Professor Julie Coetzee

Well-known Professor Julie Coetzee who headed the hyacinth biocontrol project at Hartbeespoort Dam received the Rhodes University’s Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Senior Research Award for her work to reduce the negative impact of alien invasive plants.
The Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Senior Research Award is made annually to a staff member of Rhodes University, to recognize their indisputable academic status, engagement in research and general scholarly activity.
In nominating Prof. Coetzee for this award, Prof. Iain Paterson of the Department of Zoology and Entomology, describes the direct and tangible benefits of Prof. Coetzee’s work to society in South Africa. He highlights that the work reduces the negative impacts of invasive alien plants, which results in the protection of ecosystems and the biodiversity that they hold, and allows the ecosystems to provide the essential services, such as provisioning of clean water, buffering of diseases and nutrients cycling, to South Africa’s people. Prof. Coetzee’s work has also resulted in a reduction in the use of harmful pesticides that damage ecosystems and have negative health implications for people.
Prof Coetzee’s research has thus far resulted in over 100 academic papers in peer-reviewed journals.
In recognition of her contributions to the field, Prof Coetzee has just been awarded the prestigious DSI/NRF SARChI Tier 1 Chair in Biological Control and Freshwater Alien Invasive Species Management. The research chair is co-hosted by the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) and Rhodes University. Her innovative research and dedication to preserving aquatic ecosystems make her a leader in her field.