry and Polymer Sciences so that organic and medicinal chemistry research can be performed in collaboration with talented colleagues. His current research interests are focused on the synthesis of small molecules with potential bioactivity, particularly molecules based on natural templates such as pancratistatin, podophyllotoxin, colchicine and purpurogallin, as well as research focused on the design of better ligands for enzymes (kinases and phosphatases) and nuclear receptors (estrogen receptor).