Top accolade for Professor Nigel

Professor Nigel Bennett, whose father still lives in Windsor Road, has been awarded the Zoological Society of South Africa's Gold Medal for 2008 in recognition of his work.

Professor Bennett attended Bexhill High School as a boy. His working life involves the academic study of South Africa's wildlife on behalf of the Department of Zoology and Entomology of the University of Pretoria.

The award is made annually for outstanding achievements in zoology in southern

Africa over a number of years.

An excerpt from his citation reads: "Professor Bennett has, over a period of some 20 years, made outstanding contributions to zoology in southern Africa, and is a leading educator, mentor, and researcher.

"Whilst his CV speaks for itself, we would like to highlight some of his more important contributions. "Some highlights of his more important contributions include:

*142 peer-reviewed papers which includes prestigious journals as Nature and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) , 10 book chapters, and a highly-regarded book on African mole-rats. He regularly contributes to the ZSSA journal, African Zoology, which has undoubtedly helped raise

the profile of the journal and sets a fine example to others.

*He is a leading international figure in the broader sphere of mammalian biology, reflected by his collaborative research programmes with a number of top international researchers and has been appointed to the editorial board of the Proceedings of the Royal Society Series B and is currently editor-in-chief of Journal of Zoology (London).

*His research excellence and ability to nurture students have recently been recognized by the NRF with the award of a Research Chair in Mammal Behavioural Ecology and Physiology.

*His outstanding research efforts have been recognised with several high achiever awards, including the Chancellor'rs medal (University of Pretoria), and he has been made a fellow of The Royal Society of South Africa.

*He has given unselfishly to the zoological (and scientific) community in South Africa. He served for many years on the Council of the ZSSA, as committee member, newsletter editor, Vice-President and finally President. Under his leadership, guidance and wise counsel, the ZSSA grew in strength. He has served on several other local and international committees.

"Nigel Bennett is a most deserving candidate for the ZSSA Gold Medal. His achievements are not only a result of his tremendous insight, but also of dedication and a remarkable capacity for hard work. He is an excellent ambassador for southern African zoology and role model for many students and scientists alike."