Thabo Mohlala
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has proven it is one of the best academic institutions in the globe when one of its own, Professor Hassina Mouri Ben Ali, was recently elected as vice president (2020-2024) of International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), considered to be one of the World’s largest scientific organisations.
Professor Mouri Bent Ali is a prominent geologist who was nominated by the National Research Foundation (NRF), and ultimately elected by the Council Members of the IUGS. She is the first African female to be elected for this prestigious position.
IUGS is an august and highly regarded global body founded in 1961 and boasts 121 national members, representing over a million geoscientists, making it one of the World’s largest scientific organisations.
IUGS aims to:
- promote development of the Earth sciences through the support of broad-based scientific studies relevant to the entire Earth system.
- to apply the results of these and other studies to preserving Earth’s natural environment
- use all natural resources wisely and improving the prosperity of nations and the quality of human life and
- to strengthen public awareness of geology and advance geological education in the widest sense.
South Africa’s engagement with International Science Council (ISC) is managed by the NRF and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), working in close collaboration with the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI).
The main objective of ISC secretariat support is to maximise South Africa’s participation in global events and solicit opportunities from ISC that can benefit South Africa and Africa at large. There are approximately 40 South African National Committees/Unions affiliated to ISC-SA.
