Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) senior researcher and manager of the bituminous binders laboratory Georges Mturi was awarded the 2016 JD Roberts Award, which is sponsored by construction group Murray & Roberts (M&R) and held in partnership with the CSIR.
The award, which was instituted in 1980 in remembrance of one of M&R’s founders, Dr JD Roberts, encourages scientific research into technology that will enhance the quality of life of all South Africans.
Mturi leads a CSIR research project investigating changing the current bitumen specifications from empirical-based to more advanced performance-based methods.
His expertise also includes bituminous products and technology, forensic investigations into bitumen- related road failures and the development of new additives that enhance the performance of bitumen, resulting in more durable road surfaces.
“The finalists all presented work that was innovative and unique and determining a final winner was a challenging process,” said M&R sustainability executive and member of the adjudicatifon panel Andrew Skudder.
The two runners-up for the award were CSIR researchers Dr Paul Nordengen and Dr Jeremy Gibberd.