Professor Thobela Louis Tyasi, Associate Professor in the School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UL, aims to make meaningful contributions to elevate the field of animal production
By Knowledge Mnisi |ulpublications@ul.ac.za
Professor Thobela Louis Tyasi, a renowned researcher in animal production at the University of Limpopo (UL), has been honoured for his contributions to animal science research in South Africa
The South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS), which presents its awards annually, acknowledged Prof Tyasi for his exceptional and original research efforts, as well as meritorious contributions published in reputable scientific journals. Founded in Pretoria in 1961, SASAS serves as a hub for animal scientists working in various sectors of the agricultural industry, including livestock.
Amongst others, Prof Tyasi, an academic at UL’s School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences with a career spanning 16 years in the industry, was deemed by SASAS as deserving of recognition for his contributions to the field.
“I am humbled and grateful to receive the Mid-Career Silver Medal Award. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the students I supervise. The successful completion of their studies keeps me going and motivates me to want to do more in pursuit of academic excellence.”
Prof Tyasi’s impact extends beyond research to mentoring, as he has successfully supervised 40 honours and 18 master’s students to completion. Currently, he is guiding 16 honours, 12 master’s, and seven PhD students. He attributes his accomplishment to the effort and hard work of the students he supervises at UL.
His expertise encompasses diverse areas such as animal breeding, genetics, and applied statistics in agriculture. Prof Tyasi’s journey with SASAS began as a student member in 2011. Little did he know that this step would lead to his recent remarkable recognition. Notwithstanding the recent achievement, in 2012, he emerged as the best animal science student in the country which bears testament to his track record of dedication in the field.
Reflecting on this achievement, Prof Tyasi stated, “While I am extremely grateful for the recognition I have received so far, the Gold Award would truly be the pinnacle of my career, representing not only scientific excellence but also a legacy.”
With an impressive track record of 145 internationally and locally published articles, 27 conference papers and three book chapters, Prof Tyasi is dedicated to advancing agricultural knowledge through painstaking research publications.
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