South Africa takes a giant leap towards becoming a global leader in astronomy and astrophysics as Professor Sunil Maharaj of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) receives the esteemed Annual Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award. The accoladwwe recognises Professor Maharaj's exceptional work in the field of gravitational processes within evolving stars, a pivotal area bridging science, mathematics, and astronomy.

Under the visionary partnership with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), South Africa's strategic vision of advancing astrophysics is being realised through this groundbreaking project. Professor Maharaj's research explores the intricate workings of gravitational processes within stars, offering crucial insights into our understanding of the universe. This pursuit has been a fundamental scientific challenge since the early days of gravity research.