His name is synonymous with groundbreaking research and innovation, with many honours over the years acknowledging the impact of his work. Now, another prestigious honour will soon be awarded to Prof. Louis du Preez, amphibian conservationist and amphibian parasite diversity expert of the School of Biological Sciences of the North-West University (NWU).
The Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns (South African Academy for Science and Art) will present him with one of their most prestigious annual awards, the Havenga Prize for Life Sciences, in October this year. This annual award recognises original quality research that also promotes Afrikaans in science. It can only be awarded once to a particular person.
This year’s award acknowledges Prof. Du Preez’s remarkable scientific journey spanning more than three decades. Over this time, he has established himself as an international expert in herpetology and parasitology, while he also promoted Afrikaans as a high-functioning scientific language. He has produced approximately 200 peer-reviewed publications, including the description of multiple new species.
He has also authored and co-authored 10 books, including impactful titles such as A Complete Guide to the Frogs of Southern Africa, Frogs and frogging, and the Afrikaans version, Paddas en Paddajolyt, and Polystomatid Flatworms: State of knowledge and future trends. His contribution to biodiversity research and international scholarship is widely recognised.
A prestigious recognition
Reflecting on the award, Prof. Du Preez says he did not know that he had been nominated for the prestigious award. “The nominations came from people from outside the NWU, and I have great appreciation for it.”
He says he is very passionate about Afrikaans. “Although scientific publications are mostly in English, I made sure to translate some of my work for Afrikaans readers as well.”
Beyond his academic publications, Prof. Du Preez is most proud of the 10 books he has written for the general public. “I experienced in my own family what this research means to people. I wanted them to understand what I was doing, and when possible, I used to take my children with me on field trips. I did this to make them feel part of what I was doing and I could experience how enthusiastic they were about it. It gave me significant satisfaction.”
These works, including a field guide and app, have made science accessible to wider audiences. He answers questions from the public on a regular basis on the RSG radio programme “Hoe verklaar jy dit?”.
Prof. Du Preez continues to pursue research on amphibian well-being and parasitology, with a strong focus on conservation. He is currently still busy with a rain frog project. In 2024, he and his team described a new rain frog species (Boston Rain Frog) that had previously been confused with the endangered and elusive Bilbo’s rain frog. This new frog was discovered by keen naturalists who tried to tick off all the KZN species in the field guide that Prof. Du Preez had written. “That was one discovery that had a great impact on the conservation of an endangered species. I am proud that our work on rain frogs is still continuing. One of my students, Tiaan Botha, is continuing our research in this regard.”
His career has been marked not only by discovery but also by mentorship. He mentions that his mentor was Prof. Dawie Kok from Bloemfontein, and that he is simply continuing what Prof. Kok taught him.
Prof. Du Preez plays a key role in training a new generation of scientists, encouraging them to remain curious and passionate. His advice to young people is to be passionate about what they are doing. “The greatest discoveries are often found by accident. You will only know if something is out of the ordinary if you know what is the ordinary. Keep your eyes open, observe and make notes. That is the start of finding extraordinary things.”
His career demonstrates how rigorous research, mentorship and science communication can combine to leave a lasting impact. This impact is not only on the scientific community but also on society at large.
Prof. Louis du Preez.
