SAEON welcomes new Chief Research Scientist

A-rated scientist Professor William Bond

As of 1 February 2014, SAEON will have an A-rated scientist* in its midst.

William Bond is a Professor in Biological Sciences at the University of Cape Town. He is an ecologist with broad interests in the processes most strongly influencing vegetation change in the past and present, including fire, vertebrate herbivory, atmospheric CO2 and climate change.

In addition, Professor Bond has worked on plant-animal mutualisms and on plant form and function. Particular research interests include grasslands and savanna ecosystems, and winter-rainfall shrublands.

Prof. Bond has served on the Boards of the South African National Botanical Institute and of Cape Nature and on the Editorial Boards of several journals. In 2013, he was elected a Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Sciences. Among his achievements are authoring and co-authoring nearly 200 papers (realising an h-factor of 58) and three books.

Vision for long-term environmental challenges

Johan Pauw, Managing Director of SAEON says he is convinced Prof. Bond will fit smoothly into the SAEON mould. "He has a vision for South Africa's long-term environmental challenges and is likely to lead the publication of a book on this topic," Pauw said.

Prof. Bond famously stated that he has recently become "inquisitive about the marine environment" and would therefore like to work closely with SAEON's Egagasini and Elwandle nodes to broaden his understanding of South Africa's offshore and coastal systems during his four-year contract with SAEON..

This dedicated scientist's previous involvements with SAEON were as member of the Fynbos Node Liaison Committee, a speaker at the Graduate Student Network's Indibano and commenting on SAEON's Core Science Framework.

"Professor Bond's acceptance of the SAEON offer, despite competition from esteemed other organisations, should be experienced as a confirmation of SAEON's growing status locally and globally," Pauw said, adding: "This is further confirmed by the quality of all three candidates that we have interviewed for the position."

Prof. Bond told SAEON eNews that he was very pleased to be joining SAEON and was keenly looking forward to working with his new colleagues.

*  A-rated researchers are "unequivocally recognised by their peers as leading international scholars in their field", according to the rating system of the National Research Foundation of South Africa.

Prof. Bond discusses the issue of invasive alien plants with members of SAEON's Graduate Student Network along the Potberg Mountain hiking trail during their annual Indibano (Picture © Sally Hofmeyr)