University of Cape Town particle physicist, Dr James Keaveney, received the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust’s (OMT) inaugural New Frontiers Research Award, aimed at supporting and reinvigorating South Africa's reputation for research excellence, on 15 May 2024.

“We are thrilled to launch this award. The annual New Frontiers Research Award aims to give exceptionally talented early- to mid-career researchers the freedom and flexibility to pursue bold ideas and push the boundaries of knowledge in their fields of study,” says OMT chair Rebecca Oppenheimer.

The total award is for R7.5-million. The winner, who receives R1.5-million in research funding each year for five years, must be based at a South African university and have the ambition needed to build high-performance teams.