Lise Korsten

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Wikipedia

Lise Korsten
Bornc.1959
EducationStellenbosch University, University of Pretoria
Occupationacademic
Known forfirst woman President of the African Academy of Sciences
RelativesProf Jan Kotze (step father)

Lise Korsten is a South African Professor at the University of Pretoria who is an expert in plant pathology. In 2024, she became the first woman to lead the African Academy of Sciences.[citation needed]

Life

Korsten was born in about 1959.[1] She credits her step father who was a plant researcher with inspiring her interests.[2] She attended Floridase Hoërskool in Gauteng before studying at Stellenbosch University and the University of Pretoria.[1]

African Academy of Sciences

In August 2023, she became the first woman to lead the African Academy of Sciences,[3] succeeding Felix Dapare Dakora. As its president, she aimed to make the academy more inclusive and gender balanced. The academy should she believes be widely recognised as a leader in African sciences.[4] She leads the academy's governing council of ten people and three of these Jane Catherine Ngila, Rajaâ Cherkaoui El Moursli and Peggy Oti-Boateng who was the executive director from 2022 are also women.[5] She will be president until 2026.[3] Kortsen had taken over the leadership of the academy after a difficult period. The academy had found that its staff and budget had grown to 60 staff controlling $250m supported by the Wellcome Trust and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Internal disagreements led to the loss of the academy's financial supporters. Korsten and her executive secretary had to re-establish the academy's role.[6]

She is also a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa.[7]

Her research

Korsten's research includes the regulation of food and she takes an interest in South African Law. She has argued for a body to be appointed that would oversee food consumption.[2] In January 2025 she spoke out warning about the hazards of street food and the need for the South African government to bring in controls.[8] Later that year she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Ghent University.[9]

In 2025, the National Science and Technology Forum recognised her work with a Lifetime Achievement Award.[10]

Selected publications

References

  1. 1 2 "Lise Korsten (60)". Mail&Guardian – Women changing South Africa. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  2. 1 2 "Professor Lise Korsten | Researchers | University of Pretoria". www.up.ac.za. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  3. 1 2 "Lise Korsten". World Economic Forum.
  4. ↑ "Lise Korsten". www.interacademies.org. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  5. ↑ "The African Academy of Sciences (AAS)". aasciences.africa. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  6. ↑ "A fresh start for the African Academy of Sciences". Nature. 627 (8004): 465. 2024-03-19. Bibcode:2024Natur.627..465.. doi:10.1038/d41586-024-00814-1. PMID 38503917.
  7. ↑ "Member Directory". Academy of Science of South Africa. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  8. ↑ Fulepu, Iva. "Toxic treats: Expert tells Parliament of urgent need to regulate informal food sellers". News24. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  9. ↑ "UP's Prof Lise Korsten receives Honorary Doctorate from Ghent University | Newswise". www.newswise.com. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  10. ↑ "CoE-FS Co-Director Professor Lise Korsten Honoured with 2025 NSTF–South32 Lifetime Achievement Award". Centre of Excellence. Retrieved 2025-09-06.