Skip to content
<\/i>","library":"fa-solid"}}" data-widget_type="nav-menu.default">
  • Home
  • Maties Connect
  • Donate
    • Ways to Give
    • #Move4food
  • Contact
  • Convocation
  • Afrikaans
  • Home
  • Maties Connect
  • Donate
    • Ways to Give
    • #Move4food
  • Contact
  • Convocation
  • Afrikaans

Menu

  • English
  • Afrikaans

GSSA recognises SU students’ for best MSc and Honours theses in earth sciences in 2021

In a double whammy two Stellenbosch University (SU) students were awarded the Geological Society of South Africa’s top awards for the best MSc and best Honours theses in earth sciences at a South African university in 2021.

It also happens that the two students, Ryan Rosenfels and Rutger la Cock, also shared the same study leader, Dr Bjorn von der Heyden, a lecturer in SU’s Department of Earth Sciences.​

Ryan Rosenfels was awarded the John Handley award for his MSc thesis entitled “Characterizing the Fungurume 88 Deposit in the Tenk Fungurume Mining District: an unusual, high grade, primary cobalt sulphide deposit”, while Rutger la Cock received the Haughton award  for his Honours thesis entitled “Manganese deposits within the Cape Supergroup and their relation to thermal springs”.

In recent years postgraduate students in the Department of Earth Sciences have made a strong showing in earning GSSA awards, including Dr Von der Heyden himself, who won the Haughton award in 2009. This is what the list looks like:

  • The Corstorphine Medal for an exceptional MSc thesis at a South African university was awarded to Kelly Swana in 2016 and Tarryn Cawood in 2017.
  • The John Handley Award in recognition of the best MSc thesis in earth sciences at a South African university was awarded to Matthew Mayne in 2015 and to Jonathan Gloyn-Jones in 2019.
  • The Haughton Award in recognition of an exceptional Honours thesis at a South African university has been awarded thrice, to Bjorn von der Heyden (2009), Jean Loock (2015) and Stephan Dunn (2017).
  • In 2020 Prof Alex Kisters was awarded the Draper Medal for his lifetime contribution to geology in South Africa.

On the photo above, Ryan Rosenfels (left) and Rutger la Cock (on the far right) together with their study leader, Dr Bjorn von der Heyden. Images supplied

More articles

COVID-19: Alumni events across Europe cancelled

Tygerberg at forefront of surgical training with da Vinci robot

Telling her story on her terms

Once a Matie, Always a Matie
  • Homecoming
    • Homecoming 2024
    • Homecoming 2023
    • Homecoming 2022
    • Homecoming 2020
  • Campaigns
    • 2021
      • Law Faculty Dean’s Fund
      • Covid-19 Relief Funds
      • Masked Masterpieces
      • Thank You
    • 2022
      • #Action4inclusion
      • Bridge The Gap Annual Fund
      • EndGBV
      • Train4Fees
      • #SciMathus
      • Move4Food
    • 2023
      • Breast Cancer Awareness
  • Chapters
    • Global Maties Network
  • Alumni Flagship Programmes
    • Pre-Alumni
    • Swan
    • Young Alumni
  • Events
    • Alumni Engagement Calendar
    • Events
  • News
  • Videos
  • Donate
    • Move4Food
    • Donate
    • Impact Reports
  • Get informed
    • Alumni Clubhouse
    • Contact
    • Get Informed
    • Matie Shop
    • Maties Wine Club
  • Volunteering at SU
  • Visit Sun.ac
  • Home
  • Maties Connect
  • Donate
    • Ways to Give
    • #Move4food
  • Contact
  • Convocation
  • Afrikaans

Stellenbosch
Private Bag X1
Matieland
South Africa

+27(0)21 808 9265
alumni@sun.ac.za

Facebook Linkedin Instagram Twitter

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in .

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. View our Privacy Policy

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!